Perfect metal finish on a 1955 Mercury Mark 25E metal areas

[Josh Hoover]

What is the best polish and sand paper to use to get that perfect shiny polish on a mercury mark 25E metal areas on the cowling?

[wedgie]

Once most of the paint is off Using chemicals or media blast , an orbital sander quick once over then, start with thorough de grease and magic eraser. 320 wet dry and work your way up to 3000 or higher. don’t move up grits until all the big scratches are out. you’ll never get them out with the finer grits.

I also use a Dremel with a 1 inch hook and loop sanding mandrel available on aliexpress . This lets you focus on small areas, and helps getting into corners, and saves wear and tear on your finger tips too.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32848154886.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.598388b3u8Z7UT&algo_pvid=aede4bef-a93b-46de-a604-e2225b8c4f80&algo_expid=aede4bef-a93b-46de-a604-e2225b8c4f80-3&btsid=0bb0624616095445019142321e9d98&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

finish off with Flitz metal polish.

I’d post a pic, but never bothered to figure out this new board.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by wedgie.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by wedgie.

[need2fish]

If you are going for the original look of the mid-to-late 50’s Mark 20/25, to the best of my knowledge, the cowl was never polished to a high-gloss. My Mark 25 came with the cowl metal matt , with a barely visible horizontal grain. You can get that look with 400 or 600 grit on a sponge, running it one way (no orbital).

[need2fish]

Correction: I depend on spell-check too much: the word is matte not matt.

[Tubs]

A "Boathouse Repair" is one that done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.

[bob-d]

Tubs, amazing work…….as usual.
Bob D

[billw]

Yeah, tubs, that is VERY nice! Going back to the Mark 25 for a minute, I have done a few of those covers. For what ever reason, when you sand them with a hard block, you will find that the paper doesn’t even come close to touching the surface in some places. It’s like the surface has warped over the years. I save myself a great deal of time by sanding it flat with 80 grit on a belt sander, as the first step, then progress by hand, from there.

Long live American manufacturing!

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by billw.

[Tubs]

.

A "Boathouse Repair" is one that done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Tubs.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Tubs.

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