Hot Rods Can this trim piece be saved? Yes it can..See pics.

Take a look at the pic, guess it hot a little hot, it is a stainless piece of windshield trim I need for my '49. As you can see it has a LOT of blueing, I tried 0000 Steel Wool, and Bar Keepers Friend, to no avail, except making it a bit brighter....Soooo, is there anything else I can do other than having it chromed? Any info will be greatly appreciated....

 

That should buff out; really.

 

Yep, if it's stainless a loose cotton buff and a white rouge compound bar will take the blueing right off...

If it's chrome, use semichrome polish instead.

 

Use some rouge and a buffing wheel. HRP

 

Thanx for the quick replys, I was hoping that was the case...now I have to go to work

 

If you have a buddy with a bench grinder, he probably has a cloth buffing wheel for it. It's also possible to get an inexpensive cloth wheel (Amaz-Bay) for cheap for a power drill. If you don't have a compound stick, I have used rubbing compound on the wheel in a pinch for a small task like that. Dremel tools also have tiny, 1" polishing wheels but they can be a little trickier to get a blended, smooth finish.

 

If it is for sure stainless and you have a really hard time buffing it, you can wetsand it with 2000 and 3000 grit sandpaper, that'll help get the blue off and it'll also flatten out minor scuffs and scratches, then buff on a wheel. You can actually do that with chrome too if it's thick enough, but it's risky on certain pieces.

 

Try to figure out how to fasten it to something before you hit it with a power buffer. It will get too hot to hold on to. Then it will get caught in the buffer and twist up and cut your hands!!
I am speaking from experience!

 

X-2 ^^^^^^^^^^
6sally6

 

Use a piece of 2”x2” on the back and grip both tightly while polishing.

 

Always wear leather gloves... and buff away from or parallel to any edges, not into them.

 

Polishing stainless can be a pat yourself on the back type of work.

 

I forgot... when polishing point the piece downwards and make sure the wheel is rotating the same way otherwise the wheel will launch the piece into orbit!

 

Thanks for all info on saving this piece...and I took all your good advice and saved it...THANKS!
And the dark areas are just a reflection...