polishing stainless steal?

[Orinda Auto Detail]

Any suggestion for polishing stainless steal? new place I`m moving into has huge stainless counters that are swirl city I think I`ll have to replace them if I can`t polish them out.... I`ve never polished stainless before lol
thanks

http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b479/gavsauto/9C7DD031-0386-44E5-9343-5FD4346332BD-9410-00000638DCF15062.jpg
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b479/gavsauto/0FF42EA0-479E-46A1-97E3-A862D6B75EEB-9410-00000638CFD19EF2.jpg

[JSFM35X]

If I were you, I would find a DeLorean Forum and see what they use? Not sure you can remove swirls that easily in SS. I have seen companies make SS in elevators more presentable perhaps call a local elevator company and see if they can help you out.

[rzatch]

Joe have a look around here. If there`s an answer you`ll find it.

Finishing: Anodizing, Plating, Powder Coating, & Surface Finishing (http://www.finishing.com/)

[LS6]

This is the stuff:
Kitchen Cleaners | Kitchen Cleaning Products | Bar Keepers Friend (http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/in-the-kitchen)

available at most grocery stores in the cleaners aisle

edit: I don`t know how it will do for swirls but it`s cheap enough to try and is an excellent cleaner for stainless. Try a paddle brush with green scotch brite pads with this cleaner, or just try by hand with a green scotch brite pad on a sanding block. It`s goning to take some elbow grease no matter what.

(also just remembered an episode of wheeler dealers where they restored a Delorean and hired a pro to do the stainless. Might be some tips in that episode if you can find a video of it online).

[Paul Sparks]

Years ago Kevin Brown did a post over on MOL about polishing stainless steel trim on a 57 Chevy Belair. Most people would have removed the trim and used buffing wheels on a bench type buffer with some buffing compound . Kevin used M105 and it turned out great. You would have thought he sent the trim out and had it plated. Just might try this since most have M105 in our arsenal.
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?25506-M105-to-Polish-Stainless-Steel-WOW!&highlight=kevin+brown+stainless+trim.

Who would of thought that M105 and a da could produce this type of results ?

Made a correction. I originally posted Chevy Nomad. It was actually a 57 Belair. Sorry.

[LS6]

Paul, do you suppose that technique would work with stainless steel that has a linear scratch pattern of texture to start with? Since Jsmooth is talking about SS in a kitchen application, many times the SS used there has a linear scratch pattern rather than glossy (can`t tell for sure from the photo in the OP).

[Beemerboy]

For me polishing scratches or marring in any metal with the exception of aluminum, is not and easy task and requires specialized buffers, pads, wheels and polishes. Something that I would leave up to the pro`s ( I know the OP is not looking to do this)

That said I do think that you can make it look better with some work on it, but I wouldn`t get my expectations up on getting a new looking finish.

[Paul Sparks]

Not sure what this process would do to the counters that the OP has in mind but heck before reading the post by Kevin, I would have thought the only way to get the results he did was a Baldor type buffer and sisal wheel and buffing compound. Sometimes one has to think outside the box. If it can be done or at least improved upon then great. If not then lesson learned. Just my opinion I guess.

[Paul Sparks]

Paul, do you suppose that technique would work with stainless steel that has a linear scratch pattern of texture to start with? Since Jsmooth is talking about SS in a kitchen application, many times the SS used there has a linear scratch pattern rather than glossy (can`t tell for sure from the photo in the OP).

I would say polishing with a da and compound would only produce a polished or mirror finish on any SS. For the brushed look afterwards another step would be required. IMO.

[Orinda Auto Detail]

Ill try M105 lol But I`ll bring out the rotary.... Any suggestion on pads? 6in soft buff red pad?

[Beemerboy]

This is the stuff:
Kitchen Cleaners | Kitchen Cleaning Products | Bar Keepers Friend (http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/in-the-kitchen)

available at most grocery stores in the cleaners aisle

edit: I don`t know how it will do for swirls but it`s cheap enough to try and is an excellent cleaner for stainless. Try a paddle brush with green scotch brite pads with this cleaner, or just try by hand with a green scotch brite pad on a sanding block. It`s goning to take some elbow grease no matter what.

(also just remembered an episode of wheeler dealers where they restored a Delorean and hired a pro to do the stainless. Might be some tips in that episode if you can find a video of it online).

Correct me if I`m wrong but I don`t recall cars in the 50`s using stainless steel for trim. Where I do think the work that Kevin did was impressive that wasn`t stainless steel.

As I remember that was thin plated chrome or aluminum, those accent strips where dinged pretty easy, of which SS doesn`t ding all that easy.

Anyone else?

[Stokdgs]

I had a `56 Chevrolet, worked on many cars of those years as a kid at my Dad`s shop, and all those strips looked like they were chromed. If you watched any of the reality shows that do restorations, all those parts get taken to the Chrome Shop to get re-chromed all the time.
If this car you are speaking of (the `57 Chev in the megs forum post) did indeed have stainless steel trim, it had to be added on, Im thinking..
Dan F

[Beemerboy]

I had a `56 Chevrolet, worked on many cars of those years as a kid at my Dad`s shop, and all those strips looked like they were chromed. If you watched any of the reality shows that do restorations, all those parts get taken to the Chrome Shop to get re-chromed all the time.
If this car you are speaking of (the `57 Chev in the megs forum post) did indeed have stainless steel trim, it had to be added on, Im thinking..
Dan F

Dan,

Thanks, I was pretty sure that the trim was chrome and not SS. Again that`s not saying it couldn`t be replaced with SS, but that seems unlikely to me.

yes I was speaking of the Megs link provide above

[Paul Sparks]

Correct me if I`m wrong but I don`t recall cars in the 50`s using stainless steel for trim. Where I do think the work that Kevin did was impressive that wasn`t stainless steel.

As I remember that was thin plated chrome or aluminum, those accent strips where dinged pretty easy, of which SS doesn`t ding all that easy.

Anyone else?

Please check a few automotive restoration sites and you will find all of GM`s line-up had stainless steel trim. This included windshield trim. There are quite a few shops specializing in the restoring of trim and will tell you if you plate the trim it would not be judged as original. It can be polished to look like chrome but it is not.

Here is a company that specializes in restoring 55-57 Chev stainless steel trim classicstainlessshop.com A googgle search of stainless steel trim restoration will show a bunch of shops offering this service.

[Beemerboy]

Please check a few automotive restoration sites and you will find all of GM`s line-up had stainless steel trim. This included windshield trim. There are quite a few shops specializing in the restoring of trim and will tell you if you plate the trim it would not be judged as original. It can be polished to look like chrome but it is not.

Here is a company that specializes in restoring 55-57 Chev stainless steel trim classicstainlessshop.com A googgle search of stainless steel trim restoration will show a bunch of shops offering this service.


Thanks and as I said the OEM parts where not SS so an after market as this one might have been was.

I was willing to be corrected and again thanks:D