How does one polish up the Kirby vacuum body

[vacuumguy]

Good morning and Happy Holidays, I am looking to find out what you use to polish up the metal body of the Kirby Vacuum cleaners. I have seen on this site some units that have been refurbished and they shine like new. I would like the ones in my collection to look the same. If anyone can assist that would be awesome. Thanks and all the best for a warm and wonderful Holiday Season!

 

[ornery]

Hope It's Not A Secret

Not sure if you're still looking for an answer after a month, but I finally proved to myself what I suspected was the answer. I've read all kinds of suggestions from simple metal polish and microfiber cloth, to 0000 steel wool & alcohol. Not to mention Crème of Tartar in boiling water among many others.

Well, I suspected buffing was the only way, but tried all the other methods first. Even sanded out scratches with 80 grit sandpaper, followed by 100 grit, 120, 240, 400, 600, 1000 and finally 2000 grit paper. Then the 0000 steel wool and metal polish. Pffft, no joy.

Broke down and bought a couple 8" buff wheels and compound. The second I touched the wheel to the aluminum, I knew that was the ticket. Tried it on a Delta bench grinder, but that's way too awkward. Put it on my Hitachi SP18VA variable speed polisher. Man, what a joy! A little effort goes a LONG way, especially compared to sanding by hand. I believe you could do the bulk of minor scratches with some medium "Scotch Brite", then straight to the buffing wheels. If the machine is already disassembled, you could probably knock it out in an hour, depending how fussy you want to get.

Also, if you will be using a very high speed machine, you'll have to be careful. Start slow and learn how it can grab edges, and how to avoid that. Wear heavy gloves and keep alert. Your work can be ripped violently from your hand. There's a lot of nooks and crannies in a vacuum body that can catch the wheel. Just start slow and get a feel for it before going crazy.

Here's a link to a kit similar to what I put together, followed by a picture of the 13 year old, commercially used vacuum I polished:

http://tptools.com/Aluminum-and-Brass-Buffing-Kit,763.html

 

[kirbykid]

I have a 8 inch bench polisher and a 14 inch polisher. They both do great, but they can be VERY expensive.

 

[ornery]

Another Suspicion

I suspect the same results can be achieved using much smaller wheels mounted in an electric drill. Of course it would take longer, but with the right compounds and wheels, you could still get it done on the cheap.

http://www.harborfreight.com/14-piece-aluminum-polishing-kit-98707.html

 

[kirbykid]

I have tried it with drills. There isnt enough speed or power to them. The best way to go is either a bench grinder with polishing wheels or a angle grinder with polishing wheels.

 

[ornery]

How About A High Speed Drill or Die Grinder?

My vacuum sat on Ebay for a couple days with about 25 page views and a couple watchers. After the buff job and pictures replaced, I got one offer at 11:30PM, and another person bought it at 2:30AM. Shiny is EVERYTHING!

Gal I work with just asked how I would go about polishing the aluminum on her Harley, if I couldn't take the engine out? I mentioned the small kit from Harbor Freight, coupled with a high speed 1/4" drill or maybe even an air die grinder, which can get insanely fast, like 20,000RPM! Any other suggestions?

TIA,
John

 

[jfalberti]

I've used the Handi Butler

and gotten very good results with it, as long as there are no deep gouges or heavy pitting of the metal.  Only problem now is that it is very hard to find belts for it.

 

[ornery]

Love Aluminum

That picture above shows a side of the nozzle that had really deep scratches and gouges. I used a file followed by progressively finer sandpaper. If the last thing to touch it is a medium Scotch Brite, the cutting compound can blend that super smooth. Mirror finish produced by the loose wheel and white rouge. Aluminum seems even easier to work than wood.

I calculated the surface feet per minute with an 8" buffer at 3,500 RPM to be about 7,300. Using an air die grinder at 20,000 RPM with a 1-1/2" wheel would be 7,800 SFM, about the same.

SFM = PI x D x RPM / 12, or SFM = .262 x D x RPM

http://www.discount-tools.com/sfm.htm

 

[sonnyndad]

I have had pretty good luck with clamping the piece of metal in a Rockwell Jawhorse, and attaching a polishing wheel to an older Makita drill, and using Blue Magic Metal polish cream. In my experience, Blue Magic polishes circles around Mothers.

 

[kirbyrama]

Using Kirby Handi-Butler for polishing metal--

To J.F.Alberti,
Since the belts for these are getting difficult to find; I have always used regular Kirby belts (for rug nozzle, floor polisher, and Rug Renovator) in the Handi-Butler. It is quite a stretch to put in a new one and may require a screw driver for leverage to have the belt lifter catch it. Otherwise, a moderately used belt will work just fine as long as there are no cracks in it or it is not to worn,

 

[kirbyrama]

Using Kirby Handi-Butler for polishing metal--

To J.F.Alberti,
Since the belts for these are getting difficult to find; I have always used regular Kirby belts (for rug nozzle, floor polisher, and Rug Renovator) in the Handi-Butler. It is quite a stretch to put in a new one and may require a screw driver for leverage to have the belt lifter catch it. Otherwise, a moderately used belt will work just fine as long as there are no cracks in it or it is not too worn,

 

[ornery]

Don't Buy Harbor Freight Aluminum Polishing Kit

I bought Harbor Freight's #98707. Figured the small wheels and bobs could get into tight areas. Well, maybe they can, but they can't polish anything at their rated RPM, which is 2,800 for the wheels, and 20,000 for the bobs. The bobs are kind of hard don't take the compound well. Anyway, I'm returning it. Guess it was worth a try, but I wanted to warn others before they waste their time.

 

[vacuumguy]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions everyone. This has been very helpful for me and also my very first post! Have an awesome day!

 

[gsheen]

Use this idea of mine , you will white or blue buffing soap 

 

[gsheen]

These are my Kirby's I polished this way 

 

[gsheen]

Also another machine I got nice and shiny, The top not the bottom, that has to be rechromed  

 

[gsheen]

The Kirby 512 I am restoring 

 

[will09]

I assume Royals are also aluminum

Isn't polishing compound abrasive? My concern would be getting it in the motor causing wear. Not to put down your work they look great yet I would rather take the machine apart then polish it . Lot's of work though to take it apart.

 

[gsheen]

To get proper results you MUST take it apart. You cannot buff the machine properly when its together. You can dissemble a Kirby in about 5 min if you know what your doing, If not 15 to 20 min