1997 Santa Cruz Jackal BMX done for now. New S&M Race Bars. 21.86 lbs as pictured.
You must login to Pinkbike.
Don't have an account? Sign up

Join Pinkbike  Login
1997 Santa Cruz Jackal BMX done for now. New S&M Race Bars. 21.86 lbs as pictured.
19 Comments
  • 2 0
 You know me.....I'm a sucker for "silver".

Nice job, seraph!
  • 1 0
 Hey man, where you been?

I hand polished the frame on this. It was polished originally but it got all dinged and scratched over the years.
  • 2 0
 Getting even older, and still not back in Cali. I stop by PB once in a great while to check in, and see you postings on a regular basis. Saw your bike pic, liked it's look, and wanted to say hello. Feeling too old to be on here anymore. :-)
  • 2 0
 I've been too old for this site since I turned 20 ten years ago. Now I'm practically a senior citizen compared to most PB users. But now that you're kinda back I have to pick your brain about polishing aluminum!
  • 2 0
 Well, if you're a senior citizen, what would that make ME?

Okay, I could share what I've experienced with polishing my parts (and anodizing concerns). Whatcha got?
  • 1 0
 Well I sanded and filed down as many of the scratches and dings on this frame as I could and then attempted to bring back the original shine of the frame with a rag and rubbing compound, but I wonder if there's a better way to get a brighter shine. Any tips? I don't have access to a polishing wheel, just a Dremel and my dirty mitts.
  • 2 0
 Rather than a lengthy explanation, I've included a few links for basic "how-to" info and a consumer product that works pretty well, though not on par with professional products, which is what I use. The first link discusses wheel types, compounds, technique, etc.

The 2nd and 3rd link are for "Mothers" products, which has been around for decades as a "consumer" aluminum polish, and now offers cones and balls to insert into electric drills. Their products are available at most auto parts stores (in the USA), or Amazon, EBay, etc.

Depending on the aluminum component's condition, and doing the polishing by hand, or with an electric drill, one can start by pre-sanding with wet-n-dry sandpaper, wetted with a soapy water solution, at the mid 300+ grit range, followed with finer 400 - 600 grit paper until able to use the "Mothers" polish as described in their info. If using small "commercial" wheels and cones with either higher RPM drills, buffers or pneumatics, commercial compounds are the best option, and can be obtained via buffing supply houses, Amazon or EBay.

Hope this helps, and YouTube is a great source for how-to's.

General buffing Info: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SidCppOfJY

Mothers Products: www.motherspowerball.com/index.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KS3_JL7mQY
  • 1 0
 Are there such things as hand held buffing wheels? Seems like a buffing wheel is the way to go, but all the ones I've seen are bench-mounted.
  • 2 0
 More info:

Polishing with electric drill: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFohF8zA83k
Polishing with commercial side grinder (large): www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCGgRRPe9Ig
Side grinder options (small): www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders-buffers.html
  • 2 0
 Too Clean....
  • 1 0
 It could get a little cleaner, but not without spending more money to replace parts that work perfectly fine. Ideally I'd like to get a carbon fork on there, but the Answer Pro that it has right now is the same vintage as the frame.
  • 3 0
 I was wondering what year the fork was. I'd keeping it vintage for the pimp factor, maybe thats just me. Look fun!
  • 1 0
 I know, I asked you ages ago if you wanted to sell it and you declined.
  • 1 0
 Ask me again in 15 years.
  • 1 1
 I hate you
  • 1 0
 And why is that?
  • 1 0
 I want it
  • 2 0
 I don't think I would ever sell it.







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.015195
Mobile Version of Website