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Post by Derby Monkey on Jan 18, 2009 19:45:33 GMT -6
I just got a new set of BSA Polished Speed Axles which come lightly polished.
How do you fine polish these?
I was thinking about going from 6,000 to 12,000 then finish them off with Mother's.
Any opinions???
Thanks,
Steve
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ichiban
Head in the Pine
Posts: 138
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Post by ichiban on Jan 18, 2009 22:02:13 GMT -6
I would ask the seller what grit they left off at. Some dealers note whether any further polishing is needed and if so what grit to continue with.
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Post by Derby Monkey on Jan 19, 2009 19:57:27 GMT -6
They come finished at 3000 grit
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JustaDad
Addicted to Speed
1Cor 9:24
Posts: 79
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Post by JustaDad on Jan 19, 2009 20:57:31 GMT -6
This is an excerpt from Sssnake."There are several standards for coated abrasives, but by far the most commonly used are those of the Coated Abrasives Manufacturer's Institute (CAMI) and the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA). Worldwide, the FEPA system is more common. The two systems are not strictly comparable, because FEPA defines a grade by defining a range of grain sizes, while CAMI defines the average particle size. All sandpapers manufactured in the U.S. conform to the same system for grading coarseness, set forth by the Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute. The smaller the number, the coarser the grit.
1000 CAMI grit sandpaper 9.2 microns.
1500 CAMI grit sandpaper 3 microns
2000 CAMI grit sandpaper 1 micron.
12000 grit sandpaper .5 microns
1000 grit FEPA 18.3 microns
1500 grit FEPA 12.6 microns
2000 grit FEPA 10.3 microns
2500 grit FEPA 8.4 microns
Diamond paste - down to 3 microns.
Extra Fine Scotch-Brite Belt/Pad - 35 microns.
Micro-Mesh - grades 1500 to 12000 from 30 to 2 microns
Micro-Mesh MX - 80MS to 1200MX from 945 to 3 microns
Micro-Mesh Aluminum Oxide - from 30 to 2 microns
Iron oxide (known as jeweler's rouge) - approximately 3 micron
If you compare the Mothers at .05 microns to .5 microns for 12000 grit sandpaper. Theoretically the Mother's is definitely better. If you would have taken the Mother's axle to 2000 grit and then Mothers, I think you would be surprised.I don't believe the mother's would be able to remove the scratches caused by the pumice. "
So, if it is 3000 grit you still have a little way to go. I think you have sorted with the micro-mesh and finish with mothers.
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Post by speedie4u on Jan 20, 2009 2:13:18 GMT -6
I use Micro-Mesh and you can go to 12000 grit with it. Then you can polish with say derby doc's polish that comes in his axle cutter / polish kit. mothers is okay. I have seen it dull rather than increase. but still a good option and I use it also on some axles.
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Post by derbyphysics on Jan 20, 2010 21:31:48 GMT -6
JustaDad, The conversion from sandpaper grit to micron finish is very informative, thanks. Do you know where to buy sandpapers all the way down to 12000 grit? Also, what is Mothers and where does one buy it? I'm a newbie but the kids and I enjoy learning what makes the car go fast!
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Post by Lucky 13 on Jan 22, 2010 11:07:27 GMT -6
JustaDad, The conversion from sandpaper grit to micron finish is very informative, thanks. Do you know where to buy sandpapers all the way down to 12000 grit? Also, what is Mothers and where does one buy it? I'm a newbie but the kids and I enjoy learning what makes the car go fast! DerbyMonkeyGarage.com and Pinewood Extreme carry the sandpapers all the way to 12000 grit. DerbyDoc.com and DerbyMonkeyGarage.com also sell an awesome 2 part polish for your axles. Of everything I have tried, it is by far my favorite. You can get Mothers Polish at most auto parts stores. Lucky 13 |
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Post by kcbcommando on Jan 26, 2010 12:30:14 GMT -6
I just looked at a package of 2000gr wetordry paper. Nothing about CAMI or FEPA there. The 3m website offered no help either. Does anyone know what the micron rating is there? Also does anyone know the rating of Simichrome polish?
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Post by roosclan on Jan 26, 2010 23:14:54 GMT -6
I just looked at a package of 2000gr wetordry paper. Nothing about CAMI or FEPA there. The 3m website offered no help either. Does anyone know what the micron rating is there? Also does anyone know the rating of Simichrome polish? FEPA puts a P in front of their grit (P600, P800, etc.). If there is no P, then it is CAMI standard. 2000 grit is about 1-2 micron, depending on who you ask. Keep in mind, that with sandpaper, the grit/micron size is an average. There are larger and smaller particles in there, with a maximum allowed size. The 1000grit sandpaper has an average micron size of 7microns, but the range can have larger particles. I use 3M WetOrDry Polishing Paper #281Q and 481Q (the cloth-like colored sheets in some polishing kits). It has a finer range of particle size (meaning fewer large particles to scratch things), and the Aluminum Oxide of 281Q doesn't scratch as much as the silicon carbide of the 3M Imperial WetOrDry sandpaper you find at Wal-Mart, Autozone, etc (even the 2000grit). |
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Post by kcbcommando on Jan 27, 2010 7:31:36 GMT -6
Thats reasonable. I just did a couple of awana axles with a 900 gr stone, a 1500gr stick (looks like a brown reed) 2000gr wetordry, some green jewlers rouge (Thanks to the manager of my favorite Kay Jewlery store) some mothers, and finish with some simichrome. They look great under high magnification. I'll get some finer paper next season, the budget is spent this year.
I have seen small ceramic sticks of various grits at my brothers tool shop, has anyone seen these? I can't find them online but I'd like to get a bunch of them.
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