metal polishing

[RIPSTER]

im not sure if there is a name for it i saw someone doingh it as part of a case mod they sanded the inside of the case drive bays etc to a mirror finish i was just wondering how hard this would be to do as i was thinking of purchasing a case and thought instead of painting the inside just to polish it up.

thnx in advance

RIPSTER

[RIPSTER]

anyone

[RoadWarrior]

Try it on a plain steel blanking plate that has about the same finish as your drive bays, start with wirewool (steel wool) then brasso or other abrasive metal polish on a cloth. If you've got a dremel it could go real quick with the polish if you have a buffing mitt on it. I wouldn't use a wire brush on the dremel though unless the metal is real rough, just because those rotary brushes are way stiffer than steel wool and will scratch more, also the damn things throw those steel spines in all directions and you'll be as long picking them out of your face and fingers as polishing.
I'd say the problem would mostly be with keeping the shine, you'd have to laquer over it. That could cause issues in marginal systems because your PCI backplates or drive casings don't make a good ground with the case if it's laquered.
You can always try it and see, it's not like it will wreck anything. However, if you change your mind and want to paint it, you might want to rough it up with a coarser wire brush after polishing, to give the paint a better foothold.

regards,

Road Warrior

[RIPSTER]

yah i got a dremel so ur sayin i can apply the polish to the metal with a buffing mit im not sure what that is i got a cheap 200 piece accessory kit and the only thing that may be a buffing mit is a soft cloth kinda wheel.

unless a buffing mit is actualy a mit u put on ur hand in that case where can i buy one

[RoadWarrior]

Oh I was thinking of one of those hoods that go over a flat sanding wheel, but if you've got one of those polishing wheels, then you should be able to do it with that too.

[alinosa]

i'd use sand paper before the dremel. the dremel will be great in tight places though. i used 800,1000, 1200, 1500, and 2000 grit's on a bracket and it looked almost like chrome. quick shot of clear spray paint and it stays that way. if you want a REALLY good shine, polish it with the sandpaper, then brasso it. i've also used automotive rubbing compound (3M for the paint) and got my DTEK WW to look like a mirror.

[Brundle Fly]

Yes, you can polish metal by hand, but it's time consuming. I just did the bolt heads that hold the front cover on #2 son's tower, 4 bolts, about 20 minutes a bolt, 5 minutes @420grit, 5 minutes @600grit, and 10 minutes @1500 grit, or there about. Needs a lot of elbow grease, but well worth it. The inside of a case? Man man! There's got to be an easier way, maybe a wire wheel on a dremel to get it started, then some fine sandpaper, then a polishing wheel, I just can't see doing it by hand, although it turns out sweet in the end, here's a pic. :attn:

http://ca.geocities.com/dhemkc523@rogers.com/HSF/bolts.jpg

[subtotal]

have you tried water rubbing compound? i use it for all sorts of things, e.g. getting a mirror finish when lapping a hs

[neonblingbling]

Hmmm... *looks at case* .....There has to be an easier way...

[jcw122]

whats water rubbing compound? and Brundle...yeah thats looks REALLY cool...doing the inside of ur case....WWWOOOOWW....but how?!?! AAHH

[celeron648fx]

Dam those bolts look ... er... shiny :P if you did that to yo whole case it'd be ... pretty ... err. .. shiny :) .. But by hand it would take you looking at those bolts... you say 20 mins a bolt? i reckon for the whole inside of the case by hand, all mirror shiny... i reckon you need to put complete case shiny on your will.

[celeron648fx]

Oh and would this actually work on any metal case?