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Looking for suggestions on how to polish car stainless parts

 

I would like to know if there is a commercial hand-applied product available, or if a particular composite or wire wheel is recommended for a shop grinder application that can be used to polish automotive stainless steel parts, such as windshield trim, header trim, interior parts, etc. I have several parts to repolish as they are slightly discolored from age, and some are slightly scratched from friction with other parts. Some of the parts can be removed from the car, others must be polished in place. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Craig Golz
- Aberdeen, South Dakota

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Whatever you do, DO NOT use any type of wire brush on Stainless Steel. The scratches that you create may be impossible to remove. You don't state what year/type vehicle you are restoring--are you sure the trim is Stainless and not anodised Aluminum? If it is Stainless, the only way to get the scratches and discoloration out is to polish the surface until it is devoid of scratch marks. A buffing wheel is quite good at this process for parts that are removable from the car. Parts that can't be readily removed can be polished by hand or with the use of a flex shaft and a smaller sized buffing wheel mounted on the mandrel. Eastwood Company makes good products for buffing almost any type material. Anodised aluminum parts must have the anodise removed by buffing or stripping and then be polished and reanodised or coated with a clear to protect from tarnish.

Good luck.

Bill Miller
- Shinnston, West Virginia

Hello,
I am looking to attain a mirror finish with no visible lines from a Stainless steel toolbox I recently purchased from Costco wholesale, I really don't know anything about polishing stainless, I have attempted to do it by hand, and used a commercial automotive buffing wheel, and Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish , I did not get the desired finish from this . I believe that the stainless is 18 ga. 150. can anyone help a guy sick enough to attempt this without any knowhow? I would greatly appreciate any help, a friend bet me 20 bucks I couldn't have it done in 2 weeks, I have 6 days left.

Thanks,

Jeff M. Finan
hobbyist - Santa Rosa , California

Hi in response to your letter, if you can find it MFX polish is best for the stainless boxes, if you can't find that you can get Diamond Plate polish. I use it on my 18 wheeler on the tanks and wheels which are aluminum but according to the labels on both products it will work for you. Good luck.

Greg Browning
- Lexington, South Carolina
2006