The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Manually Polishing spindles

When I was younger I was at a friends house and his dad was using a long strip of cloth, I think he said embry cloth, to polish a crankshaft. He wrapped it around once, set it on the floor and started pulling back-and-forth on the cloth strip. He said it's the poor mans polishing job. My question is, what was the cloth, have you ever done it, and can I do it on my spindles to get rid of light rust, and scratches?
Thanks. Michael

emery cloth -- bought in strips at some auto parts stores...yes you can do it !

I used it on spindles on my Pontiac after the wheel bearing seized. Worked like a charm.

Does it come in different course grades like sandpaper? And if so, what grade do you use?
Thanks for the info. I thought the guy was nuts at the time and 20 years later I'm going to do what he did. Ha life is funny.

jomichael,

I think something like 320 would be a perfect grit to polish with. Just don't go nuts where the bearing race seats..this ideally should be a tap fit and the OD shouldn't be reduced. I will bet your friends dad was using Crocus cloth to polish the crank.

Stuart

atomarc
I wanted to get rid of some light rust and streaks right where the bearing race seats, so would you still recommend 320? I too do not want to reduce the OD too much. Should I even attempt it? Crocus cloth, might I find that at an auto parts store? Is it similar to emery cloth? Thanks for the feedback!

jomichael,

If the light rust is cosmetic, could you just wire brush it well and call good. If it affects the way the bearing seats a light polishing would the the ticket. Crocus cloth is very fine and only good for true polishing...it won't remove much material. I think a hardware store would have Crocus cloth...feel it with your fingers and decide if you need something that fine.

Stuart

jomichael, I am a gunsmith and polish things all the time. Don't worry about reducing the OD with 320 or 400 cloth. You'll be able to a get a finish that is plenty nice for wheel bearings. You won't even be able to tell with an analog mic. Good Luck.

Emery cloth can be purchased in a roll or sheet. I think 3m is the best known maker. Try this site
http://shorinternational.com/Emery.htm . Emery cloth/paper with a penetrant oil of some sort to "wet sand" it will clean your spindles easily. But I would start with a finer grit than 320. personally I would go with 600. I used to use it on piston pins.