Scotch Brite to clean up cylinders, what grit/color are you using?

[deezlfan]

Scotch Brite is mentioned in a lot of threads here, but which pads are you using? Green seems to be the most common in the store but there is brown, red, green, black and white, all a different grit. Anyone know if the #1, #0, #00, #000, #0000 corrolate to familiar sandpaper grits?

 

[trophyhunter]

The white pads are super fine grade with a flint based abrasive and a grit equivalent of 1200-1500, the light gray are ultra fine grade silicone carbide based 800-1000 grit, maroon color fine grade is an aluminum oxide based abrasive with a grit of 360-400 and the dark gray is a medium grade silicone carbide abrasive with 120-150 grit.

I use the maroon pads on Nikasil coated cylinders to clean and polish them.

 

[rattler362]

I have been useing the green seem's to work good.

 

[cmarti]

Maroon, but I also wet sand from 330 to 1500 with the cylinder under water. As well I have done soaks of Easy Off for aluminum transfer........don't claim to know what I am doing:dunno:

 

[snowdingo]

Maroon, but I also wet sand from 330 to 1500 with the cylinder under water. As well I have done soaks of Easy Off for aluminum transfer........don't claim to know what I am doing:dunno:

I also use maroon...how does wet sanding help? I don't claim to know what I'm doing either

 

[cmarti]

I also use maroon...how does wet sanding help? I don't claim to know what I'm doing either

It is just another option, maybe more agressive on transfer. I have used a 3 stone cylinder hone, even more/too agressive. I have put a scotchbrite pad through an eyebolt mounted in my drill press chuck and pollished cylinders. Just trying different things.

Interestingly, based on a recomendation here, I have used a scotchbrite wheel and fine wire wheel on scored pistons.......it was a success with new rings.

 

[mad murdock]

All general purpose prep work 3M pn 7477 the maroon pads. They are very good.

 

[snowdingo]

It is just another option, maybe more agressive on transfer. I have used a 3 stone cylinder hone, even more/too agressive. I have put a scotchbrite pad through an eyebolt mounted in my drill press chuck and pollished cylinders. Just trying different things.

Interestingly, based on a recomendation here, I have used a scotchbrite wheel and fine wire wheel on scored pistons.......it was a success with new rings.

Perfect, thanks! I'll give it a try next time

 

[blackoak]

Maroon here. I buy it by the case on Ebay. much cheaper than the auto parts store

 

[LegDeLimber]

Wet sanding or scratch padding works a lot better.
It helps clear the particles away as you work.
speeds things up a slight bit (good for the impatient types)
and the main reason is you get a better finish from it.

 

[209CrownKing]

I also use maroon...how does wet sanding help? I don't claim to know what I'm doing either

Aluminum oxide sandpaper or emery cloth is the way to go if you need to get aggressive. I like use cartridge sanding rolls but any aluminum oxide sandpaper or emery cloth on a split mandrel in a drill or rotary tool works great too. Wet sanding to such a fine grit is actually counter productive and you might actually be loosing a little compression. You don't want the cylinder polished like a mirror you want a very fine crosshatch, 1 to help the rings break in and 2 for oil retention.

Maroon, but I also wet sand from 330 to 1500 with the cylinder under water. As well I have done soaks of Easy Off for aluminum transfer........don't claim to know what I am doing

like use cartridge sanding rolls but any aluminum oxide sandpaper or emery cloth on a split mandrel in a drill or rotary tool works great too. Wet sanding to such a fine grit is actually counter productive and you might actually be loosing a little compression. You don't want the cylinder polished like a mirror you want a very fine crosshatch, 1 to help the rings break in and 2 for oil retention. I would actually advise not to use wetordry sandpaper unless it's specifically made of aluminum oxide. Alot of wetordry is made of silicon carbide and can actually wear your plating down. Aluminum oxide is key because aluminum is not as hard as the nikasil so it will only remove the transfer not the plating. If I remember Stihl cylinders come with 500-600 grit crosshatch and anything over a 1000 grit is prob just a waste of time. Most guys I know stop at 400 including myself.

 

[ZeroJunk]

May be a new record ?

 

[209CrownKing]

May be a new record ?

Yah didn't realize this thread was that old and didn't mean to make such a long response. Wet sanding cylinder to 1500 grit doesn't make any sense though.