Polishing a Imco shortty
 

What is the deal with these castings? I have polished lots of aluminum in my day but these things have me beat. 2 days of sanding and polishing for not-to-desiireable results. Any suggestions, short of "send them to me, I'll trade you for..."

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

The way I understand it, the satin finish is actually faster.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

That is what I hear, but polished looks sooooo much cooler. Faster is better than cooler though.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

i was told that the best way to finish a bare alumnium lower is with a brillo pad and wd-40.

this will give the best speed results.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

I heard the best way was to send it to a polishing shop and let them do it for 200 bucks or so. :D

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

$200 a side, suppose anyone here in KS could do that on the boat?

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

where at in KS are you?

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

My Imco i had on my Scarab came pollished but it would turn about every 6 months .I use to buff mine with a paint type buffer and some cream type pollish.Made a mess but it worked .Wasnt hard .


I am thinking about doing it to my B Max painted lowers any sugestions????

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

I used this kit to polish mine after sanding it and it turned out looking pretty darn good.

http://caswellplating.com/buffs/alpolkit.htm

It has all the wheels and buffs for your power drill or die grinder and three different grits of rouge. Just follow the instrctions that come with it. Here's the process I used.

1. Clean the lower
2. Black rouge with the course sisal wheel
3. Cleaner polish to remove the black rouge
4. Brown rouge with the sewn cotton wheel
5. Cleaner polish to remove the brown rouge
6. White liquid rouge with the loose cotton wheel
8. Mothers Aluminum/Mag wheel polish with a mushroom bob

You'll want to have it wet sanded down to 600 grit and have any scratches or dings taken out before you start.

- Jeff

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

I wetsanded mine with 800 followed by 1000 grit sandpaper. Then i used a smalle 4 inch buffer and aluminum polish. They arent great and i have only done one so far.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

Can of metalic silver spray paint ! Then again my boat stays in so bare finish wont last , even in fresh

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

Would be nice if they had a chrome finish for them...Or is that not possible.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

Not possible. The chrome will build up on the races.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

Aluminum cleaner liquids and a scotch brite pad will be easier and look very nice. Takes 5 minutes per unit. Don't bother polishing or you will spend too much time keeping it up.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

what about powder coat?

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

I still say leave them satin. Anyone "in the know" will think you have a really fast boat since they are satin finished.... look at the lowers on the #3, 4, 5, and 6 drives from Merc.

And we all know that those "in the know" are the most important people... aside from hot chicks of course, who could care less what your "lower unit" looks like as long as it performs well!! :evilb:

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

Plug them up ..im sure it could be done
Will chrome even stay on cast alum.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

yes chrome will stay on cast aluminum, any good chrome shop would tape off the areas that dont get chromed and races can be replaced. You would have to chase the threads on most of the holes though. the cast alum will accept the nickel plating, and then the chrome adheres to that.

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

Seems like a LOT of work.... I'd just leave em satin!

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

I find that powdercoat does not like to be under water.. Well my Dana tabs shed the PC after a few trips to the lake.. Fresh water, maybe salt water is better on them??? :mad: :mad: Waiting for it all to fall off and then try polish, maybe clear coat, if not .. Paint!

Re: Polishing a Imco shortty
 

Well I took it to a man that polishes alum. for a living and he advised me to NOT polish them. Apparently the IMCO castings are not of the highest quality aluminum resulting in dark and light spots. So they will be painted a candy apple red to match the swim platform and gauge bezels, ect.
Thanks to all who offered advice.