Polishing aluminum can (want mirror surface) - help with materials

[MegaVovaN]

Hi all, I've read Fire by Cans, and decided to try it myself.
First can I used scouring pad and kitchen cleaning powder, then paper towel and toothpaste. Worked well but surface was all scratched up and not reflecting light well.

Then I got a soft cloth, diamond paste (it is in wax) and a drill. Used drill to spin cloth on can. Came out very cloudy.

Then I used Dremel tool on another can, also came out cloudy because I used some weird thing to rub diamond paste.

This evening I took chocolate and smeared it over the can. Chocolate melted and didn't do jack.

Then I tried again with cloth and diamond paste, this time manually. Then I polished it with chocolate and finished off with soapy fingers. After drying it by lightly touching cloth (shower) towel, it is now much better than any previous can, but still not as clear as in above link.

Where do I get these fine materials? (Like steel wool, Emery Cake, Brown Tripoli, and Red Rogue)

I live in Houston, TX. I checked local Home Depot and did not find anything (did not ask associate for help). Checked HD and Lowe's web sites - nothing. Checked Hobby Lobby - nothing.

Pics of newest and best can (sorry for bad quality)


cliffs: where to buy extremely fine abrasives?

 

[jagec]

What grit is that diamond paste? You want to polish with increasingly fine grits, THOROUGHLY cleaning the can between rounds. If any of the larger grit is left on the can or whatever you're using to polish, that kind of defeats the whole purpose.

Crest toothpaste makes a fairly decent polishing compound. You can polish polycarbonate to a nice clear finish with the stuff. But it takes ages.

 

[MegaVovaN]

I have no idea what is the grit, but I think it's pretty coarse because it removed printing (date of expiration) on the bottom in just 3 swabs!

Didn't know about cleaning the can.

Our Colgate paste is running low, might be a good time to buy Crest


So what I am looking for is recommendations of materials, like "first use X, clean can, use Y, clean can, finish it off with Z"

 

[bctbct]

Do it the easy way, buy a lighter

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: bctbct
Do it the easy way, buy a lighter

hot wires

 

[videogames101]

uh, the guide says to use a chocolate bar i believe....

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: bctbct
Do it the easy way, buy a lighter

hot wires

hows that work?

 

[1prophet]

polishing compounds

more here

 

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: bctbct

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: bctbct
Do it the easy way, buy a lighter

hot wires

hows that work?

By putting out a lot of heat. Visit CPF and look in the hot wire forum (incandescent) and you'll see how its done.

edit: when it comes to cool methods of making fire, I have to go with a fire piston.
example: Text

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Minjin

Originally posted by: bctbct

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: bctbct
Do it the easy way, buy a lighter

hot wires

hows that work?

By putting out a lot of heat. Visit CPF and look in the hot wire forum (incandescent) and you'll see how its done.

Yes a hotwires light basically is a very high wattage halogen bulb. 250 or more in a modified mag body. Lots of lithium ion cells in S-P configuration. Very short run times but bloody bright. And yes it will start fires fast!

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: Minjin

Originally posted by: bctbct

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: bctbct
Do it the easy way, buy a lighter

hot wires

hows that work?

By putting out a lot of heat. Visit CPF and look in the hot wire forum (incandescent) and you'll see how its done.

edit: when it comes to cool methods of making fire, I have to go with a fire piston.
example: Text

Have you ever used a fire piston?

I have one, I cant get it to work for sh1t

 

[Skits]

Mother's Aluminum Polish. Used it on motorcycle parts before, and left a near-chrome shine.

 

[Raduque]

Brasso! I use it to polish heatsinks to a mirror finish.

 

[Squisher]

The problem with aluminum is that it will oxidize rather quickly to a foggy sheen unless it is anodized.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Skits
Mother's Aluminum Polish. Used it on motorcycle parts before, and left a near-chrome shine.

Get that, it's really easy and you can buy it at walmart

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Squisher
The problem with aluminum is that it will oxidize rather quickly to a foggy sheen unless it is anodized.

Hmm, "quickly" - how long? Overnight? 1 hour? 1 week?
I wonder if I can anodize aluminum can at home? Or cover it with another metal (electro coating or whatever)?


I'll check out some of the compounds you guys named.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN

Originally posted by: Squisher
The problem with aluminum is that it will oxidize rather quickly to a foggy sheen unless it is anodized.

Hmm, "quickly" - how long? Overnight? 1 hour? 1 week?
I wonder if I can anodize aluminum can at home? Or cover it with another metal (electro coating or whatever)?


I'll check out some of the compounds you guys named.

6-8 hours, that is why aluminum doesn't corrode like steel, it oxidizes a thin layer that doesn't allow anymore interaction between aluminum with oxygen.

But, aluminum would be useable if you're willing to polish it a little right before you use it. It would only take a couple of minutes.

 

[Rubycon]

A fresnel lens from an overhead projector will produce extreme heat instantly in the sun and can be concealed in a bible if necessary.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
A fresnel lens from an overhead projector will produce extreme heat instantly in the sun and can be concealed in a bible if necessary.

Plus, with some good sleight of hand, it will look like you can start fires just by opening to the right passage in Exodus and remonstrating the item you wish to burn.

 

[MegaVovaN]

I see, Squisher - it is now a little dull. I'll try to polish it with just chocolate before use.

I am able to influence weather! Because right now there are fucking clouds and forecast says there will be damn clouds until December 15!!

As for Fresnel lens, I toyed with the idea, but any child can do it. How many people you know that use coke can?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Well I re-polished the can with diamond paste, and could clearly see magnified reflection of my finger. And sun shines well - but nothing happens to paper I'm trying to burn. Damn!