My Secret Weapon For Making Aluminum Look Amazing! 

Hi Cam, I know your vids are probably a few old with editing, but use parafin(candle wax) because it isn’t as sticky and does not allow the aluminum to break down the aluminum oxide as fast. Also, get a medium to firm rubber sanding blocks will help conform to the shape and produce an awesome finish. Last step is triple 000 or 0000 steel wool pads, and will give the aluminum a crazy brightly polished finished look. Way shiny than what you had(and it looked great too. Scotch bright wheels are 320-400 grit, and can tend to be pretty rough. Light gray scotch pads are 1about 600 grit. That’s why I use the 0000 steel wool pads and a bit of WD-40 or Marvel Mystery oil as it will lube the process and keep the metal from loading up on you. I’ve been a Machinist a very long time(38 yrs). I know how how to polish anything even clear plastic. Your doing a great job, and. The little hints will take you up a level or two. Try the 0000 steel wool pads from Home Depot/Lowe’s just by them selves, you’ll see exactly what I’m saying. Good luck brother, Dean.

Good lord where would we be without you Cam! 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️ SO Blessed, having such great content available to those like me trying to revive our rides!!!! Forever thankful for your effort.

Did anyone elses audio cutout

This bike is probably 10lb’s lighter from sanding alone 😂

I got a belt attachment for the grinder that has a platen on top and a small rubber wheel on the front edge that is great for tight spots Belt change is just flipping the lever on it so I use a bunch of different ones to suit the material. Its got a disc on the side too. They are pretty common and cheap, bolts on quickly. Bit safer then working on the wheel that is attached directly the the motor axle, that rubber one could get a good hold of anything loose. Other end of the grinder motor Ive got a buff taper thread with rag buffs for SS and Ali and various grades of rouge, I use the green on the Ali gives a good finish. Post buffing I spray it with kitchen spray cleaner that washes all grit out of the surface rinsing in water, leaves a mirror finish.

When this build is done it will be the cleanest nicest bike I have ever seen. 💯. Good job man. Keep it up.

Love the list of supplies in the description! Very helpful.

these build and teardown videos are my favourite on youtube by far

Don't wanna take too much off the top of some cast aluminum parts though. That outermost part of the aluminum is harder than the internal parts, because it cools faster after the casting opens up when its made. Its called the "skin". And it adds a lot to the strength of a part.

Keep up the good work on the build!!

hey man here's a tip for your finishing. buy a hand held buffer with some cutting paste. you will easily buff out the light scratches in the alloy and maybe even buff off the paint on the swing arm, the friction created is enough to strip paint off cars! Great content as always stay blessed brother peace.

Always enjoying the videos

I can't wait what a bike look when it's ready👌

i enjoy watching the transformation. keep up the great vids, i watch them all!

Much respect for how you are very picky with your work!

Good attention to detail. I like you you just got in there and did it. I stripped a cbr 900rr by sanding what I could, used oven cleaner on the swing arm. Sanded through 2000 grit and polished to a mirror. Looked good, but I will never do that again!

You are a mad man....when this CR will be finished it will deserve to be in honda museum in japan

Hands down the BEST bike build channel on RU-vid! You go over the top, keep up the amazing work!

They came up awesome I love doing stuff like that as well

Wow, the result is amazing 👍

This is awesome brother, I will definitely do this on my current build and give you a shout out when I do, thank you for the tip

Awesome video🤙 love it

Can’t wait for the next video!!

great job on parts!!

Cameron, you are such a freaking perfectionist...I love it! Another killer video. 😊

Great video Cameron keep up the good work

Nice to see you kept the aluminum look. I think it looks better than the polished mirror finish that a lot of people go with.

Looks awesome!!!

Can’t wait to see the bike when it’s done!

Hey I have a good way to get aluminum to shine up almost like chrome. If you use mothers aluminum polish on a rag or on a buffing wheel and go over your parts once you clean them up like you did it will make it look 10 times better!

Good work man, you have way more patience than I do. I know it’s very minimal but I don’t know how I feel about taking material off of my swing arm and linkage.

Can’t wait to see the final product of this project

I can’t wait to see the finished bike

Parts look awesome

Amazing...how Shiny! Its better than new👍👍👍

Not bad. About 10 years ago I did similar when I ported and polished the plenum on my 1988 TPI Corvette.

Braaap ...so clean bro.

Yeah buddy keep coming

perfect stuff

Love the cleaning videos really helping me know how to floss my new used 03 cr125 that is filthy 👍good stuff

Hi Cameron. Love the videos man . I'm busy working on a 1981 rm250x (complete restoration) . I have cleaned up various parts making them look new . Would a clear coat be useful in rust prevention? If not what do you use? I want to keep the look of pollished metal on some parts

As a first step I used a 4 1/2 inch grinder with a scotchbrite. It was easy moving the tool around the part rather the other way around. Still needed hand work but got the nasty finish off quickly

I just ordered another batch of your red 8 inch scotch brite pads. I friggin love those things. I ran my last batch down to the nub on my bench grinder. They really do make aluminum look awesome. I refinished the forks on one of my bikes and then clear coated them. Looks killer! glad I found your videos. Thanks!

