Polishing Stainless Surfaces ?

[GolfVenture]

I have some stainless steel flat surfaces that I would like to polish to a nice shine. Any inexpensive suggestions. About 1.5 sq ft area.

[Ace]

To polish stainless to mirror finish you are going to need some stainless steel buffing compound and a buffing wheel or tip for your drill. This stuff can be found at hardware stores relatively inexpensive. stainless is hard so you need the compound and speed to cut the surface.

[Brake Pad]

Mothers Chrome and Aluminum polish will do the trick for you

[slowrollwv]

I used 320 grit sand paper and then used the green polishing rouge with an 8" wheel to do all the carb covers that I made.

[djh3]

I have used Turtle Wax chrome polish. Also there is a product called never dull. It is a treated cotton like substance in a can. Takes some doing, but you can bring a dull piece of aluminum to a brite shine if you work at it.

[Barrycuda]

I use and have used nevr dull ( spelling is correct) for a long time. It doesn't seem as if it should work as well as it does. Just a small piece does a good amount. Real dirty pieces may need a second go around.

[VerntureVet]

When I was in the AirForce I had the pleasure of being the 1st flight to cycle threw a newly renovated dorm. every doorway had a stainless trim and transition plate from room to room. We used 600-800-1000-1500-2000 grit wet sandpaper and finished it off Nevr-Dull. It was rough stainless when we started and a mirror when we finished.

[GolfVenture]

I got some Mothers brand for chrome and aluminum. Does the black ever stop coming off the stainless steel..

[VerntureVet]

I got some Mothers brand for chrome and aluminum. Does the black ever stop coming off the stainless steel..

 

The black probably isn't coming off because the surface is still to rough (porous). Even though a standard piece of stainless may look smooth it can too rough to polish as polish is nothing more than micro sanding compound. As I mentioned before wet sanding it to an almost mirror finish. The best way to do a flat piece is with a padded sanding block with the finest piece of paper the leaves a noticeable scratch pattern up and down. Move up 200 grits and sand left and right. When your happy with the finish was with soap and water and maybe some grease and wax remover. Then you can hit it with the Mothers or Nevr-Dull. wipe off the black with a clean lint free rag and keep moving to a clean part of the rag. I will post an aluminum/stainless/copper polishing guide for you folks with b4 and afters when I am dont with my engine covers.

[Condor]

On boat Stainless I've always used 0000 steel wool. Works for me.... I've tried Nevr-Dull, but have never had much luck with the stuff. The 0000 will work on chrome too.....

[Sailor]

I use Autosol. Works well.

[Yammer Dan]

Turtle Wax Chrome Polish. Always in my garage.

[GolfVenture]

Started with 1000 grit, will move to 2000, then 3000 then the paste polish. So far looking good.