Newbie Starting to polish stainless

[jimgovoni]

Hello: I have just gotten all the stainless off my 1953 Cadillac from my restoration shop. I have no experience and need to know: What to buy? How to proceed? What risks are there to be aware of? My stainless is in incredible shape. Only one piece on the entire car is scratched deeply. Most of it looks like it just came off the showroom floor. Any help/advice would be most welcome. My email is [email protected] for non-forum info. Many thanks, Jim

[mpierich]

Re: Newbie Starting to polish stainless

Hello: I have just gotten all the stainless off my 1953 Cadillac from my restoration shop. I have no experience and need to know: What to buy? How to proceed? What risks are there to be aware of? My stainless is in incredible shape. Only one piece on the entire car is scratched deeply. Most of it looks like it just came off the showroom floor. Any help/advice would be most welcome. My email is [email protected] for non-forum info. Many thanks, Jim

I would use the finest grit possible if you need to remove scratches - maybe 600 wet or drop back to 400 or less if that's too slow. You need to be careful since the trim is so thin - plus, if you don't work around buffing wheels often, remember it's easy to catch a thin piece of trim on a wheel and either damage it or yourself! Focus on where your wheel is in relation to the leading edge of the piece or you'll end up with it embedded in the wall - or in you, lol...

On areas with only light scratches, I would try a sisal wheel w/black compound - might take them out with no sanding needed. Follow up with an airways/black (or spiral/black) and finish off with spiral/green. That's how I do stainless brake rotors and it seems to be the best combination so far, for stainless.

[pickleboy]

Re: Newbie Starting to polish stainless

that is great advise i can only add this. if you dont have a buffer and dont want to spend the necessary money for one, i have been using this setup lately on trim. i have a craftsman 4.5" electric grinder. i added this arbor adapter, http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/grinderadapter.html, and then use 4 or 6" wheels on it. this gives a good surface speed and is fairly controlable. i then clamp the trim to a bench and go to it. when you work near an edge you can flip the grinder over so your wheel is pushing off the edge not dragging over it, so you are less likely to have the grab problem. still as always excercise the highest level of caution when buffing as mpierich said it can grab and hurt the part which is hard if not impossible to replace, but worts yet it can seriously hurt you. lastly best of luck and post pics when you finish so we can all see the work you do.

[jrow]

Re: Newbie Starting to polish stainless

jimgovoni,

Just some additional thoughts. I would suggest that you use either 1", 1 1/2" or 2" treated or untreated buffs, same buffing compound as suggested above. I would think that you would have better control with the smaller buffs. You can use these buffs with a mandrel and a drill motor! You can go all the way up to a 4" buffs using a drill motor.
If your SS trim is straight you can fasten it to a piece of wood so the trim just hangs over the edge a little and buff away! Use band clamps to hold the trim to the wood. Make sure it is mounted solid so it doesn't bend on you. I would think that 3/4" plywood would be wide enough.

John