How To - Polish ALUMINIUM Hood to Mirror finish

On this episode you'll watch me struggle through various steps to polish the hood and hood sides of the 'Mid-night Special' to a mirror finish! Definitely a leaning experience through multiple fails. Shout out to Crafty B for the hot tips!
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[@lotuselanplus2s]

Looking great so far, one little thing, you need to 'comb' the buffing wheel every now and then, when in use , the used and dirty polishing compound and aluminuim thats coming off the workpiece tends to clog the buffing wheel and needs to be dressed (combed) to do this i have the machine running and carefully lay the sharp side of a hacksaw blade (best and safest if its still in the hacksaw frame) against the dirty part of the buffing wheel to remove the built up dirt and grime/excess compound , so that you can load it with fresh compound and start polishing again, hope it helps. Oh and dont polish all in the same direction, each complete pass on an area go back and hit it again at 90 degrees to the previous pass,, that way you will cut across the previous scratches and remove them instead of following the scratches and making them deeper, think of a wagon train with all the wheels going in the same direction, it builds up some mighty big ruts, same thing, alternate the direction so they cancel out.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thank you kindly for the great tips Anthony, I did use a brush to clean the wheels while polishing, definitely makes a big difference. I’ll try opposite directions next

[@murdoc6501]

Wowie McZowie! Great walk thru on metal polishing. I was a carpenter at one time in my life and I learned about "grain". Then I started working with metal (hobby car stuff and sculpting) and never realized that metal has a grain as well! Between you and Karl I learn something knew with every video. Thank you for your work! Go Bennetts Customs! Keep moving forward!

[@murdoc6501]

Just as a side note...I spent hours on the side covers of my '66 Triumph bobber (sitting in my living room now, awesome wife, blown motor) and just gave up and powder coated the aluminum. So much work to keep shiny! Are you gonna clear coat?

[@bennettscustomsco]

Yes once final polished and louvers pressed I’ll try abs give it a few coats of clear and see if that helps

[@glennstatham960]

I've made bikes...and electric guitars..and done blacksmithing in the past. Sometimes not taking out all of the 'made by hand' separates that work from machine/mass-produced work. I've polished A bullbar, and it killed me haha! Also, don't ever lose your 'Canadian' (?), it's refreshing!

[@bennettscustomsco]

I’ll never loose that! It’s in me blood!

[@fonhollohan2908]

Looks fantastic bruh. Simplistic, yet it's a really nice and clean job. Well done. Jordan, well done.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thank you!

[@victormildew1717]

Here in the UK, we use a wire brush to "Rake" polishing mops that get loaded with compound off. It's also common to use grinding grease, basically lard or fat, solid type, for aluminium, it helps stop the black residue building up on the work.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Awesome Tip Victor, I’ll definitely try that

[@MakeItKustom]

Killin it dude!!! Love love love these race car vids!!

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thanks Ricky!!!

[@joecioe8566]

What amazing job you have done on this car. Great ideas and awesome craftsmanship throughout. What a great piece of metal art.

[@stugillett6646]

Splendid work Jord! I’ve never polished anything that big but I did some SU carb bells back in the day. After white compound I tried some rotten stone (French Polishing compound) suspended in WD40 and finished with cigarette ash with a chamois. Came up pretty hot but a small job is easier. Great video as usual. 👍🏻

[@bennettscustomsco]

I’ve heard of this before! I must try

[@Mudgrove]

Hi Jordan, When I was an apprentice there was a Harley Davidson workshop next door to me in the late 80's. The old fella who ran the show rode Harleys in Egypt & Tunisia in WW2 - he said he used ash from a cigar to polish up the "silvered" headlight dome so he could get maximum brightness from the headlight during the war.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Now that is cool!

[@garysargeson2539]

Came up a treat, 😎😎😎. corn flour was often used on paint jobs in 70’s / 80’s

[@gregjobson4844]

Good result polishing and looks clean without straps or catches on the bonnet, looking forward to the future builds in the background.

[@waynegilling6048]

Wayne here in Manitoba Canada. Princess Auto sells a package of stick polishes like the brown one you are using. white, red, black and brown I believe. each is a different grit for different metal. The finest is the red, (jewelers rouge) I thing somewhere around 5000 grit. Don't quote me on that, getting old and forgetful , you are doing a wonderful job.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Cheers Wayne, next time I’m in there I’ll have a look, used to work there decades ago, they have everything!

[@williamcummings6562]

It’s a work of art ! You should be proud

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thank you William, it’s been a fun journey so far

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Wow that's crazy nice. Very beautiful job. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friends. Fab On. Weld On. Keep Making. God Bless.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thank you Jared! Back at yeah

[@paulblack2402]

Nice job again Jordan The alloy polished up a treat.!!

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thanks Paul!

[@brianmcpeek651]

When sanding to get a polish sand two different directions only just like polishing a knife. Sand like you did on your first pass then sand at a 90° and then go back and forth between the two directions and you will remove scratches and dings. I think a bench grinder with a buffer pad will get a higher polish, the faster RPM seems to work better for me. Stellar build she's beautiful and the polished hood sets her off nicely!! Love it!!

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thanks Brian I’ll get it a short- definitely agree with the bench grinder

[@stanleyfanning5316]

I put my straight grinder in the vice on high speed. I use the stick compound. Start with black then the white. Take a screw driver and clean the wheel in between. But it like he already told you that.

