What's the best stuff for cleaning stainless steel?
#31
Drifting
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Hmmm they dont look as different on here as they do on my computer....tried adding one more pic to show.....but believe me the scratches are all gone and a deep shine is starting to take the place of the satin finish from before
#32
Rennlist Member
NEVER use steel wool on a stainless part. It will leave iron deposits which will rust on the surface.
#36
Drifting
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OK- trying to build some consensus here:
- Looks like wire wheels may be too invasive, causing more scratches to polish out later.
- Even the green 3M ScotchBrite pads may be too much. I found that they scratched the chrome wheels on my Bronco, but chrome is more sensitive than stainless.
- So after soap/water or Simple Green cleaning, it's otherwise done completely with cream polishes only, ideally applied with a buffing wheel (drill or Dremel) Preferred polishes: Autosol, Wenol and Simichrome, in that order. Perhaps finished by hand.
Anybody seen these polishes at retail? For some reason, I expect a Harley dealer would have maybe two of them...
- Looks like wire wheels may be too invasive, causing more scratches to polish out later.
- Even the green 3M ScotchBrite pads may be too much. I found that they scratched the chrome wheels on my Bronco, but chrome is more sensitive than stainless.
- So after soap/water or Simple Green cleaning, it's otherwise done completely with cream polishes only, ideally applied with a buffing wheel (drill or Dremel) Preferred polishes: Autosol, Wenol and Simichrome, in that order. Perhaps finished by hand.
Anybody seen these polishes at retail? For some reason, I expect a Harley dealer would have maybe two of them...
#38
Three Wheelin'
I had really rough looking stock tips on my 95. I worked from a 120 grit sandpaper to get out the nasty curb rash (don't ask me what the PO was driving over) in four steps to wetsanding with 1300 grit. The result was not mirror like but definitely shinier than satin. This was good to make the tips look new but after a couple of thousand miles, they're pretty discolored again.
So hopefully good advice for working out scratches. I'm going to try out one of these polishes you all suggested and see how it looks tomorrow...
So hopefully good advice for working out scratches. I'm going to try out one of these polishes you all suggested and see how it looks tomorrow...
#39
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stainless polish
i guess im in the dark ages. i use NeveRDull on the stainless on the Boat,f,47 ft of stanchions, fittings, cleats, the prop spinner on the Meyers, and the wheels/exhaust etc of the 993.
you can get fine scotch brite in a very fine form from your welding supply/abrasive wheel supplier, also a cloth wheel on a grinder and some fine wax , NOT ROUGE, works wonders and puts an amazing edge on knifes.
david schiff
i
you can get fine scotch brite in a very fine form from your welding supply/abrasive wheel supplier, also a cloth wheel on a grinder and some fine wax , NOT ROUGE, works wonders and puts an amazing edge on knifes.
david schiff
i
#40
Three Wheelin'
I wonder if it depends on the state of prep or the type of stainless to begin with. I tried NevrDull on mine and nothing happened. You have the stock pipes? Are they very shiny?
I have a feeling that all of these other polishes mentioned here (I tried some Mother's today) are exactly the same stuff. You rub them on naked stainless, it turns black, you wipe off.
Just curious, why not rouge?
I have a feeling that all of these other polishes mentioned here (I tried some Mother's today) are exactly the same stuff. You rub them on naked stainless, it turns black, you wipe off.
Just curious, why not rouge?
#41
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i used jewlers rouge on my knifes that i made[forged from 316 L stainless rod and valve stems from large valves] and i found its good for early buffing but for a blinding shine, a very very smooth and reflective surface, i used a finer compound on the buffing wheel, all of which assumes you can get the part to the wheel.\
i dont recall the name of the stuff, i have three bars, one of rouge, dark red, one grey and one white/silver and i use three differnt wheels. i used to think jewlers rouge was the finest grit but that was my ignorance.
i got the material from a welding supply shop and they had the finer grade scotchbrite pads too, hand size or will fit on power.
i dont recall the name of the stuff, i have three bars, one of rouge, dark red, one grey and one white/silver and i use three differnt wheels. i used to think jewlers rouge was the finest grit but that was my ignorance.
i got the material from a welding supply shop and they had the finer grade scotchbrite pads too, hand size or will fit on power.