Polish my cranks

an orderly queue please, no fighting at the back...

not an improper suggestion but a delve into the knowledge pool - is it possible to polish componentry to a mirror finish and if so - how?

a bit like the campy cranks here

http://www.fyxomatosis.com/viewpage.php?page_id=9

Yes, there was a thread about it on here and bikeforums. Check google for metal polishing, etc.
It involves lots and lots of rubbing and some chemicals. Enjoy!

White spirit works very well when cleaning chainrings and cranks, cassette/sprockets, well basically the whole bik except the chain.

Or... if you want the perfection, check out this link:

there certainly is - my friend and i misspent a couple of days doing this a few years ago. The thing is you have to get the anodizing off before the polish will have any effect. We did it using wet-and-dry paper, starting off with a medium grade and going down to the finest. Apparently, a good dousing with oven cleaner can give you a head start but I haven't tried that. Once you've got down to the bare metal with a smooth finish and sanded out as many scratches and gouges as you can, then it's just a matter of plenty of elbow grease with the brasso and a supply of those soft yellow polishing rags.

You can end up with a mirror finish and of course any logos etched in the surface will have a disappeared.

The bare metal is softer than the original anodizing though, so you'll have to re-polish and occasionally re-sand to keep them looking perfect.

Why are they anodized in the first place if its fine to remove it?

Anodising is a protective coating that keeps the finish nice for longer. Polishing looks great but you have to keep polishing them.

more than you could possibly want to know about anodising:
http://www.bikepro.com/products/metals/alum.shtml

You'd get copper oxide all over you when moving the bike.. no thanks. Maybe if it was clear coated it'd be ok.

Check out
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/restoration.html
their hints and tips section is excellent!

ah the craft on them oldies stop goddamn modern technology and mass production stop

I was given some newer dura ace cranks the ones with the splined bb, and would like to polish them ebcause they have wear marks from shoe rub. They are polished already, but I wonder if they are sealed with lacquer or something>

I used Brasso for about half an hour on some 3pc cranks, they were rusted and murky, and it didn't occur to me how shiny they could look. They're literally mirrored, all just with Brasso.

/attachments/11529

Been working on my old campag mirage cranks after seeing some pretty polished c-record ones on ebay.

Photo doesn't do the finish justice, used wet and dry, wire wool and a good deal of autosol. So far only worked on the spider area, getting close to mirror finish, probably a few more evenings and will look great.

I highly recommend lubricating yourself with a beer or two, makes the whole polishing process pass much quicker...

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use a buffing wheel on an electric drill bit. much easier! you can find them on ebay for cheap.

fuck doing this by hand, do yourself a favour and get a buffing wheel as Lpg said. if you dont have a drill get a cheap rotary tool. you can get this whole jive for less than £20 and the whole job will only take an hour max.

there is a whole thread on de anodising and polishing, finally i get to say it UTFS

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread8526.html

also Silvo is better than brasso for steel and aluminium parts, same brand as brasso but for diff metals i have been using Peak which also protects it claims gets a nice finish too

i thought this would be about cranks in skin tight snow washed jeans