Kirby buffing experts please...

[funvacfan]

I've started to buff the Kirby 510. I don't have a buffer, so I am doing it buy hand using Mothers Mag Polish. As the picture shows, most of it is buffing up OK, but there are some areas that are remaining a dull "gun metal" grey.

My question would be, If I keep polishing, will these areas brighten up?

Guy

 

[kittingerhoover]

You've got alot of work ahead of you.

I am sure that if you are persistent it may come up, but a buffer would be your best friend. When I worked for a truly great friend who owned a Kirby distributorship, as his service tech he had an amazing buffer. That thing was huge, and would take your hand off LOL. I use a high power bench buffer at home, and that helps. You need to have two buffing pads one for cutting, and one for polishing. Also you need to sand the scratches out before you start polishing. A bench polisher is not too much money, and I recommend it if you want to do a nice restoration, or additional restorations in the future!

Take a look at this for example...

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch...rm=40668&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase

 

[eurekastar]

Some of that oxidation won't come out unless you use a bench polisher. If you do purchase one, I'd encourage you to buy the two different polishing compounds that Kirby sells to its distributors. I learned the hard way that there is no substitute. As stated above, one compound will "cut" away the oxidation and minor scratches. The other compound will bring the casting up to a bright mirror-like finish. You can polish and polish and polish with steel wool, and it just won't do a thing for some of the discoloration if it's really deep.

 

[petek]

Guy, go to Princess Auto, they have bench grinders fairly cheap and all the buffing wheels and pads and buffing compounds you need like tripoli etc. The buffing wheels aren't cheap though, they're about $15 each iirc. They also have the little pads and balls in all shapes and sizes that fit on an electric drill for getting into tight spots.