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08-13-2011, 08:25 PM | #1 |
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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.
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08-13-2011, 09:29 PM | #2 |
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Re: Polishing stainless parts.
Buffing wheel and white rouge.
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08-14-2011, 08:15 AM | #3 |
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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
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08-14-2011, 01:24 PM | #4 |
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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.
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08-14-2011, 01:36 PM | #5 |
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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
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08-14-2011, 01:45 PM | #6 |
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Re: Polishing stainless parts.
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08-14-2011, 03:57 PM | #7 |
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Re: Polishing stainless parts.
Jim, do you sand wet or dry?
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08-14-2011, 09:39 PM | #8 |
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Re: Polishing stainless parts.
I use water starting at 600
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08-14-2011, 10:18 PM | #9 |
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Re: Polishing stainless parts.
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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 |
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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!!!
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