stainless needs polishing
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 999
Likes: 1
From: Willamette Valley Oregon
<cr>
Buff pads and compound. Although it could all be done by hand, power tools are the way to go.
All metals are worked basicly the same. Work from coarse to fine. How coarse to start with depends on now damaged the metal is. For example...
I had some curb damaged aluminum wheels. I started with a coarse file. From there I used 80 grit sandpaper, 150, 220, 600 and finished with 1200 grit. Then I used tripoli buffing compound to finish up.
For ferrous metals (like stainless), use these these compounds, in this order...
1. Emery compound
2. Stainless compound
3. Chrome compound
Buy a separate pad for each compound so you don't damage your previous work. You don't have go down all the way to chrome compound. You stop when you get the desired finish. Using a buffing pad, on a hand drill works just fine.
Buff pads and compound. Although it could all be done by hand, power tools are the way to go.
All metals are worked basicly the same. Work from coarse to fine. How coarse to start with depends on now damaged the metal is. For example...
I had some curb damaged aluminum wheels. I started with a coarse file. From there I used 80 grit sandpaper, 150, 220, 600 and finished with 1200 grit. Then I used tripoli buffing compound to finish up.
For ferrous metals (like stainless), use these these compounds, in this order...
1. Emery compound
2. Stainless compound
3. Chrome compound
Buy a separate pad for each compound so you don't damage your previous work. You don't have go down all the way to chrome compound. You stop when you get the desired finish. Using a buffing pad, on a hand drill works just fine.
Last edited by Aekisu; Dec 17, 2004 at 01:34 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Shore, Md.
I second Aekisu, I work in a marine fab shop and we polish ss and alum all the time. I usually stop at 400 grit. Don't go any coarser than you have, you'll make more work for yourself. It's a nasty job. When you sand it keep the pad flat and watch the edges. Move slowly and keep the sanding pattern tight and in the same direction. When you get to the polishing stage, usually polish in one direction then turn and polish 90 deg. it's not that hard, just dirty. Use safety glasses and a dust mask. watch the edges with the polisher too, you can bend a piece of trim quick. I just wanted to expand on what Aekisu said. Just my input.
