A nice shiny enclosure. But how?

[tremendous]

Just a quick question - has anyone had any experience of using a sander to do this? I'm starting to get sore arms from too much sanding and would love to use a belt sander/mouse sander/something/
.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

thanks,
d.

[Toney]

Heres one I have been wondering about.....
Is there any way of adding water-slide or other decals and then clear coating over a polished finish?

I ask because I have learned that to paint properly you must use etch primer, not regular primer to achieve a decent effect.

[tiges_ tendres]

Just a quick question - has anyone had any experience of using a sander to do this? I'm starting to get sore arms from too much sanding and would love to use a belt sander/mouse sander/something/
.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

thanks,
d.

Resurrecting an old thread, but, I have a similar question to the above.

I understand that when sanding aluminum, its preferable to wet sand.  This rules out most electric sanders, but what about sanders that run off of an air compressor?

I know they work wet and dry, but does anyone have any experience using something like this on enclosures?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96445

[objectx]

I've had some good results polishing aluminium using the progressive sanding technique and then doing a final buff with some ultra fine steel wool (the type used for french polishing). It tarnishes pretty soon though anyway.

[walker]

BTW, if you need those crazy grits like 400, 800, 2000, etc.  Autozone, Pepboys, and the like are good sources.

[tiges_ tendres]

I've had some good results polishing aluminium using the progressive sanding technique and then doing a final buff with some ultra fine steel wool (the type used for french polishing). It tarnishes pretty soon though anyway.

I've got the tarnishing part covered, I just want to make sure that the tool is suitable for the job at hand.  I thought maybe someone here would have some first hand experience using a tool like this.

[Taylor]

They're only available in 125B size, but PPP and Small Bear carry nicely polished enclosures for about $4 more than the plain box. Beats a busted elbow in my book. 

[darron]

If you aren't polishing it and are just making it shiny with fine steel wool then it will tarnish with your finger acids etc. Seal it with some WD-40. Mmm. Smells good.