Stainless Steel polishing

rockfla

rockfla

Well-known member
Thought I would share my little side hustle, I was asked by a customer to polish some bolts for his show car....SO I have just about perfected my process. Shown is what they start out as and then the finished product.
 

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scicala said:
Very nice. Now, how about the process ?

Sal
Click to expand...
Ha....Ancient Chinese secret. Lol.....First I sand off the mill stamp if there is one. I have tried a few different methods as to sanding, turning the heads on a lathe etc etc. Sanding them off with an air sander and 3' ro-loc is the fastest. THEN, I tried a few different processes getting the sanding marks off from the air sander, I found that a 3" maroon scotch-brite wheel works best after that. THEN I have 8 different grits of sandpaper and a couple of liquids added to the paper, THEN buff on my buffing machine with grey and white rouge.
 
Good job!
I can't count the number of stainless hardware that I have polished. Some where in the hundreds. I have a tool called Notch Head that holds the bolts. Works great.
Keeps from burning your fingers and having hardware flying everywhere.
 
rockfla said:
Ha....Ancient Chinese secret. Lol.....First I sand off the mill stamp if there is one. I have tried a few different methods as to sanding, turning the heads on a lathe etc etc. Sanding them off with an air sander and 3' ro-loc is the fastest. THEN, I tried a few different processes getting the sanding marks off from the air sander, I found that a 3" maroon scotch-brite wheel works best after that. THEN I have 8 different grits of sandpaper and a couple of liquids added to the paper, THEN buff on my buffing machine with grey and white rouge.
Click to expand...



Thank you.

Sal
 
Bob,
Man those look nice! I had not thought about removing the information and or markings on the heads! Nice detail and great looking hardware. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the process too.
Regards,
Chris
 
Tim Ayers
Kind of both, I think I’ve landed on a pretty good combination of technique and products to produce what I would consider “concours” quality finish. The one I pictured still had a little marking BUT that’s because I put them in a bag with a few other pieces and they get rubbed together and get scared and dinged. I will hit them on the buffing wheel and get them back to mirror finish. IF you would like to have some for your car, let me know what you need, I will work with all my Ford Barn peep’s. The car these are for is one of those 26” rimmed, gumball machine colored 72 Chevy convertible’s with more stereo watts than a Top Fuel Dragster has horse power. I am pretty sure he’s a street level pharmacist or at least his Florida “knot” sure indicates he is!!! BUT he wants his car to be top notch and spends the cash on it…..and I can use some cash!!!
Chris
Glad to hear from you and thanks for the compliment.
 
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rockfla said:
Thought I would share my little side hustle, I was asked by a customer to polish some bolts for his show car....SO I have just about perfected my process. Shown is what they start out as and then the finished product.
Click to expand...


The hex-head bolt in the picture appears to begin life with something like a 9/16" hex size. Then the bolt head on the 'FINISHED' specimen appears to be something like a 1/2" hex size. Are you taking that much off of the hex-head to clean it up, or is that just my imagination running in overdrive? They sure are pretty.

"Street-level pharmacist", huh? I like that!

Coop


503794
 
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