Giving stainless and aluminum brushed finish

[Buick Motorsports]

the weekend has finally come for me to start installation of my 406. I need some info.

I purchased the ARP fastener kit in stainless steel which comes polished and an aluminum rad. I want to give these a brushed appearance.

Scotchbrite pads, I'm told are the best. What grade is best to give the brushed finish?

[Sales@Dutchboys]

I use the Red Scotchbrites,

But then I have a coating I put on it to keep the aluminum from getting dirty, and it kinda dulls it down.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa288/Paul67II/DSCF0410.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa288/Paul67II/DSCF0407.jpg

Paul

[Buick Motorsports]

Paul,

What type of coating did you put on?

[Sales@Dutchboys]

Its a Wizards product,
Metal Renew

If you can get your hands on Wizards products, just put some finish cut rubbing compond, it will do the same thing.

Paul

[Bowtieracing]

I use the Red Scotchbrites,

But then I have a coating I put on it to keep the aluminum from getting dirty, and it kinda dulls it down.

Paul

I dont think Scotchbrites work with arp 12 points. They are quite small and it takes a lot of patience to work with.

Try bed blasting em with glass or something else fine material.

[andrewmp6]

what about a metal sealer like zoop seal would it leave it not shinny.

[Sales@Dutchboys]

Or just put them in your cordless drill, That works well too, thats how I re-spin my air cleaner.

Paul

[Bowtieracing]

Well, bead blasting would just dull the finish. I think the poster wants a brushed look. The best way would to be build a small fixture to screw the bolts into and spin them in a engine lathe. Then use the red scotch brite pads. The fixture would protect the threads from getting smashed than using the engine lathe chuck. If you don't have access to an engine lathe, then you might take a machine tool class at your local community college.

Jeff

http://www.kodakgallery.com/67rscamaro

I agree but if they are 12 points it might be difficult to reach all surface.But worth of trying. Actually i will try with cordless drill so we can see. One moment..

[Buick Motorsports]

Thanks for all the exxtra ideas, keep them coming.

For the ARP fasteners, I did the following last night. I have a light duty drill press screwed to my bench. I put a steel bristle wheel in, held the fastener in a set of pliers and applied varying amounts of pressure.

I still need to find the right pressure, but it is creating the dull brushed look that I am wanting.

I found out if you sit, with a stupid expression on your face long enough...the answer will eventually smack you in it!!!!!

[Bowtieracing]

Talk about online service for you gus..;)

This is standard polished ARP before
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/emalikyltti/DSC07897.jpg

And this is after one minute with low rpms and red scotchbrites

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/emalikyltti/DSC07901-1.jpg

Maybe dipping in acid ? That would take the shine away!

[ScotI]

Bead blast the ARP's & then do the red scotchbrite treatment. The bead blasting helps 'dull' the areas you can't get to w/the scotchbrite. Then use the scotchbrite to 'even' out the overall finish.

[yellowrallys]

Also, to hold the bolt by hand if using a bench grinder, weld a correct size nut to the end of a piece of round tubing and screw the bolt that you're buffing into the nut. That saves a lot of skin from being removed by the spinning wheel. You can also clamp the tubing in a vice for holding.