Sanding your li-li...
- Thread starter Mr. Smith
- Start date
Mr. Smith
New member
Ignore the blow holes, I had a few beers and thought it would be a good idea to play the the jigsaw. Once sobriety set in I realised my 'good job' was closer to a pigs ear.
Anyway, the random orbital sander is having a tough time getting through the annodisation. Looks like a trip to the hardware store is in order to get some coarse sand paper...
You can see it's starting to get stripped back and become a shiny-li
Anyway, the random orbital sander is having a tough time getting through the annodisation. Looks like a trip to the hardware store is in order to get some coarse sand paper...
You can see it's starting to get stripped back and become a shiny-li
Mr. Smith
New member
Alright, so I've ended up with loads of polish. English Customs came through after I opened a dispute, but in the mean time I had ordered some Mothers Alu & Mag polish too...
Spent a few hours this morning on it... Not 100% happy, but I can see it might actually be worth it.
This is with 600 grit... Not too bad.
I skipped photos of 800 as the metal went all cloudy?
This is where I am at now, after one sheet of 1200 grit.
This is with Mothers:
This is with English Custom:
I haven't finished sanding but I wanted a sneak peak of what I can expect.
The hardest part of this is getting the annodisation off, once you do that it's a matter of spending a few hours sanding, the polish seems to do most of the work.
You couldn't pay me to do this again.
I'm concentrating on the top and front of the case as once these are done I can install my components and worry about the HUGE side panels later.
Spent a few hours this morning on it... Not 100% happy, but I can see it might actually be worth it.
This is with 600 grit... Not too bad.
I skipped photos of 800 as the metal went all cloudy?
This is where I am at now, after one sheet of 1200 grit.
This is with Mothers:
This is with English Custom:
I haven't finished sanding but I wanted a sneak peak of what I can expect.
The hardest part of this is getting the annodisation off, once you do that it's a matter of spending a few hours sanding, the polish seems to do most of the work.
You couldn't pay me to do this again.
I'm concentrating on the top and front of the case as once these are done I can install my components and worry about the HUGE side panels later.
Mr. Smith
New member
Thanks man.
The polishing is a breeze, it literally takes 1min to do a 5cm square.
I use a cloth to apply the polish, rub in using small overlapping circles, wipe off excess, then take a clean microfiber cloth and buff.
The polish does the work tbh.
It's the sanding.
Random orbital with 60 grit, then 280 grit.
That might sound easy but it takes hours and is pretty tough on the forearms. Li-li certainly know how to annodise!
Then you switch to turbo elbow grease.
Wet and dry, 600, 800 and 1200 grit. Each grit takes forever, if you catch the metal with anything - scratches.
I could go into more detail if you like?
The polishing is a breeze, it literally takes 1min to do a 5cm square.
I use a cloth to apply the polish, rub in using small overlapping circles, wipe off excess, then take a clean microfiber cloth and buff.
The polish does the work tbh.
It's the sanding.
Random orbital with 60 grit, then 280 grit.
That might sound easy but it takes hours and is pretty tough on the forearms. Li-li certainly know how to annodise!
Then you switch to turbo elbow grease.
Wet and dry, 600, 800 and 1200 grit. Each grit takes forever, if you catch the metal with anything - scratches.
I could go into more detail if you like?
FarFarAway
New member
Wow looking good Mr.S, looking forward to seeing some sexy completed pics 
sorry I missed this thread Mr Smith. It can be done as you have found out with a BUNCH of work.
Here is is a guide to polishing-
http://www.kikboxes.com/absolutenewsmanager/templates/kikboxtemplate.asp?articleid=152&zoneid=3
remember if you get tired of all the work all is NOT lost. Its easy to add the brushed alum look back.
Here is a kit I bought to polish alum
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94962
Here is is a guide to polishing-
http://www.kikboxes.com/absolutenewsmanager/templates/kikboxtemplate.asp?articleid=152&zoneid=3
remember if you get tired of all the work all is NOT lost. Its easy to add the brushed alum look back.
