Rudder Polish?

[fmackiejr]

Any one have a good recomendation on polishing my brass rudder a polishing the prop, ie; brasso or something,and buffing?

[SkiDog]

Originally Posted by fmackiejr

Any one have a good recomendation on polishing my brass rudder a polishing the prop, ie; brasso or something,and buffing?

Very LONG process. It isn't just a matter of putting some Brasso on it and hoping to get a shine. You gotta start with sanding using a series of different grits. Start with 400-600 grits and finish with 2000-2400 grit using a Dual Action sander. After that, THEN you can start using polish with a high speed buffer. And after all those hours of HARD work, use the boat a couple of times, and do it all over again. It's really not worth the effort. Been there, done that, got the trophys. But NEVER again!

[fmackiejr]

Kinda what I thought, thanks, I'll put my effort into something else.

[SkiDog]

Originally Posted by fmackiejr

Kinda what I thought, thanks, I'll put my effort into something else.

Good thinking!

[thatsmrmastercraft]

This is a first: I finally get to take something off my To Do List without doing it.

[americanskierJim]

Oh come on Mr. MC you can get it to look like mine is right now. It does take some time to get them to shine and keep them that way. The best advice I have for you is elbow grease and lot of it. Good luck hope to see that prop glowing.

[TMCNo1]

After all the grinding and multiple sandings, most professional polishers use different formulas of jewelers rouge and a series of specialized buffing wheels. Then the job of upkeep is down to using a good quick polish like,
Attachment 58186Attachment 58187

I've been using this stuff for over 25 years on 2 boats.

Beware of doing the prop yourself unless you send it back to OJ or the manufacturer for a re-balance, because cutting away the rough material to get the surface smooth with deform the prop and throw it out of balance. I got tired of messing with them, so Eric @ OJ built me a 4 blade with the polish as the final finish instead of the grinding marks and it was smooth as glass, but I later replaced it with a polished S/S one. Also, be careful gringing and sanding down in the thick area of the rudder where the rudder post is cast into it. The rudder will crack on one side or the other and it will then have to be replaced.
Attachment 58188
Attachment 58189

[G-man]

I can say I don't miss my polished undergear. It was cool but a lot of work.

[SkiDog]

Originally Posted by americanskierJim

Oh come on Mr. MC you can get it to look like mine is right now. It does take some time to get them to shine and keep them that way. The best advice I have for you is elbow grease and lot of it. Good luck hope to see that prop glowing.

I would say that your prop looks pretty good there. But on a polishing scale of 1-10, I'd have to give it about a 6.5 or 7. Too many scratches still showing. I think TMC#1 would agree with me on this one.

[americanskierJim]

Skidog Thanks, for the score now it is all tied up lol. I am just kidding I have more to do on it. It will look good when I get it back on the boat. What you see in the pic is paint dust on it too make it look bad. More pics of it on my thread later.