# Polishing a metal yoyo **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [February 17, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612 "2013-02-17T01:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/1 "2013-02-17T01:28:13Z")
Does anyone have a tutorial on how to polish? I know how to do the polish, but don’t you need to strip the paint first? Does it have to be raw.? I confused and would like to clarify things up ;). ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/2 "2013-02-17T01:56:53Z")
Yes, if it’s painted or ano’d it needs to be stripped. You can only polish raw metal. No tutorial required. ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/3 "2013-02-17T01:59:44Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > Yes, if it’s painted or ano’d it needs to be stripped. You can only polish raw metal. No tutorial required. Ho do you Strip the ano or paint? ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/4 "2013-02-17T02:01:05Z")
If I told you I’d have to kill ya… ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/5 "2013-02-17T02:01:50Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > If I told you I’d have to kill ya… In from the government. It’s ok to tell me. ---
**Author:** ![dingo54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@dingo54](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dingo54)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/6 "2013-02-17T02:02:54Z")
> [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > [@jhb8426](#): > > > > Yes, if it’s painted or ano’d it needs to be stripped. You can only polish raw metal. No tutorial required. > > Ho do you Strip the ano or paint? Just put the axle in a drill and spin it then put sandpaper on it while its spinning and sand the anno. Or else cover it in oven cleaner and wait 10 mins then wipe it and anno will be gone, but it will turn white and may be darker where splash used to be ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/7 "2013-02-17T02:04:04Z")
So spin it on a drill put it to sandpaper. Will I need to strip it till its completely the original color? Or no paint left? ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/8 "2013-02-17T02:04:27Z")
> [@dingo54](#): > > but it will turn whute I really like the whute ones. ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/9 "2013-02-17T02:05:23Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > but it will turn whute > > I really like the whute ones. What does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![dingo54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@dingo54](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dingo54)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/10 "2013-02-17T02:05:52Z")
> [@Bcmaddog](#): > > So spin it on a drill put it to sandpaper. Will I need to strip it till its completely the original color? Or no paint left? Until it is raw silver metal. And he was messing with me for my spelling error, i fixed it. ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/11 "2013-02-17T02:07:24Z")
What grit should I use? ---
**Author:** ![dingo54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@dingo54](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dingo54)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/12 "2013-02-17T02:08:29Z")
> [@Bcmaddog](#): > > What grit should I use? Start with the lowest you have and work up to 600 ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/13 "2013-02-17T02:08:55Z")
> [@dingo54](#): > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > What grit should I use? > > Start with the lowest you have and work up to 600 600 grit? I only have 60 grit. ---
**Author:** ![dingo54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@dingo54](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dingo54)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/14 "2013-02-17T02:11:10Z")
> [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > What grit should I use? > > > > Start with the lowest you have and work up to 600 > > 600 grit? I only have 60 grit. It will work but look more like a beat yoyo. Its what i use sometimes, but if you polish it will look better ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/15 "2013-02-17T02:12:27Z")
> [@dingo54](#): > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > > What grit should I use? > > > > > > Start with the lowest you have and work up to 600 > > > > 600 grit? I only have 60 grit. > > It will work but look more like a beat yoyo. Its what i use sometimes, but if you polish it will look better So I can use 60 grit to get the paint off. When I polish will it look like a Beat? If I use 600 grit will it look better? ---
**Author:** ![dingo54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@dingo54](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dingo54)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/16 "2013-02-17T02:14:25Z")
> [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > > > > What grit should I use? > > > > > > > > Start with the lowest you have and work up to 600 > > > > > > 600 grit? I only have 60 grit. > > > > It will work but look more like a beat yoyo. Its what i use sometimes, but if you polish it will look better > > So I can use 60 grit to get the paint off. When I polish will it look like a Beat? If I use 600 grit will it look better? The scratches will be bigger, so it wont look"Beat" just not the greatest. After polishing it will look a lot better. You can always do 60 then go to 600 when you buy it ---
**Author:** ![yoyospirit](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyospirit/32/219875_2.png) [@yoyospirit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyospirit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/17 "2013-02-17T02:19:31Z")
Could’ve just sent me a pm lol. I don’t really feel like typing up a whole guide, so I’ll just give you the short run. Acetone for stripping off paint. Lye for anodize. You can strip off the ano using something like 100 grit sandpaper, but it still takes a while, and it’s possible for you to deform the yoyo. ---
**Author:** ![Bcmaddog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bcmaddog/32/1170_2.png) [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/18 "2013-02-17T02:20:59Z")
> [@dingo54](#): > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > > > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > What grit should I use? > > > > > > > > > > Start with the lowest you have and work up to 600 > > > > > > > > 600 grit? I only have 60 grit. > > > > > > It will work but look more like a beat yoyo. Its what i use sometimes, but if you polish it will look better > > > > So I can use 60 grit to get the paint off. When I polish will it look like a Beat? If I use 600 grit will it look better? > > The scratches will be bigger, so it wont look"Beat" just not the greatest. After polishing it will look a lot better. You can always do 60 then go to 600 when you buy it Im still kind of confused. If its going to scratch the yoyo. How do the polished yoyos by pros not have scratches? ---
**Author:** ![xmotoby](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/xmotoby/32/1246_2.png) [@xmotoby](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/xmotoby)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/19 "2013-02-17T02:51:41Z")
> [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > > > > > [@dingo54](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Bcmaddog](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > What grit should I use? > > > > > > > > > > > > Start with the lowest you have and work up to 600 > > > > > > > > > > 600 grit? I only have 60 grit. > > > > > > > > It will work but look more like a beat yoyo. Its what i use sometimes, but if you polish it will look better > > > > > > So I can use 60 grit to get the paint off. When I polish will it look like a Beat? If I use 600 grit will it look better? > > > > The scratches will be bigger, so it wont look"Beat" just not the greatest. After polishing it will look a lot better. You can always do 60 then go to 600 when you buy it > > Im still kind of confused. If its going to scratch the yoyo. How do the polished yoyos by pros not have scratches? If you only use 60 grit, then it will look very scratched up. I screwed a nut onto the axle and then stuck it in a drill, then started with 60 grit sand paper to strip the ano off. You want all the color off of the yoyo so that it is raw. Then you want to gradually work your way down through the sandpaper, from roughest to finest. I used 60, 150, 320, and then 600. Mostly it just takes a lot of time to get it to look really shiny with the 600. If you just only use 600, then it will take you a long time to strip the ano off. ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612/20 "2013-02-17T03:39:50Z")
I think 60 grit is too coarse to start. I’d start w/100 grit, then work up in steps as xmotoby says. Finish off with a polishing compound. [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polishing-a-metal-yoyo/49612.md?page=2)