jonrwall
05-22-2011, 12:04 PM
I have been doing quite a bit of metal (and plastic) brushing on my V Star bobber project.
I found out about this from a friend. It is a good and inexpensive way to add some character to your bike.
All you need is:
Red Scotch Brite (though green will work too, just takes longer.)
WD-40
tape or marker
a little time
1. Spray a little WD-40 on a full size pad. The full size ones are 6x9. I bought green at home depot for $4.00 for 8. Red I bought at O'rielly Auto parts $4.00 for 3. As stated above, the red is more abrasive and saves some time.
2. I hammer an awl through the pad into my work bench. As seen in the picture, I hammer an awl into the bench to hold the pad in place. I also paint a stripe on the bench to make sure I make straight lines. This is very important.
3. I take the piece and move it back and forth on the pad. Stop often to check for progress. Go slow because you can take off too much. Chrome is only the top metal you see. It is electroplated onto nickel and then some base material.
4. As you go you will first take off the shiny chrome. If you keep going you will cut into the nickel and whatever base material your have. There is some copper in there too that you can uncover. It creates a neat effect. It also makes things look matte and if you keep going than more antiqued.
5. I clean off with pure acetone in a squirt bottle. I also do this to check my progress. Make sure to wipe off in the same direction as the fine scratches. If you do not, you may make cross scratches with the abrasive material that is still on the surface.
6. If the piece has some concave aspect, I will do this first with a small piece of Scotch Brite by hand. Just put the piece on the bench and use the Scotch Brite like sandpaper (again in only ONE DIRECTION.)
7. I use tape or a marker to mark north/south points as reference. Using this and the line on the bench helps keep your tiny scratches straight.
8. Its easy and after a while you will find more things on your bike to brush out. I am weary of all the chrome and like to change things up a bit.
9. It works on chrome and plastic covered chrome too. I first practiced on the back of my IPOD. It was scratched and now it sports an attractive brushed look.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushed_metal
I found out about this from a friend. It is a good and inexpensive way to add some character to your bike.
All you need is:
Red Scotch Brite (though green will work too, just takes longer.)
WD-40
tape or marker
a little time
1. Spray a little WD-40 on a full size pad. The full size ones are 6x9. I bought green at home depot for $4.00 for 8. Red I bought at O'rielly Auto parts $4.00 for 3. As stated above, the red is more abrasive and saves some time.
2. I hammer an awl through the pad into my work bench. As seen in the picture, I hammer an awl into the bench to hold the pad in place. I also paint a stripe on the bench to make sure I make straight lines. This is very important.
3. I take the piece and move it back and forth on the pad. Stop often to check for progress. Go slow because you can take off too much. Chrome is only the top metal you see. It is electroplated onto nickel and then some base material.
4. As you go you will first take off the shiny chrome. If you keep going you will cut into the nickel and whatever base material your have. There is some copper in there too that you can uncover. It creates a neat effect. It also makes things look matte and if you keep going than more antiqued.
5. I clean off with pure acetone in a squirt bottle. I also do this to check my progress. Make sure to wipe off in the same direction as the fine scratches. If you do not, you may make cross scratches with the abrasive material that is still on the surface.
6. If the piece has some concave aspect, I will do this first with a small piece of Scotch Brite by hand. Just put the piece on the bench and use the Scotch Brite like sandpaper (again in only ONE DIRECTION.)
7. I use tape or a marker to mark north/south points as reference. Using this and the line on the bench helps keep your tiny scratches straight.
8. Its easy and after a while you will find more things on your bike to brush out. I am weary of all the chrome and like to change things up a bit.
9. It works on chrome and plastic covered chrome too. I first practiced on the back of my IPOD. It was scratched and now it sports an attractive brushed look.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushed_metal