Stock aluminum finish

[reddirtrider]

I have my blast cabinet now and have had the opportunity to clean up some of the corroded aluminum parts. It leaves a dull finish and was wondering what's the best way to get the stock satin look. I'm trying not to polish everything as I did on the 1100.

BTW, the PO really didn't take good care of this machine. After tearing into it I've found more than I anticipated in wear and tear.

I forgot to add I'm using 80 weight glass beads. Does walnut shell or soda give more of the appearance I want?

[Nessism]

The stock finish is a brush finish. 600 grit paper used wet gives a similar finish to stock in my experience.

[Hammered]

You can also get a "brushed" look without removing too much aluminum by using a nylon wire cup wheel on your grinder.

Go slow and easy til you get the feel of the grinder. Otherwise, youll "burn" the nylon on the aluminum and get these ugly black plastic spots.

[reddirtrider]

The stock finish is a brush finish. 600 grit paper used wet gives a similar finish to stock in my experience.

Do you sand in one direction or circular?

[Billy Ricks]

On the clutch cover the grain ran the same direction as the ridges on the cover. The ignition cover had the center portion running horizontally across the cover and grained around the circumference of the outer edge. The sprocket cover I think was all horizontal and the stator cover handled like the ignition cover. The grain on the valve cover ran across the cover and around the edge.

[mighty13d]

this is half blasted at 40 PSI and half quickly polished with a green brillo pad and a once-over with some steel wool