polishing white metal

[my80malibu]

How do you polish white metal in TIGHT really TIGHT areas?

[jbwelda]

a brush on a dremel works pretty good if you can hold the piece your working on. or a toothbrush with some toothpaste or other abrasive. it can get kinda tedious but just keep plugging at it.

[Martsmodels]

For really tight areas and small parts such as on the engine or suspension there is a technique called planishing. This involves rubbing the part with another metal object of a harder metal than the casting.

I find that an old scriber fitted to a knife handle is ideal - failing this an old piece of steel rod or even an old HSS drill bit, turned around, will do the trick. Whatever you use grind the end first so that it is rounded but not too pointed and make sure that the surface is smooth and polished. The white metal casting is softer and you will find that by rubbing with your planishing tool it will come up to a very nice shine.

Hope this helps

Martin