I have been wet sanding/ polishing an ECOtec valve cover since 1100 and it's now 3:10PM... WTF, still needs tons of work. Am I being impatient or does this take days or more? I started out using 800 grit and am slowly working parts to 1200 grit. Any advice you guys can give me to aid in the process, does an electric work well? Should I try a lower grit paper, like 600 or less? It's not the big dirty parts that are bugging me it's the small bubbles in the metal and the tiny imperfections and deeper scratches I'm having problems with.
I read some of the other posts and some guy said to start at 80 Grit, move to 120, then 350, 600, 800, 1200, then 2500. WTF? 2500 might as well be a handfull of cotton balls! 42 hours was another time line I was told to be expectant of. Any input?
Thanks guys.
Start with 80 only if you have alot of dimples in the cover such as deep scratches and stuff. If you dont you shoulud be starting with about 300 grit and working upward. I started with 300 and went to 2000 then used mothers aluminum polish and about 5-6 hours later it was done. It takes alot of sanding so it'd be better for you to get an extra cover if you are planning on doing this over a couple days like I did. If you have a large sink put the cover in the sink and make sure you get wet sand paper and just wetsand it cause that aluminum coming off the cover gets to you after a while.
I just bought this second one, so I am good to go. Thanks for the concern tho.
yea....it took me about 2 days......they are a pain in the ass..........but it comes out awesome
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The old-fashioned way (with sandpaper) is definitely going to take as long as you're seeing it will. When you get into the things we use (side grinders and the polishing wheel) it cuts it waaaay down. I can finess a 2200 cover to "chrome" in about 2 hours or less.
Hmm, guess I was lucky. I hit mine with a buffer and after about an hour BLING BLING !!
Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.
Bringing this back from the dead but im going to be trying this and I have about a day to do it.
Does this cover absolutely have to come off the car?
Wet Sanding in this order 350, 600, 800, 1200?
Thanks
no it doesnt need to be off, but stuff might be in the way and the job might not turn out as good, but its a very nice idea to take it off and will make things a lot easier.
I want to share something with you - the three sentences that will get you through life. Number one, 'cover for me', Number two, 'oh, good idea, boss', Number three, 'it was like that when I got here.'
^ Yeh I found that out lol
ive only done the 120 and 350 grit and it looks 100% better already I just picked upp the 600/800/1200 grit
Cant wait to get it blinging..
Also doing the fuel rail and misc pieces
the palm sander and dremel tool are your best friends. lol
many changes in the making
my favorite part about doing bodywork,.......... bondo bugers
Ive put in a good 3 hours by hand doing this.. turning out pretty nice so far.. Still have 3-6 more hours till Ill be happy with it
did mine in about an hour with a palm sander and an electric buffer, i can actually see my reflection in it
many changes in the making
my favorite part about doing bodywork,.......... bondo bugers
your best bet is pulling off the valve cover (very simple, takes 10 maybe 15 minuets) and use wet/dry paper and sand the thing under runing water, we have a big laundry room sink so I did it in there under almost constant water flow but always completely soaked.
end result....
