Polishing lockdown bar

[Carl Spiby]

I've got a lockdown bar with some deep scratches that you can feel with your nail, what's the best way to get these out whilst retaining the original graining?

Sandpaper or scotchbrite going to do the trick?

 

[Johnnyo]

You will have to remove metal to remove the scratches, therefore you will not be able to keep the graining as it is. Emery cloth will be you best bet start with somthing like 100 grit and then finer grades to finish with some 400 wet and dry paper. Oh and plenty of elbow grease.

 

[Carl Spiby]

Would a flap disc be suitable?

 

[Johnnyo]

Nooooooo a flap disc will cause you even more problems. It all depends how deep the scratches are but they shouldn't be
that deep , to polish metal properly it must be done in straight lines..... ie along the length of the lockdown bar

If they are too deep to emery out start with a new flat file (a second cut) is probably best and use the technique of drawfiling with the file loaded with chalk also
until you lose the majority of the scratches. then do as above with emery or any abrasive paper.

 

[Carl Spiby]

Is there anyone I can send a lockdown to, to refinish it?

 

[replicas]

Is it that bad you need to get it polished out ?
plenty of play will make it better.

 

[pinballtoys]

Hi Carl
I've recently purchased mirror polished side rails & lock down bar for my SS from Manny on ebay mannyspinnaclepinball
top notch workmanship
regards
bob

 

[Carl Spiby]

Is it that bad you need to get it polished out ?
plenty of play will make it better.

Some plonker carved their name into it.

 

[Spandangler]

Don't suppose they were called Carl? Would have been handy. Manny charges £25 for a mirror finish lock down bat btw.

 

[Carl Spiby]

Spaz, or Gaz or something

I've emailed manny to see if he can keep the grained finish whilst getting rid of the scratches.

 

[Spandangler]

Ah yes my old lockdown bar

 

[Johnnyo]

Carl the graining as you all is what's known as brushed finish this is done in the manufacture of the steel sheet prior to it being pressed out in a power press, you will not be able to reproduce it hence why Manny offers a mirror finishing process only.
He just polishes out the brushed finish on standard lockdown bars using an industrial buffing wheel with polishing compounds

 

[Carl Spiby]

He's offered to do a brushed finish.

 

[windoesnot]

Some plonker carved their name into it.

Wasn't Mully was it?

 

[Johnnyo]

Well learn something new everyday.

 

[Carl Spiby]

Here we go, Manny does good work!

 

[carl lawrence]

that does look goooood

 

[lukewells]

To get the "brushed" finish, you polish the metal until all the scratches are gone (and it will be shiney) and then you run over the top, in one direction in a perfectly straight motion, with some 80 grit sandpaper.

It actually works really well, I've done a few siderails like this (think I might have done a video about it ages ago)

Obviously don't practice on your best game before you learn to do it