Tips and Tricks for polishing / buffing Stainless Trim

[Jamiez]

Is there a breakdown somewhere of which parts are stainless and which are aluminum? Like most people a lot of my trim needs going over, I just don't want to screw anything up.  Aside from the magnet test (which isn't definitive?) is there another way to tell the difference?

[Travis72]

Great videos Cody!!!!  Thanks for posting that.  I actually did the stainless trim on my car and I wish I had seen these videos before I did!  I learned a lot and now realize that I did some things wrong.  I had no idea on the cutting versus finishing direction.

Travis
72 Cuda

[spamtank]

Is there a breakdown somewhere of which parts are stainless and which are aluminum? Like most people a lot of my trim needs going over, I just don't want to screw anything up.  Aside from the magnet test (which isn't definitive?) is there another way to tell the difference?

I think you might be able to tell by holding it.  The aluminum trim should be light weight.  Stainless is about 3 times heavier than aluminum.  You might also take a file to an inside edge that can't be seen.  With light pressure, the file will remove aluminum easily, where as on stainless it would require more pressure.  Aluminum trim should be fairly soft to allow it to be easily formed during the manufacturing process.  The stainless would be much tougher.

Don't know if that helps.   

[chaps70rt]

Good point .... visually it is also a bit different.

[spamtank]

Good point .... visually it is also a bit different.

I worked as a machinist for a while, and now I do a bit of mechanical engineering.  With experience you kinda know what you're holding.  But I've been fooled once in a while.

[AARuFAST]

As I mentioned on other posts this is one of the things neglected especially with a new paint.
Your chrome makes it pop.
I refurbished my stainless on my AAR in 2006.

Got this trick from a shop,  To remove any dings like u showed Cody use a curved plastic tool to rub the inside of trim to work the dings out, soft cloth
on a hard surface under the trim.
Some minor tapping to work it out.
Used the cutting compound and wheel to smooth it out,
I didn't need to file or sand to smooth out the finish. 
If u are going to attempt buffing, filing and sanding do it on a scrap trim.
Practice makes for a good finish,

A variable speed bench buffer is nice to get a bright finish .
Most top door trim is aluminum and the rear deck wide trim is aluminum.
Some b, c body grills are aluminum.

[Cuda Cody]

Each and every person on this site knows at least one thing I don't and I love to learn new stuff.     Thanks for sharing the different ways to tell aluminum and also the curved pastic tip to get dings out.   Hearing how other people accomplish the same thing with different methods gets me excited to get out in the shop and test out the new techniques!     The dogs tongue might not be as good as the 3M wheel, but I'm game to try anything once!  :

[AARuFAST]

I agree with u Cody.
We need to step up the Mopar image.  Everyone seems to be a Ford or Chev enthusiasts,
As I mentioned there was another post on how to improve the value of their ride.
Buffin the trim is a major change to the look of ur rides and the color.
After buffin, I tried the expensive polish Simichrome.  It is supposed to leave a protective film.
 Stainless trim with pits in it turns pits black. I wouldn't waste money on it.
Buffin takes a lot of time and it is well worth it.
I admire the way members restored there rides. I don't have the means or knowledge to restore
a full body resto. as some members. Fortunate my cars are rust free.

[chaps70rt]

Cody ... your next series of video's should be cutting and buffing clear coat.   I started wet sanding my clear coat with 2000 and now it looks dead.   I know that the next phase is 2500, then serious buffing, but am a little gun shy to keep going as might damage my 4 coats of clear.

Any suggestions out there?   Hire a pro?   Or keep buffing ......  what's the best compound? 

Thanks .... CHAPS!

[Cuda Cody]

Funny you bring this up, there are some really fun things going on right now that I'm going to be apart of.  These will not be ready for release for awhile, but it will be very helpful to many of us (including me!).

As for the clear coat, not being able to see it I really do not want to give you the wrong suggestion.  FYI and not for anything other than food for thought.  I shot my car with 3 coats of clear, block sanded with 600, shot with another 4 coats of clear and then did all my wet sanding.  I made my own blocks as I didn't like any that were on the market and found using guide coat on the clear to really help.  After going through all the grits and buffing it out it looks like wet glass.

Cody ... your next series of video's should be cutting and buffing clear coat.   I started wet sanding my clear coat with 2000 and now it looks dead.   I know that the next phase is 2500, then serious buffing, but am a little gun shy to keep going as might damage my 4 coats of clear.

Any suggestions out there?   Hire a pro?   Or keep buffing ......  what's the best compound? 

Thanks .... CHAPS!

[peterro]

Agreed. I've seen it and it looked beautiful. I really liked your idea of putting a guide coat on the clear. Pretty tricky.

[peterro]

Cody, I posted the videos on my blog site and had a comment/question about what to do if you can't or don't want to remove the trim from the vehicle. This was mostly due to extraneous damage that may occur. He was wondering what your thoughts might be.

http://thepistonhead.com/2012/01/stainless-trim-repair-and-polishing/

[chaps70rt]

Cody ... you sound like the master of refinishing.   I am sure that your final results are incredible.  Since we are probably 3000 miles apart, there is no way to show you.   Perhaps I could take some digital shots, but it is hard to capture and I don't own a video camera.   

I saw the Adams videos on YouTube.   Pretty impressive and the guy insn't a full time bodywork guy.   That being said, I think I conceptually get the idea.   I am definitely not through much of the four coats of clear that is on the car, but just soaking and sanding has taken a lot of the shine away.   There are still some minor scratches visible from the sanding I did with the 2000.   My suspicion is that I need to find a decent block and keep at it with the 2500, then go with a good quality compound.   I noticed that Meguires have something, but hadn't seen any feedback on it from any other c-c.com members.   

Any suggestions for the type of buffing pad on an orbital buffer I should use and the different types of compound to use before going to the sealer and then Carnuba??   Or am I down the wrong path??  If you would prefer to communicate over PM, let me know.   Just looking for the right product and some experience to the right steps.  Sorry for stepping on the Stainless Buffin Topic .... tangent.

Thanks ..... CHAPS (Gary)

[Cuda Cody]

I'll PM you my cell......

Cody ... you sound like the master of refinishing.   I am sure that your final results are incredible.  Since we are probably 3000 miles apart, there is no way to show you.   Perhaps I could take some digital shots, but it is hard to capture and I don't own a video camera.   

I saw the Adams videos on YouTube.   Pretty impressive and the guy insn't a full time bodywork guy.   That being said, I think I conceptually get the idea.   I am definitely not through much of the four coats of clear that is on the car, but just soaking and sanding has taken a lot of the shine away.   There are still some minor scratches visible from the sanding I did with the 2000.   My suspicion is that I need to find a decent block and keep at it with the 2500, then go with a good quality compound.   I noticed that Meguires have something, but hadn't seen any feedback on it from any other c-c.com members.   

Any suggestions for the type of buffing pad on an orbital buffer I should use and the different types of compound to use before going to the sealer and then Carnuba??   Or am I down the wrong path??  If you would prefer to communicate over PM, let me know.   Just looking for the right product and some experience to the right steps.  Sorry for stepping on the Stainless Buffin Topic .... tangent.

Thanks ..... CHAPS (Gary)

[Cuda Cody]

Thanks for posting that on your site.  I'll give him some ideas.

Cody, I posted the videos on my blog site and had a comment/question about what to do if you can't or don't want to remove the trim from the vehicle. This was mostly due to extraneous damage that may occur. He was wondering what your thoughts might be.

http://thepistonhead.com/2012/01/stainless-trim-repair-and-polishing/