Difficult polishing situation

[KyleAnderson]

Working on these:



Bolts won't come out. Best way to get around them? Been using a 6" stitched buff on a grinder for the rest of the wheel. Tried a 6" loose buff for this area, and it was a disaster. Suggestions?

[Oh Damn, it's Sam]

Have you thought about something like a polishing cone on the end of a drill or a die grinder? I don't know if this would work, but something like this is what popped into my head: link

The bolts might tear it up, but they're cheap. I worry a little that you might get a wavy shine if you're too aggressive with it, but I don't think that matters quite as much on that part of the lip where the reflection is broken up by the bolt heads anyway.

EDIT: There are also little bitty ones for use in a Dremel that might get in the crevasse between the bolts and the where the lip folds a little better. IME they're really fragile, but they might be all that will get in there.

[zoo]

"Best" - throw the entire damn wheel into a huge vibratory polisher.

[KyleAnderson]

Have you thought about something like a polishing cone on the end of a drill or a die grinder? I don't know if this would work, but something like this is what popped into my head: URL

The bolts might tear it up, but they're cheap. I worry a little that you might get a wavy shine if you're too aggressive with it, but I don't think that matters quite as much on that part of the lip where the reflection is broken up by the bolt heads anyway.

EDIT: There are also little bitty ones for use in a Dremel that might get in the crevasse between the bolts and the where the lip folds a little better. IME they're really fragile, but they might be all that will get in there.

Thought about a polishing cone, but haven't seen one skinny enough to get in there. The gap is about 1/8" in the tightest spots.

That's been my experience with a dremel too. Besides not holding up, it would take the rest of my life to get a good polish.

Just came across these, might be a good option:

http://www.ottofrei.com/Finex-Muslin-Knife-Edge-Buff.html

[Oh Damn, it's Sam]

That is a very cool buffing wheel. I might have to pick up one of those.

Out of curiosity, are the bolts just corroded in there, or did some jackass put red Loctite on 'em, or what?

[KyleAnderson]

That is a very cool buffing wheel. I might have to pick up one of those.

Out of curiosity, are the bolts just corroded in there, or did some jackass put red Loctite on 'em, or what?

Yeah, that knife edge one for the tight groove and maybe a 2" dia 1/4" thick one between the bolts would do it.

They're 3 piece welded wheels (sandwich mounted)... either they were somehow stuck when welded or they've fused themselves in there over the last 30 years. The nuts come off fine, but a healthy whack won't budge any of them. Don't want to push my luck and damage anything. Even if there was a way to destructively remove the bolts without damaging the rest of the wheel, I would do it. New bolts are cheap.

"Best" - throw the entire damn wheel into a huge vibratory polisher.

Do you know anyone who does this? It might be worth looking in to, even if not for these wheels.

[zoo]

Those Enkei's could be welded, but that should not affect the bolts. Try the proper sized punch and hammer. Use some penetrating lubricant(and/or heat).

On vibratory polishing - here is a local manufacturer, http://www.brandon-ind-deburr.com/
I do not have first hand experience with those machines.

[KyleAnderson]

Took one of the nuts off and tried loosening the bolt. Wouldn't budge with as much torque as I felt comfortable with. Got it soaking in penetrating oil, and we'll try it again tomorrow. If the damn bolts would come out I could have these done in a weekend.

I got to the same place with the polishing. I find places selling the equipment but no one offering the service. Will have to do some more digging. Curious what the price is now.

[Oh Damn, it's Sam]

Galvanic corrosion is a hell of a thing.

I've had good luck baking parts at moderate temperatures and then air cooling for a few cycles, trying to twist on or press out the offending part at each stage. Managed to get apart a Mosin-Nagant that some jackass put a brass screw into that way.

[batianleg]

well,That's been my experience with a dremel too. Besides not holding up, it would take the rest of my life to get a good polish.

[KyleAnderson]

Galvanic corrosion is a hell of a thing.

I've had good luck baking parts at moderate temperatures and then air cooling for a few cycles, trying to twist on or press out the offending part at each stage. Managed to get apart a Mosin-Nagant that some jackass put a brass screw into that way.

Hmm... I wonder if I can fit a wheel in the oven. My wife's still gone for a couple days.

[KyleAnderson]

[Oh Damn, it's Sam]

!!!

What did it?

[KyleAnderson]

24 hours of PB Blaster, steady pressure with a breaker bar until it turned, then a few whacks with a brass hammer. Only 79 more to go!

[KyleAnderson]

Well, shhiiiiittttt......

Pounded the other 19 out of that wheel, then started taking the nuts off the other wheels so I could get them soaking overnight. That plan stopped short when the bolts started falling out on their own. WTF!!! Only about 4 or 5 per wheel needed some persuasion.

Turns out the wheels have different build dates. The first one I did was 4/1984 and the other 3 are 5/1984. The older wheel has slightly longer bolts with a longer flat section.

If I had started with any other wheel, I would have figured this out. Damn.

Should be able to knock out a full refinish in a couple weeks now.