Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: B5Cuda440-6]
#1993303
01/18/16 02:21 PM
01/18/16 02:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,652 Calgary, Alberta Canada
m46rat
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,652
Calgary, Alberta Canada
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Because 90% of the people on this board refer to every shiny part on a car as "CHROME", you are behind the eight ball from the get go. Those pieces you are referring to are stainless steel. And yes, if it is polished to a very high degree, it does look like it has been chrome plated! Unfortunately the best guy to do this, is no longer in business. www.alltrim.com Although his site is still up.
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: B5Cuda440-6]
#1993367
01/18/16 03:27 PM
01/18/16 03:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 765 Vancouver, WA
Cuda Cody
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 765
Vancouver, WA
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I made these videos to help anyone that wants to polish stainless trim themselves. You can make stainless look like chrome or stop at any point you are happy with the look. The end of video 3 shows the before and after. Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTxR8LB9iekPart 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc1iY08HU7wPart 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWy9awGv6soI do not do polishing work for others, but thought I would share in case you want to know how it's done. What I show in the videos is the way I do it. There are others ways to polish stainless too. I just enjoying sharing and helping others.
1970 Challenger T/A 4-Speed 1970 Challenger T/A 4-Speed 1970 Challenger T/A Auto 1970 Challenger R/T Auto 1970 Challenger Auto 1970 Challenger RT 440+6 4-Speed 1970 Challenger RT 440+6 4-Speed 1970 Hemi Challenger 4-Speed 1970 Hemi Cuda 4-Speed 1971 Cuda Auto 1971 Cuda 4-Speed LOOKING to BUY 1970 & 1971 E Body J, V and R Code project cars
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: B5Cuda440-6]
#1993380
01/18/16 03:47 PM
01/18/16 03:47 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880 -
RSNOMO
Moparts Torchbearer
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Moparts Torchbearer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
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If you ain't got anybody close, try here... Mcnichols Polishing & Anodizing Inc 12139 Woodbine Redford, MI 48239-2417 (313) 538-3470 www.mcnicholsanodizing.com
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: Cuda Cody]
#1993468
01/18/16 06:25 PM
01/18/16 06:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,923 Medina, Ohio
HEMICUDA
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,923
Medina, Ohio
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Yep, that process looks very familiar Cody. If you do enough cars, you learn to do much of that type of work in house because of the cost and needing the part NOW. I'm looking at a small mountain of stainless trim I will be starting very shortly for the pink tuna boat we are finishing up. Excellent video's Cody, nice work. Unless you do enough stainless trim restoration, you really don't have a clue the time it takes to do that good of a job. I did all the stainless on a 68 Charger only because the owner was a REALLY GOOD friend of mine.
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: autoxcuda]
#1993692
01/18/16 10:51 PM
01/18/16 10:51 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,913 central P.A.
HEMIDOG 70
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,913
central P.A.
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I've done fine with a larger model Harbor Freight.
Those big floor mounted 3 phase pro buffers are great. Results are much faster. I've used one to do a bunch of stuff. Scary though. No thanks, I like all my fingers still attached to my hands. x2 I have a good friend who had a bad incident with a buffing wheel. A piece he was buffing kicked out of his hands and hit him right in the face. It almost amputated his nose. Thanks to a great plastic surgeon you cannot even see the damage now. He was very fortunate it wasn't worse. Gloves a face shield and a heavy or leather jacket would be some good items to wear if trying this at home.
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: B5Cuda440-6]
#1993906
01/19/16 04:37 AM
01/19/16 04:37 AM
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maxfield303H1E
Unregistered
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maxfield303H1E
Unregistered
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Discolor or even burn through the piece. A friend of mine got a kit from Eastwood and tried it. He ended up burning right through the piece after it started to blue and then he said it acted like a welder and burned right through the spot.
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: Stanton]
#1994123
01/19/16 03:31 PM
01/19/16 03:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 369 Chicago
curbman68
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 369
Chicago
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Well here's my 2 cents (from my personal experience)
If you do it yourself, invest in a BIG, quality Baldor buffer and the big wheels and the compound kit (TP Tools have a great package deal). Small, cheap Harbour Freight buffers and wheels just aren't up to the task.
Don't expect great results in a short timeframe. After you hit the first piece you're going to see a million scratches you didn't notice before. Each one has to be SANDED out with multiple grits before its ready to be buffed.
Dents are a whole other issue.
In the end you will have either: a) spent half your life buffing the stuff or b) wish you'd left well enough alone
Regardless, you'll have spent a bundle on tools and you will have a clear understanding why the guys who do it charge so much. Very well said, in my experience this is exactly right. I'll do small pieces myself, but am just fine paying someone else to do the rest
Last edited by curbman68; 01/19/16 03:31 PM.
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: B5Cuda440-6]
#1994125
01/19/16 03:33 PM
01/19/16 03:33 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,911 Ontario, Canada
Stanton
Don't question me!
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Don't question me!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,911
Ontario, Canada
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Discolor or even burn through the piece. A friend of mine got a kit from Eastwood and tried it. He ended up burning right through the piece after it started to blue and then he said it acted like a welder and burned right through the spot. Either your friend is a complete idiot who should not be allowed near power tools or this is total bullsh!t. I think its the latter ... there's no way a buffer will burn through a piece of stainless ... the buffer would catch fire long before that happens.
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: Stanton]
#1994617
01/20/16 01:35 AM
01/20/16 01:35 AM
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maxfield303H1E
Unregistered
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maxfield303H1E
Unregistered
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he was using one of the expanding wheel sanding belts with a 400 grit. Pretty much part of the process of restoring stainless to get the part flat again. And yes, it was his first time doing it. Since then, he no longer does it and sold his stuff off to someone.
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Re: Cuda Metal Trim Restoration/Polishing Question
[Re: B5Cuda440-6]
#1994620
01/20/16 01:38 AM
01/20/16 01:38 AM
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maxfield303H1E
Unregistered
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maxfield303H1E
Unregistered
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Also, are you saying that a buffing wheel can not generate enough heat to discolor a piece of stainless or other metal?
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