Here is a kit I bought to polish alum
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94962
Mr. Smith
New member
name='XMS' said:Looking good mate. Once that's done you're gonna have to get it put inside a glass case. Don't want it getting scratched
I've scratched to so many times, if the sandpaper creases, it rips the finish up
name='Kempez' said:Wow looking good Mr.S, looking forward to seeing some sexy completed pics
Nice one, I think it will be pretty decent when it is done
name='prosser13' said:Looking good
Careful how you sand - I found sanding vertically gave me a brushed finish while sanding horizontally gave me a mirror finish...
I found the opposite! 600 was vertical, 800 horizontal, 1200 vertical. The vertical gave me the best finish!
name='Mullet' said:Coming along real nice there matey!!!
A few more days work and it should be finished...and you'll have forearms like Popeye!
Keep us posted
Will do fella. Thanks man. I can't wait for this to be finished. I need a new dvd and res as both are black and will look awful. Thinking of some custom stealthiness
name='Elven' said:And moment it's done and sits back admiring it a pen falls ands scratchs it
Tell me about it. I was washing it down to get rid of the dirt, caught the metal with the shower flex and that was it, scratch galore!
Cheers for the poz feedback
LOL - I've got all my tools and i watched that tutorial on youtube... Just wish I would have seen it sooner...
Sad to hear, and even though I was skeptical at first. I'm saying keep at it you should be able to get it, permitting you don't go through the aluminum... but that shouldn't happenname='Mr. Smith' said:Thanks mate
I have to say, this is really :cussing::cussing::cussing::cussing:ing me off!
The alu isn't perfectly flat and due to my perfectionist ways I insist on a mirror finish. There is a slight haze even after 2000 grit and some polishing. I wish I never started.
Today is a bad day.
good luck man, with the pics you've proved me wrong, and hopefully, today's mishap will pan out.
Mr. Smith
New member
I give up.
After much deliberation I have decided to abandon this project.
2nd hand Lian Li PC75 £72
Sander £20
Sander sand paper £15
Various polish £30
Various wet and dry £20
Microfibre cloths £10
Thats about £160 plus time and effort.
I simply don't have the time to keep sanding this and polishing. The top and front are mostly done but the mirror finish is lacking in places, meaning more wet and dry sanding and polishing. I haven't even done the side panels.
Anyone want to make me an offer and take the case, polish, wet and dry and cloths off my hands?
After much deliberation I have decided to abandon this project.
2nd hand Lian Li PC75 £72
Sander £20
Sander sand paper £15
Various polish £30
Various wet and dry £20
Microfibre cloths £10
Thats about £160 plus time and effort.
I simply don't have the time to keep sanding this and polishing. The top and front are mostly done but the mirror finish is lacking in places, meaning more wet and dry sanding and polishing. I haven't even done the side panels.
Anyone want to make me an offer and take the case, polish, wet and dry and cloths off my hands?
Mr. Smith
New member
@ work mate but i can get plenty later.
There are 3 blow holes on the top (need tidying up a little), the top and front panel are sanded down to 2000 grit and I was polishing last night.
The side panels are untouched.
It was at that point I realised not everything is as sanded as it needs to be. Cue me getting
ed off.
One drive bay has been sanded back to 60 grit. Rest are stock.
To surmise:
Top and front are almost ready for final polish.
Side panels and drive bay covers need annodise taking off and polishing up.
You have everything you need to finish.
I just don't have the patience anymore
Edit: Jim - I estimate a weeks work to finish. PM if required.
There are 3 blow holes on the top (need tidying up a little), the top and front panel are sanded down to 2000 grit and I was polishing last night.
The side panels are untouched.
It was at that point I realised not everything is as sanded as it needs to be. Cue me getting
One drive bay has been sanded back to 60 grit. Rest are stock.
To surmise:
Top and front are almost ready for final polish.
Side panels and drive bay covers need annodise taking off and polishing up.
You have everything you need to finish.
I just don't have the patience anymore
Edit: Jim - I estimate a weeks work to finish. PM if required.
