I Like Shiny

[dam718]

That looks great!!! When I couldn't buy a chromed/polished mini at Provape, I thought I'd do that too. I have a Cabmate, so it wouldn't be hard. But once I got it, I realized that the brushed finish doesn't show fingerprints and dirt. So I decided to leave it alone, and depending on how the light hits it, it can look shiny anyway.

Hand sanding... wow...

It's definitely a fingerprint magnet with the mirror polish... Easy enough to wipe off with a microfiber cloth though

 

[Ozwald]

I used buffing wheels on a bench grinder... You think I did that all by hand? Hell to the no son! LoL

Putting the tube on a lathe for the initial sanding would probably work out well. I used a dremel for the low grit sanding and getting the original finish off, and wet sanding by hand at 800, 1000, 1500 and 2000... That's what took the longest... The rubbing compound and polishing compound were done with a buffing wheel on the bench grinder, and the mothers polish was by hand.

If I did it all by hand, I probably would have quit... Or left it brushed...

I don't know if I'd actually try it, but I sand wood on my lathe up to 12000 in some instances & use it for finishing as well. I think the real tricky part would be figuring out how to chuck it up to turn true... after that you could easily use it for the whole process... or spend the $20 to have it shipped that way I think I'll go with the latter.

 

[dam718]

I don't know if I'd actually try it, but I sand wood on my lathe up to 12000 in some instances & use it for finishing as well. I think the real tricky part would be figuring out how to chuck it up to turn true... after that you could easily use it for the whole process... or spend the $20 to have it shipped that way I think I'll go with the latter.

Right! I'll pay $20 all day for someone else to do all that work...

You could get it to turn true in a lathe with a couple of wood or rubber cones on either end of the tube. At least it sounds good in theory, would probably still wobble...

 

[Ozwald]

Right! I'll pay $20 all day for someone else to do all that work...

You could get it to turn true in a lathe with a couple of wood or rubber cones on either end of the tube. At least it sounds good in theory, would probably still wobble...

I was thinking a pair of hand made jam chucks with some of that non-slip 'fabric' they sell at RV stores... but it'd still be tricky.

 

[soba1]

No, you don't want wax... wax is just gonna build crap up on your ProVari... It's more of a protective coating, not a polishing compound...

Here is what you need to get the mirror finish...

Ideally you want to wet sand with 1500 and 2000... You'll have to pop off the top cap and remove the acrylic display window, which isn't hard to do at all. Get the sandpaper nice and wet, and run the tube under the sink while you're sanding... Or fill a big bowl with water.

With both the 1500 and 2000 grit, you want to keep working until ALL the swirl marks are gone. You want it baby bottom smooth. No micro abrasions or swirls left... It may take a bit, but it's worth the effort! Work lengthwise with the tube so any abrasions that are left behind are in a uniform pattern.

Next, you want to work with a rubbing compound... Nothing too abrasive. I prefer 3M liquid rubbing compound. It gets you to a real nice finish. This removes any of the hazing and really fine abrasions left behind by the sand paper. You can apply this by hand, or with a buffing wheel.

Next you want to use a polishing compound. This is where you really start to see the mirror shine come through. Polishing compound is usually going to come as a stick or thick paste, and is best applied with a buffing wheel.

Last, and this is what really gets it to pop... You want to get some Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish. This you can apply by hand with a piece of cheese or terry cloth. Wipe clean... You can reapply as many times as you like. If you continue to see black residue lifting off onto the cloth, then there is still oxidation and compound build up. This will get all that off and leave you with something you can really admire.

Over time you will get small micro abrasions, which will require this whole process over again. LoL

It took me a good 2-3 days to get it to buff out to a mirror finish. But it was worth the effort!

And after ALL this work... Remember you can now get one that looks as good as all the effort you put into it straight from ProVape for a paltry $20 upcharge... You will know, as I do, that $20 is WELL worth getting them to polish it instead of you doing all the work! And yes, it takes them just as long as it takes you!

This was my 1000th post... I really need to get a life... Haha!

Here is a picture of how my V1 turned out:

You can see the reflection of the Dr Pepper can on the left side of the ProVari... It's SHINY mirror finished...

Ok I just reread this I have to work up the courage to pop off the top cap and the window
Thanks

 

[kas122461]

I know preloader just did this, plus there is a video some where about the power-pro, that shows it being done also. I think I have read that some have done the polishing with just a dremel tool and the polishing wheels, with out taking the hole thing apart.

Ok I just reread this I have to work up the courage to pop off the top cap and the window
Thanks

 

[EvilZoe]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/provari/485981-refinishing-provari-2.html#post11137065