How to mirror polish crank arms in 2 easy steps

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In this article you're going to learn how to mirror polish crank arms. I'll be hand sanding the crank arms using flint paper with various grits before moving into machine polishing to give it that mirror finish.
Polishing any type of metal takes a lot of time if you want to do it right. Especially if the metal has signs of damage like nicks and dents besides surface scratches. The crankset I've polished had these. All in all it took me around 3 hours to achieve the result I was looking for.
Tools used
Polishing machine: www.hbm-machines.com/producte...
Sand paper: www.hbm-machines.com/producte...
This whole procedure takes about 3 hours
I've also written about blog post with more information. If you want to read this article go to www.restoration.bike/bike-res...
Visit my website for more bike restoration tutorials: www.restoration.bike/
Music is from the UA-cam Audio Library
Song is "Song of Sadhana" from Jesse Gallagher

[@poly_hexamethyl]

Great video! Thanks for giving me the confidence to try this myself! I just got myself a little buffing machine and am going to practice on my old Raleigh cranks before I do my Campagnolos.

[@medmad3]

lol wise decision

[@vicsimmonds]

Great video, beautiful finish!

[@jasonblay9875]

Lovely job!

[@jamesniv8436]

If you get bits of 60 grit in your buffing wheel throw it out use abuffing wheel rake or a screw driver great vidio

[@undergroundpotato]

Thanks very informative and great result. I will start sanding down my crank on my Miyata restauration project. I do not have space for a table grinder where I live however so I will have to be satisfied with Autosol polish and a rag as the last stage.

[@restorationdotbike]

I'm glad you found the video helpful. I use a cutting compound with the machine polisher as one of the 4 steps with this tool. Only the last 2 steps are polishing steps. This cutting compound is basically another sanding step. If you don't have a machine polisher, you should consider wet sanding up to a 3000 grit before hand-polishing.

[@myvicariouslife4012]

bike restoration is a lot of work.

[@restorationdotbike]

You are very correct :)

[@gradouille]

Hello good job. How could we rewrite the deore XT logo ?

[@automataFrank]

do you have a video of how to restore back and front derailleur ?

[@restorationdotbike]

Not yet.

[@BikePractice]

hey and thanks for the vid. my question is once you have the finished product can you maintain the mirror polished crank with semichrome or the polish you would use on the other allow bike parts? Thanks in advance and ride safe.

[@restorationdotbike]

One way to maintain polish is to put clear coat on it. That's not something I do. The polish is very durable and the crank only has some light scuff marks. If I thought the crank would get too ugly I would simply polish it again.

[@JasonLiske]

@@restorationdotbike Does a glass bead machine work too?

[@royalefeatures]

What type of grinding wheel are you using?

[@restorationdotbike]

You can find the specifics in the description of the video.

[@BettyMasterPain]

The aluminum is exposed, how do you protect it from corrosion, do you put lacquer on it?

[@restorationdotbike]

Aluminium won't corrode nearly as fast as steel. And a polished crank is a very smooth surface that won't have pockets where moisture will remain for longer periods of time. E.g. it won't corrode. It will only stain. But we're talking years and decades before that happens.

[@grumpyken9151]

aluminum has its own layer of oxides that is actually harder than the metal itself

[@eurosud5218]

How much time this polish effect would last? Thnks

[@restorationdotbike]

Depending on how you maintain your bikes it could be years.

[@jozefsk7456]

would a dremel work?

[@restorationdotbike]

Using a dremel would be like painting a wall with a brush. Not the correct tool for the job.

[@omniyambot9876]

What if I don't have the power tool?

[@restorationdotbike]

Buy one?

[@lonerbikes]

True time 2 hours 😝
How strong (power in watts ) is your polishing machine ?

[@restorationdotbike]

350 watt

[@osteppax3316]

Can i repaint this aluminum bike parts?

[@restorationdotbike]

Of course. An aluminium bike frame is painted. Though you need to set up the aluminium so your paint job will last. I would definitely not suggest to spray directly over fully polished aluminium because its adhesive nature is extremely low, causing the paint to flake very easily. Instead of explaining here what a proper paint job would entail I'd best refer you to ETOE: ua-cam.com/video/rsD3E0b6mko/v-deo.html

[@osteppax3316]

@@restorationdotbike Maybe I should sand it first so that the paint will stick well. Thanks 😊

[@restorationdotbike]

@@osteppax3316 That is correct

[@DevoteeCT]

@@osteppax3316 Also use an acid etch primer as your first primer layer on aluminum.

[@tommytrejo272]

Hello, your Belgian or Dutch? I see your sandpapers come from hbm machines. I do buy some stuff from them also.

[@restorationdotbike]

I'm Dutch

[@tommytrejo272]

@@restorationdotbike ok! I'm Belgian. I restore retro race bikes. Most of the time involved in the buiding process is the restoring and polishing of the Campa groupsets. Time eating process but such a satisfying result.

[@rogerjohnson2396]

Is that a naked lady in the background? Perfect assistant!

[@restorationdotbike]

Probably

[@markyoung950]

I see feet

[@crashpie83]

This didn‘t work at all!!!! Everywhere scratches from the flint paper and Not possible to het the deep scratches out. So I do not think about polishing at all!!!

[@juansaladzar]

Ads 👎

[@ed0078]

Lipstick on a pig or better, beautiful earrings on a homely woman. In other words the rest of the bike looks like sh**. I also heard this makes the bike rides faster.

[@restorationdotbike]

After the crank I decided to polish the entire bike. It indeed rides faster now because of improved aerodynamics.