Tube Polisher for ME. FINALLY!

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Wed May 23, 2012 6:41 pm

I've been planning this for awhile now, finally had enough downtime and a very sad neglected 56 Greenie to base it on. The end cap is from a Mark 2 which is a total P.O.S. and not worth resurrecting. The intermediate piece is cut down from a Goldie that was wasted and only good for parts.
I have a large pile of way and bench tubes to clean and polish (16 or more) and cannot put it off any longer. Thank Dog for 1.75 EMT.
The funny thing is, as horrible as it looks, this Greenie is one of the smoothest running Mark 5s I have ever had the pleasure to operate!

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Wed May 23, 2012 7:59 pm

That's a novel and neat approach, Robert. Thanks for sharing.

mgdesigns · Post by **mgdesigns** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:33 pm

So, how do you actually polish the tubes?

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:53 pm

The first part is really just de-rusting, with sand paper while spinning.
Finer and finer paper until you end up with super fine wet n dry paper. That's my take anyway.
Wear a respirator when de-rusting.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 24, 2012 2:45 pm

wiredone wrote:The first part is really just de-rusting, with sand paper while spinning.
Finer and finer paper until you end up with super fine wet n dry paper. That's my take anyway.
Wear a respirator when de-rusting.

Evaporust will eliminate the 'derusting' part. Just my preference!

I like yer setup. a leg under the end would minimize effect of EMT flexing(sagging).

dforeman · Post by **dforeman** » Thu May 24, 2012 3:26 pm

Are those extra long way tubes on top or are the lower tubes just shorter?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 24, 2012 4:25 pm

dforeman wrote:Are those extra long way tubes on top or are the lower tubes just shorter?

Longer ala 1 1/2" EMT(electrical conduit) with a 1 3/4" od(very close)They come in 10' lengths.

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Thu May 24, 2012 6:51 pm

these way tubes are about 7 feet long.
I got 4 tubes "done" today. You're right red, time for a chemical solution.
All My 10ER tunes that are up next are solid rust. Where to buy?
Here in the desert we have limited resources, ie, Home Despot and Wally world.

Red, no flexing or sagging....yet.
Once this big batch of tubes is done it'll be reassembled as a proper Mark 5, and become the shop beater.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 24, 2012 9:39 pm

wiredone wrote:these way tubes are about 7 feet long.
I got 4 tubes "done" today. You're right red, time for a chemical solution.
All My 10ER tunes that are up next are solid rust. Where to buy?
Here in the desert we have limited resources, ie, Home Despot and Wally world.

Red, no flexing or sagging....yet.
Once this big batch of tubes is done it'll be reassembled as a proper Mark 5, and become the shop beater.

If they be really badly rusted, electrolysis may be a better method.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu May 24, 2012 10:19 pm

wiredone wrote:The first part is really just de-rusting, with sand paper while spinning.
Finer and finer paper until you end up with super fine wet n dry paper. That's my take anyway.
Wear a respirator when de-rusting.

I quickly found a 3X21 belt sander really makes quick and easy work for sanding/polishing the tubes. I used several finer grades of sandpaper as the tube shines more. Takes little time to change the sandpaper. If the tube was rusty, I used Naval Jelly to clean the rust from the pit holes before sanding/polishing the tubes if you are wanting a cleaner looking tube.

I find that some tubes can be bent so be prepared to very quickly stop the Shopsmith the first time as the vibration can cause the tube to come loose of its holders. Be prepared for quick reaction to prevent body damage.