The Ford Barn

Hotrodster · 08-13-2011, 08:25 PM

I have a couple of 30-31 headlight buckets and grill shells that need to be polished up. The headlights especially have quite a bit of water staining (how can that be on stainless steel, lol). What products, equipment and techniques have you had success with on stainless? Thanks for any help.

jkcrosson · 08-13-2011, 09:29 PM

Buffing wheel and white rouge.

Ron Lowe · 08-14-2011, 08:15 AM

I used Mothers Mag Wheel polish and a high speed buffing wheel. It took me more hours than I wanted to count but they turned out great. It's amasing how many people think they are chrome. Once they're done they will stay that way a very long time. Be very careful with that buffing wheel!! Good luck Ron

J Franklin · 08-14-2011, 01:24 PM

Do not overheat your work. I had a burnt spot on a practice piece. Maybe start on the underside of a lamp first.

Charlie Stephens · 08-14-2011, 01:36 PM

There was a good write up on this in the "Restorer" several years ago. It was reprinted in one of MAFCA's early "how to.." books. My advice: 1. get the right compounds and wheels (you need several going from course to fine) from a supplier that specializes in compounds and not just a "one size fits none" compound from the local hardware store, 2. don't overheat the metal by forcing it into a high speed wheel or you will end up with ripples that you cannot remove, 3. don't catch the edge of the part in the wheel or you will loose parts (they go into orbit) or fingers, and 4. draw a grid on the part with a felt tip and buff one section at a time

Charlie Stephens

Jim Boehmke · 08-14-2011, 01:45 PM

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I've put 100's of hours into getting a mirror finish on parts. Unless you have mint(no scratches) polish will not work. You first need to start hand sanding with sand paper. Usually starting with about 120 grit and then work your way through all the other finer grits and finishing with 2000 grit, THEN polish.

Hotrodster · 08-14-2011, 03:57 PM

Jim, do you sand wet or dry?

Jim Boehmke · 08-14-2011, 09:39 PM

I use water starting at 600

Mike V. Florida · 08-14-2011, 10:18 PM

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/sspolkit.html

Ed in Maine · 08-15-2011, 10:17 PM

I just polished my head light buckets and they came out just beautiful. I started with 1500 paper and soapy water and finished with 2000 paper. You are just trying to get out the fine scratches. I don't think it is possible to get out deep scratches without taking too much metal. Then get four grades of polishing rouge and four polishing wheels and label them so that you don't get them mixed up. Start with the most coarse and finish with the fine. Most importantly, go very easy on the Ford logo. If you are not careful you will end up with just a faint Ford logo!!!

08-13-2011, 08:25 PM	#1
Hotrodster Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 48	Polishing stainless parts. I have a couple of 30-31 headlight buckets and grill shells that need to be polished up. The headlights especially have quite a bit of water staining (how can that be on stainless steel, lol). What products, equipment and techniques have you had success with on stainless? Thanks for any help.

08-13-2011, 09:29 PM	#2
jkcrosson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pell City AL Posts: 720	Re: Polishing stainless parts. Buffing wheel and white rouge. __________________ Jamie Crosson 1929 Tudor Looking for an Original 888 Key

08-14-2011, 08:15 AM	#3
Ron Lowe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 184	Re: Polishing stainless parts. I used Mothers Mag Wheel polish and a high speed buffing wheel. It took me more hours than I wanted to count but they turned out great. It's amasing how many people think they are chrome. Once they're done they will stay that way a very long time. Be very careful with that buffing wheel!! Good luck Ron

08-14-2011, 01:24 PM	#4
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,969	Re: Polishing stainless parts. Do not overheat your work. I had a burnt spot on a practice piece. Maybe start on the underside of a lamp first.

08-14-2011, 01:36 PM	#5
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,033	Re: Polishing stainless parts. There was a good write up on this in the "Restorer" several years ago. It was reprinted in one of MAFCA's early "how to.." books. My advice: 1. get the right compounds and wheels (you need several going from course to fine) from a supplier that specializes in compounds and not just a "one size fits none" compound from the local hardware store, 2. don't overheat the metal by forcing it into a high speed wheel or you will end up with ripples that you cannot remove, 3. don't catch the edge of the part in the wheel or you will loose parts (they go into orbit) or fingers, and 4. draw a grid on the part with a felt tip and buff one section at a time Charlie Stephens

08-14-2011, 01:45 PM	#6
Jim Boehmke Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 344	Re: Polishing stainless parts. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I've put 100's of hours into getting a mirror finish on parts. Unless you have mint(no scratches) polish will not work. You first need to start hand sanding with sand paper. Usually starting with about 120 grit and then work your way through all the other finer grits and finishing with 2000 grit, THEN polish.

08-14-2011, 03:57 PM	#7
Hotrodster Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 48	Re: Polishing stainless parts. Jim, do you sand wet or dry?

08-14-2011, 09:39 PM	#8
Jim Boehmke Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 344	Re: Polishing stainless parts. I use water starting at 600

08-14-2011, 10:18 PM	#9
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Polishing stainless parts. http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/sspolkit.html __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-15-2011, 10:17 PM	#10
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	Re: Polishing stainless parts. I just polished my head light buckets and they came out just beautiful. I started with 1500 paper and soapy water and finished with 2000 paper. You are just trying to get out the fine scratches. I don't think it is possible to get out deep scratches without taking too much metal. Then get four grades of polishing rouge and four polishing wheels and label them so that you don't get them mixed up. Start with the most coarse and finish with the fine. Most importantly, go very easy on the Ford logo. If you are not careful you will end up with just a faint Ford logo!!!