[@bennettscustomsco]

I feel like the vice idea would be an awesome idea

[@lazyhoundracing9621]

My friends make fun of me for polishing my racing parts. I call it micro aerodynamics. Once I get to 800 Put the machines away. The pigtails are a nightmare to get out. Sand in a cross hatch direction. I go 800, 1000, 1200, 1500. 2000, 2500. 3000 and then the buffing compounds up to white. For mirror hand polishing at the end. JMHO. Nice work. Thank you for your time.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Thanks mate! I’ll give that a try, struggled to give those hays or pigtails out

[@eeblatter]

That came out great and I'm going to try that technique to get rid of the blotchy spots on my hood and grille. Cheers for the lesson. And, yes, Crafty B makes incredible cast parts and just amazing gas caps as well.

[@waldi2302]

First of all you missed a step. I Start polishining with brown compund and a felt wheel. That takes all the little scratches out. Than the stiched buffing wheel with blue compound. Than a fine buffing wheel with the white stuff. The Absolute Super Nova comes with Simicrome.

[@jimmac76]

Beautiful car absolutely loved watching this build

[@chrislewis4830]

wow thats nice and shiney. But have you put dampners on the rear yet. You need it to keep her steady and stop her from bouncing around because if its bouncing you traction is compromised and it reduces engine power output and also your steering not to mension its putting your drive shaft under too much strain and may fracture the welds and sheer off. And we both know how that could end especially if its the front end that sheers

[@bennettscustomsco]

I added a rubber bushing and strap prior to racing on the weekend, worked a treat, front did great as well

[@timr.3108]

Certainly a lot of different product and paper/buffing wheels. But is the difference is worth it compared to the old hood with the cutout for the carbs.

[@bennettscustomsco]

I personally love the look- once the louvers are in it should look great

[@stanleyfanning5316]

Turned out awesome.

[@macbetula6926]

Well that was very informative, and looks great 👍

[@timr.3108]

Awesome finish. The car looks fantastic. No need to paint the hood.

[@daleking8529]

Man that looks killer!!!!!

[@ziggassedup]

Outstanding.

[@WILLS55F100]

Great work again ... lov how u mounted it 🤙🏻.... how much longer till u start the roadster ?

[@bennettscustomsco]

Not long now! Laid up for a week or so and we will get our first video out on it

[@deanage1983]

I think if your racing in full sun you would get alot of glare off the bonnet? Another great video one of my favourite channels never miss a video keep up the hard work

[@bennettscustomsco]

Just got back from racing, was actually sweet!

[@deanage1983]

@@bennettscustomsco hope you had a blast. We all look forward to the video 🤗🤗

[@speedlookvintagemetal]

Great job! Wonder how you stay as tidy as you were. When i am polishing i look like i worked in a coal mine .

[@bennettscustomsco]

Definitely had a scrub pre ending haha

[@funkiwikid6106]

Finish up with chalk dust on a soft cloth by hand. Then you gunna need shades when driving it ! Emphasis on running 'over' the edge with the mop or bad things happen faster than you can swear !

[@bennettscustomsco]

Definitely! Those edges will always get yeah, I’ve learned the hard way a couple times haha

[@ethanphillips8637]

when you are done with the buffer, hand polish with blue magic cream polish

[@shenpensenge]

Masterpiece!

[@lencsalovszki9194]

Flour takes black out from polish just wipe over finish

[@TheTubeTube2]

What a beauty! It’s good for your pects too!

[@bennettscustomsco]

Solid!

[@joell439]

@42:53 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@bennettscustomsco]

Yup!

[@davemoulding8799]

post what’s up with that Roaster

[@bennettscustomsco]

Coming next week still unpacking everything

[@johnkranz4004]

Very nice job Jordan Looks Great Hey Next time wear safety glasses please

[@bennettscustomsco]

Yes, I usually always make sure they are on.

[@allrods6260]

Try polishing in circles across the panel

[@thestreets5206]

Try using wd40 with your straight grinder ... works amazing

[@bennettscustomsco]

Worried about clear coating after words with wd40 in the pores

[@patricksettle]

Go to a 1500 then 3000 then buff polish

[@jaybuilt4187]

no advice from me just keep showing us what you are up to ok?

[@worldsbestwatcher3735]

Yet again. I'm the guy who calls you and so many others out for intentionally saying "super excited" on your videos (as do thousands others. SAying that apparently moves your video up the "recommended" totem pole - or at least that's w hat you believe. You were probably instructed to say that by YT. The only thing worse than the loss of free speech is to lose the right to free speech AND be told what to say). Have a comment - and thumbs down. That's 2 "interactions" for your video. You're welcome. Otherwise, nicely done on the project. 👍

[@chrislewis4830]

If you also belive the earth is flat then you need a break from the herbs

[@worldsbestwatcher3735]

@@chrislewis4830 IF my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle. Dang it. You tricked me into interacting again, and, you get a point from YT for responding to a comment. You rascally rascal, you.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Funny you bring this up, as I nor Ben or anyone we know has heard of this, I’m just genuinely excited. All the time.That why I do what I do. So thumbs up to being excited about something I enjoying doing.

[@lencsalovszki9194]

We use a product called. NUVIT C FIRST THEN NUVIT S ON airplanes in the US

[@bennettscustomsco]

I’ll start googling!

[@waldi2302]

First of all you missed a step. I Start polishining with brown compund and a felt wheel. That takes all the little scratches out. Than the stiched buffing wheel with blue compound. Than a fine buffing wheel with the white stuff. The Absolute Super Nova comes with Simicrome.

[@bennettscustomsco]

Perfect thank you for the steps

[@waldi2302]

@@bennettscustomsco , you are welcome. I' am not a professionell but I polish stuff for a long time and I learned it the same way as you. It was verry helpful for me to talk to a guy who polishes high pressure tanks.