Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-30-2020, 07:54 AM   #1
rockfla
Senior Member
 
rockfla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,927
Default Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

SO my first start at repairing Stainless Steel trim. Here are a couple of dents that are "Almost" done and ready for buffing. Before and afters
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 39MercTrimdent3.jpg (7.2 KB, 257 views)
File Type: jpg 39Merctrimdent4.jpg (4.7 KB, 239 views)
File Type: jpg 39MercTrimdent1.jpg (6.4 KB, 237 views)
rockfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 07:56 AM   #2
rockfla
Senior Member
 
rockfla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,927
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

PLUS one I didn't take a picture of BUT was creased and bent by getting pinched in the passenger front door at some point, almost buffed to perfection.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 39Merctrimbuf2.jpg (33.6 KB, 160 views)
File Type: jpg 39Merctrimbuf11.jpg (35.3 KB, 160 views)
rockfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 03-30-2020, 08:17 AM   #3
Zax40
Senior Member
 
Zax40's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 298
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Nice! What tools are you using for the repairs?
Zax40 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 08:27 AM   #4
flatford8
Senior Member
 
flatford8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lyman,ME.
Posts: 2,612
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Nice!!....there’s some video on YouTube channel “Coldwarmotors”. He does a lot of stainless repair......Mark
__________________
I'm thinkin' about crankin'
My ragged ol' truck up
and haulin' myself into town.
Billy Joe Shaver
flatford8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 08:38 AM   #5
rockfla
Senior Member
 
rockfla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,927
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zax40 View Post
Nice! What tools are you using for the repairs?

Lol....anything that looks like it will work for what I need to accomplish. I have a trim anvil & Hammer from Eastwood, I also use various punches, Awl, screwdriver, Taper Pins, Nylon stock, railroad track, wood, wood dowels, file, 220, 300, 400 wet/dry sandpaper...... again whatever looks like it will work. I have found the "closer"" you get to getting the "final" result you want, the "softer" the materials (nylon & wood) the better!!!! OH and finally a 1 hp 10" buffer with grey and white rouge.


Plus a lot of "technique" involved and in "some" instances I don't use the hammer at all!!! Just hand strength works in some cases.

Last edited by rockfla; 03-30-2020 at 08:54 AM.
rockfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 09:23 AM   #6
RalphM
Senior Member
 
RalphM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 2,646
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Nice work! I tried a cowl band from a model A, it came out ok, but not that nice.
I have a 47 coupe I’m working on that needs some trim repair. Maybe I’ll send it to you
RalphM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 09:34 AM   #7
rockfla
Senior Member
 
rockfla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,927
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Quote:
Originally Posted by RalphM View Post
Nice work! I tried a cowl band from a model A, it came out ok, but not that nice.
I have a 47 coupe I’m working on that needs some trim repair. Maybe I’ll send it to you
Be happy to give it a whirl for you!! Send me a few pictures [email protected]
rockfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 12:23 PM   #8
Mart
Senior Member
 
Mart's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Solihull, England.
Posts: 8,732
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Rock, I take my hat off to ya. That doesn't look easy. Have you seen Scott at Cold war motors do that sort of thing? That is the only time Ive seen it done and I was really impressed at how hard it is but he was making it look easy.

Well done.

Mart.
Mart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 01:48 PM   #9
rockfla
Senior Member
 
rockfla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,927
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mart View Post
Rock, I take my hat off to ya. That doesn't look easy. Have you seen Scott at Cold war motors do that sort of thing? That is the only time Ive seen it done and I was really impressed at how hard it is but he was making it look easy.

Well done.

Mart.
Thank you Mart that was very kind of you, its sort of like catching Sheephead fish, you have to set the hook a split second before he bites it!!! To say...... you have to sort of feel and know when to stop pecking just before its too late!!!! You must'nt be in any hurry!!! AND the one dent on the piece that had two in one area was/is much harder to deal with and I am "still" pecking at it, about 95% done BUT IF you really look at the big horizontal dent (first picture, right hand dent)...it has three spots were it looks like someone with a "nail" pushed them in, those are extremely difficult to deal with!!!!! AND For some reason the "after" picture of the third picture, first post WILL NOT upload for anything, I've "unlocked it" and tried three times and it will not up load

Last edited by rockfla; 03-30-2020 at 02:19 PM.
rockfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 03:18 PM   #10
blucar
Senior Member
 
blucar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ventura, CA
Posts: 2,464
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

