How to polish my cookies

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 02:20 PM

Hi all,
I am wanting to do a full polish of my cookie cutters. They are in a pretty sorry state, and i was wondering what would be the best approach to do this is there a good online tutorial or something? How would i remove the black paint?
-Thanks

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Paint stripper. Don't bead blast them.

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 02:42 PM

ok thanks

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 05:50 PM

i'm polishing my fuchs..

buy a can of paint stripper... follow directions.. then wet sand them to get remaining paint off.. I'm using a 240 grit (or 220.. cant remember) to start... then moved up to 3xx.. then 4xx.. then 800... then finally 1500 and then 2000.

alternate 90 degrees between each grit of sandpaper... sand one way with one, then across that way with the other 90 degrees.. and continue..

after all the scratches are sanded out (a beeotch of a job, btw.. and might require a dremel (i've had to grind and feather out a pit or two so far)... but once all the scratches are sanded out, buy yourself an aluminium polish (i'm using Mothers.. relatively cheap, and works like a charm).. follow directions, and you'll be able to see yourself in those wheels...

in a sorry state, following my methods, depending on roughness, expect to spend anywhere from 8 to 15 hours, per wheel...

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 05:58 PM

Thats what i was expecting. The only reason i would do this is just for something to do, engine work will start in summer when i get out of school. So know im bored. Oh well i guess i will do this another time. Thanks for all your help. Mainly you eldorado.

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 06:01 PM

why do it another time? not enough time available to do them?
I've been coming up about 3 weeks on my first wheel alone... am I sitting down hours on end? nope.. just a half hour here, hour there... like you, I'm basically only doing it for something to do.. I *could* have just sprayed them black again... but i wanted a change...

and I've heard you can bead blast them.. not sure why socal has advised against it.. maybe he'll come by and give me more input...
sandblasting is bad as it will actually leave pits in the metal...

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:04 PM

i am still kind of needing to drive it so unless i can do it with the tire on, it wont work. Can i leave the tire on?

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 06:05 PM

you *can*... it's much easier if you dont though..

mine is still my daily driver... it takes less than 5 minutes to jack my car up, remove wheel, put on spare, lower car....

work on the wheel..

then when you need to drive again, another 5 mins to jack the car up.. remove spare, replace wheel... drive away..

if you're worried about looking like a goof with one different wheel... dont be... remember, you're driving a porsche.. they're driving hondas

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:07 PM

did you leave the tire on? And why dont you just leave the car jacked up or just run on the spare?

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:08 PM

oh i dont worry about looking like a goof.

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 06:10 PM

well the spare is a temporary tire.. not advisable for long distances.. basically only a limp home (or off the highway) measure... good for a couple dozen miles probably..

my spare is also 23 years old, and has never been inflated before i started this job.. so i dont trust the rubber to drive on.

you could leave the car jacked up if you so chose... i wouldn't advise keeping it up with the jack though... use a jack stand or some other appropriate prop to keep it up... jacks can always collapse.. just be careful and use logic.

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 06:13 PM

if you're able.. i'd love to see pictures of the process...
I'm gonna take some.. but i thought i'd get one wheel done with first for practice before i started posting my results

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:13 PM

and what do you do for the center caps? They are aluminum arent they?

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:15 PM

cool definatly keep me updated on your endeavor.

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 06:15 PM

i believe they are.. but i'm not sure..

mine were funny actually.. they were an absolute b*tch to sand the paint clean from them... but they polished up quite nicely..

one effect that was an accident that I liked was as I was sanding, I was noticing that the black paint wasn't being removed from the circle around the outside of the cap, or the crevases of the porsche logo... the polished cap with the black porsche logo looks pretty hot to me... and it was all an accident

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 06:17 PM

(oh, and yes.. I'm polishing them with the rubber on... it doesn't really get in my way at all..)

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:18 PM

so you are saying that all the low points are still black? To me that sound like it would look really really good. hmmm i will do that too.

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:19 PM

ok thats good about the tires.

Eldorado · 06-04-2006, 06:21 PM

well you seem to have a firm grasp as to what to expect, and the process involved with achieving your goal.. keep us all updated and try to document your experience with photos... everyone always likes pictures

and dont be afraid to ask questions!

pdx944 · 06-04-2006, 06:24 PM

ok i will. And I really appreciate how much you have helped me. I am still in awe about how much people try to help others on forums like this.