axle polishing

[JamieM]

Is there such a thing as too fine of a polish? Are there differing techniques for graphite vs. oil? Attached is a BSA axle polished with DD4H kit and under the intense magnification, there is still plenty of scratches remaining but i seem to recall someone commenting that their axles were too smooth! Is that possible? Would be adding 6k, 7k, 8k grit be worth it?

 

[TRE]

Looks pretty good

 

[JamieM]

Looks pretty good

Could always be better though! Even with all that sanding/polishing there remains scratches as you can see.

 

[Pinewood Outlaw]

Our old district pinewood derby guru said he didn't see any speed improvements past 2000 grit.....of course he is of the graphite only mentality.

 

[Wolfram Racing]

THEORETICALLY...yes. Practically no. At the nanoscale, you can get a degree of polish that allows the surface atoms to align as if they were a single solid piece...and that's what they can become! It takes extreme measures and ridiculously clean surfaces... you'll never get there with sand paper, polishing compounds and PWD wheels.
Instead, you can over polish by reducing the diameter of your axle or increasing the diameter of your wheel bore. A sloppy wheel is a slow wheel.

 

[Ballistic Racing]

Looks pretty dang good for a BSA axle!
Keep practicing, use different techniques until you find something YOU like.