Tool Question....

OK, I got my 8' x 2' and 1/4" steel workbench top today. I need to clean it up and polish it now. I want to put those nice swirl circles in it if possible before I seal it and may need to clean up some of the edges. Do I need to get a "polisher/grinder"? Is there a certain type or grit of wheel I need to get for it? I would like to use whatever I get to also polish my truck, if that is possible? I am just not sure of what tool to get. Any thoughts on type and a good brand in this category? Thanks!

 

Other references...

http://www.workingpsychology.com/diversions/jeweling.html

http://www.cs.ucr.edu/~eamonn/et/et.htm

 

Excellent, thanks!!!

 

The Engine Turn is in fact what I had in mind, but this piece is 8 feet long and would it take forever to do this. I was hoping that I could accomplish something "similar" with an orbital grinder/polisher or something.......

 

Sorry can't offer you any suggestions. Sounds like it will be sweet when you are finished. Post some pics of the finished product.

 

You wont be able to get the finish your looking for with an Orbital.

Have a couple beers ready, because it can take a while and requires some patients.

 

I think what I am going to do is get an orbital grinder/polisher since I always wanted one....I'll use some rubbing compound on a disk and just go over as best I can to get it really clean and shiny....swirls are OK, even if not symmetircal. I just don't want it to look like bare metal. Thanks for ya'lls advice. Is there even such a thing as on orbital grinder/polisher? or is it an orbital sander/polisher? I don't suppose an orbital anything would be used to "grind metal"...

 

OK, I am going to look at them this weekend. Want a variable speed one as I know going too fast can damage your paint. Can I put polishing pads on an orbital sander as well?

 

Here's an idea . . . .

With whatever tool you end up using you could make a "stencil" for it our of plywood with a hole saw or something. Hold it down with some clamps so it won't move. Then move the stencil over appropriately so you get the even spacing and finish you desire. Make sense? I actually think that'd work pretty well.

 

Makes perfectly good sense......I need to get this heavy thing onto the bench tonight (still in back of truck)......I'll clean it up first, go to Lowes and see what they have. I want to study it and think about it before diving in, which is why I value ya'lls suggestions.
I have a pretty steady hand and a good eye, if I used a non-orbital type polisher, I'll bet I could do this without have to use a template....

 

there is a wire wheel that you can put on a drill.it's about 2inches in diameter and they have smaller but i saw it done with the 2.the sanding disk won't give you the brushed look that i think your looking for

 

It's Hot Rolled steel plate. Edges deburred with the two outside corners cut with rounded corners......I also was just looking at the wire brish attachment you mentioned and thought the same thing you mentioned. On the "face down" side of the plate I intend to do some practicing..... I'll take some good pics when I am done and how/what I did.