The Ford Barn

1930marie · 12-05-2015, 01:48 AM

How can I "buff" out/remove the fine scratches on my stainless steel radiator shell? Thanks.

Mike V. Florida · 12-05-2015, 02:33 AM

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffman.htm

mike657894 · 12-05-2015, 03:01 AM

find a local paint shop that has high numbered paper 2000 3000. i have polished hard stainless guns before. so i think this method would work for the stainless on a model a. the gun was investment cast started with 220 then 320 400 600 1000 1600 2000 3000 then polish with mothers mag polish. i use the mothers by hand becaue on a wheel it will pit slightly. but on the model a stuff probably start with 1000 or 2000 or start with polishing compound.

Tim B. · 12-05-2015, 08:49 AM

You may want to try using Jeweler's rouge and a buffer with very light pressure to see if that does the trick before using anything more aggressive. Tim

Kevin in NJ · 12-05-2015, 09:20 AM

You are asking a magic question.

Define scratches.
Do you mean something you can catch with a finger nail or maybe the point of a pin?

Is it scratches not gotten out by the restoration buffing process?

This is where the problem is with buffing as I have recently come to a better understanding.

You have to figure out how bad the scratches are and then guess which abrasive will make take out the scratch.

If it is some fine scratch try a buff with a rouge as suggested and see if that makes the surface look better to you. Keep in mind you are not likely to get out all of the scratch, just make it lesser and lesser till it looks good in sunlight.

Now if it is a scratch that you can feel with a finger nail then you are may need to start at 220 grit and work your way up to 2000 then the buffs. Lesser scratch can be pulled at finer grit. I am working some gas caps now and using 400 dry. I really should be at a slightly courser grit to cut down to the bottom of the scratch, but they are small and I do not mind working the 400 a bit longer. I would never do that on a radiator shell over a larger area. I would start at the 220 or so and work my way up.

You can try some 1000 grit and see if that cut you down to the bottom and then work your way up.

The problem will be a proper buffing tool. On the car would be risking paint. You will need something with the right surface speed and the correct bar for stainless cutting. Then you will need to do the rouge for coloring.

If you have not figure out already it is a lot of work to get the stainless to buff out. You also must buy quality paper like 3M, Meguires, norton. The cheap stuff does not cut well or long, I tried.

1930marie · 12-05-2015, 06:33 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Heading down to my buddies auto body shop. Thanks for all the input - it really moved me ahead on this project.

12-05-2015, 01:48 AM	#1
1930marie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Oregon Posts: 238	Removing scratches on stainless How can I "buff" out/remove the fine scratches on my stainless steel radiator shell? Thanks.

12-05-2015, 02:33 AM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida between Sarasota and TampaSouth Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Removing scratches on stainless http://www.caswellplating.com/buffman.htm __________________ 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

12-05-2015, 03:01 AM	#3
mike657894 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bay City Michigan Posts: 1,050	Re: Removing scratches on stainless find a local paint shop that has high numbered paper 2000 3000. i have polished hard stainless guns before. so i think this method would work for the stainless on a model a. the gun was investment cast started with 220 then 320 400 600 1000 1600 2000 3000 then polish with mothers mag polish. i use the mothers by hand becaue on a wheel it will pit slightly. but on the model a stuff probably start with 1000 or 2000 or start with polishing compound.

12-05-2015, 08:49 AM	#4
Tim B. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 162	Re: Removing scratches on stainless You may want to try using Jeweler's rouge and a buffer with very light pressure to see if that does the trick before using anything more aggressive. Tim

12-05-2015, 09:20 AM	#5
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Removing scratches on stainless You are asking a magic question. Define scratches. Do you mean something you can catch with a finger nail or maybe the point of a pin? Is it scratches not gotten out by the restoration buffing process? This is where the problem is with buffing as I have recently come to a better understanding. You have to figure out how bad the scratches are and then guess which abrasive will make take out the scratch. If it is some fine scratch try a buff with a rouge as suggested and see if that makes the surface look better to you. Keep in mind you are not likely to get out all of the scratch, just make it lesser and lesser till it looks good in sunlight. Now if it is a scratch that you can feel with a finger nail then you are may need to start at 220 grit and work your way up to 2000 then the buffs. Lesser scratch can be pulled at finer grit. I am working some gas caps now and using 400 dry. I really should be at a slightly courser grit to cut down to the bottom of the scratch, but they are small and I do not mind working the 400 a bit longer. I would never do that on a radiator shell over a larger area. I would start at the 220 or so and work my way up. You can try some 1000 grit and see if that cut you down to the bottom and then work your way up. The problem will be a proper buffing tool. On the car would be risking paint. You will need something with the right surface speed and the correct bar for stainless cutting. Then you will need to do the rouge for coloring. If you have not figure out already it is a lot of work to get the stainless to buff out. You also must buy quality paper like 3M, Meguires, norton. The cheap stuff does not cut well or long, I tried.

12-05-2015, 06:33 PM	#6
1930marie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Oregon Posts: 238	Re: Removing scratches on stainless Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Heading down to my buddies auto body shop. Thanks for all the input - it really moved me ahead on this project.