Anyone have polishing experience?

[53 292]

I have a stainless flaming river steering column that I've been wanting to polish. Anyone have any good methods for doing this? I have three different buffing wheels and compounds but the column is still pretty "raw" as in I can feel the grains from the milling. How do I grind this down flat and eventually get a mirror finish? Thanks
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[dwcsr]

Buffing metal is somewhat of an art form. You need to sand down any ridges with progressively finder paper until the metal is very smooth and has a slight sheen on it from sanding. Start with 400 and work up to 2000 using at least 5 grits in between. You should not see any scratches from the sanding when your done. Then and only then start the buff process and then the polish process. Don't cross contaminate the buffs with coarser compounds it will wreck the end result.

[53 292]

Thanks should I use some kind of da sander or just by hand? I've done a few stainless emblems but I did those by hand. This thing is way bigger
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[dwcsr]

I would use paper by hand so you don't make flat spots on the column.

[53 292]

Good idea hadn't thought about that. Do you wet sand once you get into the higher grits?
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[dwcsr]

It would help unload the metal from the paper if you did, add a few drops of dish soap to the bucket of water. Don't make it soapy just s few drops.

[OrrieG]

When I restored my aluminum valve covers I went from 400 to 2000 as mentioned, all by hand, did not want any grooving or rounding off the ribs. Then progressive polishing on the buffing wheel. Final polish with blue magic using vinyl gloves (trick I got from the ricer wheel forum), and final buff with plain wheel.

[cotsi95]

I restore stainless professionally. A steering column will be a pain to buff but these are the steps I would go through if you brought it to me.

1. 220g on a DA
2. 400g on a DA
4. 500g on a DA
5. 600g by hand using firm pressure.

Anything more than this is not really needed.

Then I would put it on a harder slower wheel and buff off any remaining marks any that wont come off id go back to the 600 and maybe even 500 if necessary. After that Id take it to a softer wheel on the slow buffer with some brown rouge compound. Remember to use some pressure here. Do a crossing patter go \ one way and than / the other. after you get a pretty good shine on it you could try a soft wheel on the faster buffer with some green rouge and see if you get a better shine. Not all stainless is made equal some pieces just come out better than others. But play around with it and see what works.

[1project2many]

I was going to mention I used to attend Saturday barbecues at the Polish American club but I guess that's not the Polishing experience you're looking for.

[53 292]

Thanks for the info guys I might leave this one to the professionals unless I have a lot of time on my hands this summer.
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