polished my swingarm
01-13-2010 | 03:33 PM
#1
Thread Starter
ride it out
SuperSport
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 745
From: NH
polished my swingarm
I started off by cleaning all grease/grime off this thing, then continued with a sanding wheel for all the deep pits and oxidation, then moved onto 180, 240, 320, 400, 550, 800, and then a red scotchbrite pad. once finished sanding I used some turtle wax all metal polish to give it a nice bling. cleaned up the front part a bit to a nice shine, not as polished as the rest of the swingarm though. total time was about 3.5 hours including dis/reassembly, well worth it compared to how oxidized it was before all this 
. Let me know what you think.
. Let me know what you think.
01-13-2010 | 07:16 PM
#3
Just Ride
Squid
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 28
Mine is pitted too. I've been debating whether to polish, powdercoat, or leave it alone. Swingarm looks good, but if you ever have it back off, throw an industrial buffing wheel in your table grinder. Then polish it with some aluminum polish, then clearcoat it. That's what I may do....but it's a shitload of work. But then, I may powdercoat it gloss black...but it wouldnt match my frame, so hence, therfore I will just leave it and pretend it isnt there.
01-13-2010 | 10:19 PM
#4
Thread Starter
ride it out
SuperSport
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 745
From: NH
Mine is pitted too. I've been debating whether to polish, powdercoat, or leave it alone. Swingarm looks good, but if you ever have it back off, throw an industrial buffing wheel in your table grinder. Then polish it with some aluminum polish, then clearcoat it. That's what I may do....but it's a shitload of work. But then, I may powdercoat it gloss black...but it wouldnt match my frame, so hence, therfore I will just leave it and pretend it isnt there.
01-14-2010 | 07:46 AM
#5
Squid Poacher
Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 116
From: Orange Park, Fl.
haha thanks for the tips, may try that. I was thinking black originally but then again the frame issue came about, this the polish. my friend who works at a body shop told me that if I cleared the polish it would just oxidize under the coat, like it did stock kinda, so I didn't do it. will it?
01-14-2010 | 08:28 AM
#6
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 133
you still have a few levels to go if you want it to look right.....
800-1000-1500-2000 and then the 2-3 levels of polishing compounds, then wax's and such....
but this is if your doing it for a show piece.... i would suggest doing it that way, and spending the money and get it all clear coated when your done, or else the finish wont last and you wont be happy with it....
800-1000-1500-2000 and then the 2-3 levels of polishing compounds, then wax's and such....
but this is if your doing it for a show piece.... i would suggest doing it that way, and spending the money and get it all clear coated when your done, or else the finish wont last and you wont be happy with it....
01-14-2010 | 09:21 AM
#9
Wrench Bender
Squid
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 96
From: Auburn, CA
I like the look of polished bits, but I'd rather go ride. My business partner has 2 bikes, 1, VFR that he rides, 2 a Repsol CBR1000 that he just rubs a lot. It is pretty, but it is like having a race horse that you never let out of the barn so his mane wont get tangled.
If anyone wants to polish mine, I won't complain, but it's just gonna get dirty again!
If anyone wants to polish mine, I won't complain, but it's just gonna get dirty again!
01-14-2010 | 10:09 AM
#10
Thread Starter
ride it out
SuperSport
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 745
From: NH
thanks for the comments guys
I didnt want a chromed out bike, just polished for a nice basic shine similar to the frame. the stock swingarm is polished a bit, as you probably know, this is just a few steps beyond that
exactly, not too polished. i understand there is some upkeep with it, but as long as it's not bling chrome a simple metal polish here and there will be satisfactory. i'll have to look into the clear coat some more, i was told the aluminum would just oxidize under the coat again...like it did
you still have a few levels to go if you want it to look right.....
800-1000-1500-2000 and then the 2-3 levels of polishing compounds, then wax's and such....
but this is if your doing it for a show piece.... i would suggest doing it that way, and spending the money and get it all clear coated when your done, or else the finish wont last and you wont be happy with it....
800-1000-1500-2000 and then the 2-3 levels of polishing compounds, then wax's and such....
but this is if your doing it for a show piece.... i would suggest doing it that way, and spending the money and get it all clear coated when your done, or else the finish wont last and you wont be happy with it....
exactly, not too polished. i understand there is some upkeep with it, but as long as it's not bling chrome a simple metal polish here and there will be satisfactory. i'll have to look into the clear coat some more, i was told the aluminum would just oxidize under the coat again...like it did
Last edited by nothing; 01-14-2010 at 10:14 AM.
01-14-2010 | 10:16 AM
#11
Thread Starter
ride it out
SuperSport
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 745
From: NH
I like the look of polished bits, but I'd rather go ride. My business partner has 2 bikes, 1, VFR that he rides, 2 a Repsol CBR1000 that he just rubs a lot. It is pretty, but it is like having a race horse that you never let out of the barn so his mane wont get tangled.
If anyone wants to polish mine, I won't complain, but it's just gonna get dirty again!
If anyone wants to polish mine, I won't complain, but it's just gonna get dirty again!
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