I have dabbled around with some SS trim repair, had very good luck with the finished product.
A friend of mine showed me a neat trick, using a drill press, chuck up whatever tool you are using to work the dent out, using the drill press to push the dent (s) in lieu of beating them out with a hammer/mallet.
__________________
Bill.... 36 5 win cpe
blucar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 03:53 PM   #11
rockfla
Senior Member
 
rockfla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,927
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Quote:
Originally Posted by blucar View Post
I have dabbled around with some SS trim repair, had very good luck with the finished product.
A friend of mine showed me a neat trick, using a drill press, chuck up whatever tool you are using to work the dent out, using the drill press to push the dent (s) in lieu of beating them out with a hammer/mallet.
That's a cool Idea, I'll have to try that too.
rockfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 06:26 PM   #12
GaryU.
Senior Member
 
GaryU.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Posts: 821
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Second the drill press idea. Works good!
GaryU. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2020, 12:11 AM   #13
Tinker
Senior Member
 
Tinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 7,053
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Nice work!
Tinker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2020, 12:20 AM   #14
RalphG
Senior Member
 
RalphG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Sask. Canada
Posts: 2,419
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mart View Post
Rock, I take my hat off to ya. That doesn't look easy. Have you seen Scott at Cold war motors do that sort of thing? That is the only time Ive seen it done and I was really impressed at how hard it is but he was making it look easy.

Well done.

Mart.
Scott makes everything look easy. I've tried to copy his techniques but nothing I do ever turns out that well.
RalphG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2020, 07:56 AM   #15
Mart
Senior Member
 
Mart's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Solihull, England.
Posts: 8,732
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

^^ Same here, Ralph. The "your results may vary" never rang truer than when trying to emulate Scott.

Mart.
Mart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2020, 08:51 AM   #16
51woodie
Senior Member
 
51woodie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Chelmsford, ON Canada
Posts: 524
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

I wanted to polish up some of the SS trim on my '46 Deluxe, as it was scratched and dull. I bought a buffer, buffing wheels and polishing compound from Princess Auto, (Harbor Freight in USA) to see what I could do to clean up the trim. I perused several videos on u-tube and went at it. Good success with bringing the shine back on the parts I worked on. For the trim on the side of the body, I masked the body at the top and bottom edges of the trim, then used a 4" dia. buffing wheel mounted on my 3/8" drill, with the wheel running parallel to the trim for polishing. I could have done a better job by removing the trim and polishing on the big buffer, but I didn't want to risk damaging the trim or paint. The picture is of the tail and park light trim
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_1642.jpg (43.5 KB, 33 views)
51woodie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2020, 08:51 AM   #17
hotcoupe
Senior Member
 
hotcoupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: imperial,mo
Posts: 684
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

I have restored several S.S. items, it requires a lot of time and concentration. I use a lot of different techniques and tools, one of the most useful tools is a urethane block that i use as a dolly. It will support the surrounding metal while you move the displaced metal without stretching it. Very useful when you're working on hubcap skins that are only 0.012" thick. I tried to post a couple of images, but failed.
Tom
hotcoupe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2020, 09:49 AM   #18
Cecil/WV
Senior Member
 
Cecil/WV's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gerrardstown, WV
Posts: 2,265
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

I had a '55 Ford in the late '50's that got rear 1/4 panel damage and I watched the body man trying to install the 1/4 side trim and he damaged it snapping it on the clips, enraged, he tore it off, totally destroying it, and ordered another new trim piece. Today, it would have been easily repaired!
Cecil/WV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2020, 11:43 PM   #19
RalphM
Senior Member
 
RalphM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 2,646
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

These are the worst pieces on the 47 I’m working on.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg E5946D07-6B4F-4533-971C-496C62033B90.jpg (31.1 KB, 21 views)
File Type: jpg D5A0608F-97D5-40C0-AD4F-BF8CCE33B844.jpg (42.4 KB, 19 views)
RalphM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2020, 12:20 AM   #20
cas3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: sw minnesota
Posts: 4,543
Default Re: Been dabbling in Stainless trim repair

back in my tri5 chevy days i bought side trim from a guy that thats all he did was fix 5-6-7 stainless trim. had a 2 car garage full of it, and made a nice living with very little $ in tools
cas3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:05 PM.