Best Way to Polish Grill and Moldings - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Back in Black · 04-04-2006, 09:01 AM

Dear Board:

Has anyone figured out the best way to polish the grill and molding for a 1970 chev. I am not sure what they are made out of. They are too soft for steel wool and buffing compoud doesn seem to touch it.

Any advise?

Thanks

Jason

shifty · 04-04-2006, 09:22 AM

Take the FLITZ challenge!

I'm curious myself, my front end eyebrows need the help. I think I was either watching a rerun of Trucks! TV a few weeks ago or reading one of the two custom truck mags out there and they showed restoration of a body panel...it was in rough like my eyebrows are right now. the guy used like 400 grit sandpaper, then 1000 grit, then a buffing compound.

**special-K** · 04-04-2006, 09:33 AM

I`m going to try what works on wheels.Start with 600 grit,then 1,000,then 2,000,all wet sanding of course.I guess I`ll use a metal polish after that.The main thing is don`t put scatches in it to get a shine.It takes more to get the scratches out than to get the oxidation off.There are places that do hard anodizing,which is how they were done from the factory.I suppose they could be chromed if the price was right.Haven`t checked into that.But,alot of the cost of chroming is in the prep.So....

cstanley · 04-04-2006, 10:18 AM

"Start with 600 grit,then 1,000,then 2,000,all wet sanding of course.I guess I`ll use a metal polish after that."

i have the Tom Brownell book How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup, and i believe that's the way he does it. just don't use a power tool to do it. it needs to be done by hand or you'll go right through the metal.

smokekiki · 04-04-2006, 10:33 AM

You can buy anodize remover,or use oven cleaner.Do not let the oven cleaner dry.Couple times of using the oven cleaner will remove a lot of the anodizing.Then do the sanding and follow with a good aluminum polish.

04-04-2006, 09:01 AM	#1
Back in Black Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Donnelly, MN Posts: 52	Best Way to Polish Grill and Moldings Dear Board: Has anyone figured out the best way to polish the grill and molding for a 1970 chev. I am not sure what they are made out of. They are too soft for steel wool and buffing compoud doesn seem to touch it. Any advise? Thanks Jason

04-04-2006, 09:22 AM	#2
shifty Questionable Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 13,376	Re: Best Way to Polish Grill and Moldings Take the FLITZ challenge! I'm curious myself, my front end eyebrows need the help. I think I was either watching a rerun of Trucks! TV a few weeks ago or reading one of the two custom truck mags out there and they showed restoration of a body panel...it was in rough like my eyebrows are right now. the guy used like 400 grit sandpaper, then 1000 grit, then a buffing compound. __________________ If I've got anything up for grabs, it'll be here: 7-hole gauge cluster for a 67-72 p/u FREE (link) I can't check the forum daily. If I don't reply to you within 24 hours, drop me a PM! I'm (hopefully) still alive and will reply faster to a PM. Last edited by shifty; 04-04-2006 at 10:26 AM. Reason: added wrong grit numbers :(

04-04-2006, 09:33 AM	#3
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: Best Way to Polish Grill and Moldings I`m going to try what works on wheels.Start with 600 grit,then 1,000,then 2,000,all wet sanding of course.I guess I`ll use a metal polish after that.The main thing is don`t put scatches in it to get a shine.It takes more to get the scratches out than to get the oxidation off.There are places that do hard anodizing,which is how they were done from the factory.I suppose they could be chromed if the price was right.Haven`t checked into that.But,alot of the cost of chroming is in the prep.So.... __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-04-2006, 10:18 AM	#4
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: Best Way to Polish Grill and Moldings "Start with 600 grit,then 1,000,then 2,000,all wet sanding of course.I guess I`ll use a metal polish after that." i have the Tom Brownell book How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup, and i believe that's the way he does it. just don't use a power tool to do it. it needs to be done by hand or you'll go right through the metal. __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

04-04-2006, 10:33 AM	#5
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	Re: Best Way to Polish Grill and Moldings You can buy anodize remover,or use oven cleaner.Do not let the oven cleaner dry.Couple times of using the oven cleaner will remove a lot of the anodizing.Then do the sanding and follow with a good aluminum polish. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires



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