aluminum sanding and finishing

[cdbakkum]

I need help. I have an order for five aluminum double twist pens, but having trouble sanding and finishing. Can't get the sanding marks removed. Please help me. Carl

 

[me2cyclops]

are you wet sanding?

 

[johnnycnc]

Carl, Here is an article I wrote.Hope this helps!
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhcz5nnk_19d9q5dvcp&hl=en

 

[NewLondon88]

I need help. I have an order for five aluminum double twist pens, but having trouble sanding and finishing. Can't get the sanding marks removed. Please help me. Carl

You might need to go back down in your sanding steps. I start around
220 and work through to 1200 and then maybe the MM, depending on what
I want for a finish. I've used the white buffing compound and gotten a mirror
finish on aluminum, but decided that wasn't what I wanted. (I just wanted to
see if it would work)
Use fresh paper and either a cutting oil for aluminum or maybe some mineral
spirits on the sandpaper. It should sand out just fine.

If you've got some spots that won't sand out, check the usual culprits for
'out-of-round' .. mandrel nut too tight, tailstock too tight etc..
Those will cause the mandrel to flex so your sandpaper can't reach those
spots.

 

[cdbakkum]

Dry sanding Carl

 

[GregMuller]

What compuund

[I've used the white buffing compound and gotten a mirror
finish on aluminum, but decided that wasn't what I wanted. (I just wanted to
see if it would work)
/QUOTE]

Which white buffing compound?

 

[NewLondon88]

[I've used the white buffing compound and gotten a mirror
finish on aluminum, but decided that wasn't what I wanted. (I just wanted to
see if it would work)
/QUOTE]

Which white buffing compound?

I dunno.. it came from a discount place that had typewritten labels on it.
(really.. a typewriter, not a computer!) It said it was for fine finishing on
plastics, acrylics, horn, ivory etc.. worked like a charm on the aluminum,
but that was after sanding up to 1500