The elevator in my condo building has been vandalized with scratches. The board (which I'm on) is too thrifty to hire a pro to fix it, so I'd like to try. My initial thought was a wire wheel or cupped wire wheel, but I wonder how the pros or DIYers do it. thanks!
2007-12-20 13:05:52 · 7 answers · asked by Mike D 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
a wire wheel like a dremel(for small surfaces) or a handheld grinder with a wire wheel will work fine. try it out on some other metals from the scrap yard to fine a patern that u like before tackling the public elevators that everyone will know you did.
2007-12-20 13:15:20 · answer #1 · answered by i am a mommy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Certainly my first suggestion would be a wire brush cylindrical bit and a drill.
On a "professional" manufactured level on sheet stock I have no real clue, but have to imagine the stock is fed horizontally into a machine specific to do patterning on a large scale, perhaps with multiple devices like the drill bit wire brush.
Perhaps an easier option for you would be an Auto Buffer, and some heavy grit buffing compound. The pattern can still be random, or rather not Precise, and hide/mask the vandalism.
Just my two cents.
Steven Wolf
Certainly there are tools that accomodate sanding disks as well.
2007-12-20 21:25:45 · answer #2 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm with SteveB. I have used a random orbit sander several times to achieve this effect in both alumn, and stainless. (It's a long story as to why, but I'm in the parks & rec. biz where getting rid of graffitti is an art form.) The variables are the grit of the sandpaper and the speed with which you move the sander. Over all, it's a pretty forgiving process in that you can alter the effect till you find something you're pleased with.
2007-12-21 09:04:51 · answer #3 · answered by edkerns1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how deep you want the swirls and how hard the metal is you are working with. I have used cupped wire wheel on a drill motor....also stuck some coarse steel wool on it to give a finer swirl. The wire cup holds the steel wool real tight so it doesn't fly off.
2007-12-20 21:37:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have done this on alluminum with a high speed air sander (screamer) that had a 60 grit flexable disc. start on one end and overlap as you start the next row. Practic on the back or some other metal. We did this forever while working at a firetruck manufacturer plant.
2007-12-20 21:40:23 · answer #5 · answered by n5vhf_gene 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use scotch-brite discs (small ones - about 1 1/2" diameter), available at auto parts stores.
A bit of WD-40 to lubricate it will help. Overlap the swirl marks.
2007-12-20 21:20:35 · answer #6 · answered by I am, I said 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A RANDOM ORBITAL SANDER WITH A GRIT THAT MATCHS YOUR TASTE ,MAYBE 180 GRIT OR SMOOTHER
2007-12-20 21:23:37 · answer #7 · answered by steve b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