Man, you put a lot of work, can't wait the final product

This bike is going to look so good it's going to look better than it did brand new stock can't wait for the rest of this bike build great videos

I just recently discovered this channel. Great stuff, Cam!

Love those Video Style because no One is shouting or talking 2 minutes of shit which doesnt even bother others youre the man boi🔥

Can't wait for the mad Honda to be back in one piece!

I used to do TONS of this. It does matter which direction you sand for various angles. If your going to polish. Besides that : McGuire’s. Aluminum rim spray works well after sanding. Then ZEP 5 Star polish and buff it off. Then rim sealer for brake dust. Really depends. If you try to do a great job it will look bad. Just do a fine antiquing. You always keep going back to your effort for touch ups bi weekly it’s a big hobby.

great stuff man wish my bike would have parts that clean

I’m so keen to see this bike finished ahha, can’t imagine how you feel

Cameron the type of dude to use scotch brite on his girlfriend

Video good as always

I cut those scotch bright pads into about 2 inch diameter circle and use them with my Dremel tool to get into tight spots

CAMERON IS AWESOME

i really looking forward for bike build itself, i hope i will see it soon. :D

Wow that’s a lot of work but it’s looking awesome!

Looks spot on bro 👍 Suprised you did this with the bearings in though. what you going to seal it with? otherwise that lovely finish is going to oxidise and your going to end up right back where you started

Better and better videos bro 👊👊

Finish off with 8" felt wheel and green compound then a soft cotton polishing wheel. Craytex rubberised abrasive wheels are a handy gadget.

Really good video an greetings from holland!

Dang, can't wait to see this bike back together

Que bueno que traduzcas los videos a español mr encantan tus videos seguí así saludos desde argentina,buenos aires

Your work is always awesome, Great Cameron !

Looks sweet

Hi cam great vids mate I'm just seeing if any old mag wheel cleaner will work or do I have to use this particular brand Thanks

I just discovered your videos. DAAAAMN. I love your work, very helpful. Keep it coming! Do you use any liquids when sanding with the power tools?

Cameron, Great videos as always. Can you tell me where you can find a sanding wheel like the one in this video? Thanks,

There he is cam you the man

This bike is going to look so awesome by the time you are done

Brasso works great for polishing aluminum into a shiny chrome like finish.

What brand vapor blaster do you have? Where did you get it?

Good job brother. Looked hella good. Thanks for the klx clutch plated I ordered from your website. Definitely good quality used product for a good price. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for used parts that are in good condition!!!

Love from India !💜

What would you recommend for preserving your work. I have polished up a few aluminum parts to a beutiful finish but was reluctant to spray on a coat of clear because that is what I typically have to remove before I polish. What would you recommend. Can you clear powder coat?

So how do you keep it polished? I have a 1990 gsxr, completely polished to a mirror finish all over, in EVERY nook and cranny, its a pain keeping it clean using the bike. So what do you suggest to keep it looking good from road crud and mud etc?

Hey cam what grit sand paper are you using? I have a swing arm that I'm trying to restore with some pretty bad road rash.

Try Trizact abrasives from 3M. Amazing finishes on steel. Have not tried it on Al...

loving this i commented a while back saying would be cool if the whole bike was polished, pretty much done it in one video! :D

Question for Cameron and everybody else. How would you get rid of a minor scratch on the swing arm of a Honda CBR? I heard you saying the swing arm is anodized so I’m not sure if I can fix only a small area and treat is somehow afterwards. How would you fix it? Im thinking that using the cartridge tools should be enough. Thanks

You should powder coat the triple clamps the same red as the spring. I reeken on it will look awesome

I prefer flap wheels on the buffer either 220 or 320 grit to knock down casting.Flap wheels on the dremel will also avoid most of the tendencies to cause an uneven surface.Its good to see different way to obtain the same outcome. Good vid.

Clicked on it as soon as I seen the notification great video 🙂:)

Have you sourced a seat cover for the build yet?

You might want to clear coat the parts so they don’t dull/tarnish. The casting texture helps to hide that

Parabéns seus vídeos são muito bons, eu tenho uma CR 250 2001 vou fazer isso com ela também kkk tá precisando

Please tell me where you get the drill bit scotch Brite I need that so bad!!!

How do you protect the finish once it's done?

great vid

I found my new fav youtuber

What grit is the cartgidge roll your using?

You should powder coat swingarm black or red!!! I think it should come out amazing !🔥

Powdercoat your tripleclamp too

You could really benefit from a foredom rotary tool for the detailed bits. Nicer to use then the drill. Looks good tho keep it up!!!

Really like the videos on the aluminum! Maybe next time the engine???

Can you do a vid on your pressure washing cabinet. Did you make it yourself?

Great video once again! Can’t wait to see the build done. Do you have an estimate on when the build will be done?

You should do a before and after on your tools set up

This bike going to look great

Whats that black polishing wheel called?