sep plates- polishing?

[johnbuckley]

Any ideas for easy polishing up of old r/b step plates- I assumed they were a zinc alloy but macs and snyders state theirs are aluminum... so tips for both zinc and ally welcome!

[100IH]

Walnut shell abrasive in an enclosed blast cabinet will make aluminum shine. Works like a softer version of shot blasting.

[C26Pinelake]

First of all scratch the underside to see what you are working with. Wayne

[ModelAMike1930]

I used brasso and a buffer to bring my ebay find back to shine.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I just left Vermins' OLD plates alone, it adds a little PATINA, even the BLUE paint has peeled a little. They match MY "Patina"--LOL
Bill Old

[pgerhardt]

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IMHO I think the model A Ford looks better without them, and all the other "bling" you see on them. On my 29 tudor I eliminated the step plates, wind wings, "jeweled" headlight visors, yellow wheels (back to black), and the chrome & wood luggage rack (replaced with the correct folding black one). Now it will have the classic look of a brand new 1929 tudor rather than the cover of the J. C. Whitney catalog!

[Dodge]

I just had great luck with Mothers polish.

[Russ/40]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

IMHO I think the model A Ford looks better without them, and all the other "bling" you see on them. On my 29 tudor I eliminated the step plates, wind wings, "jeweled" headlight visors, yellow wheels (back to black), and the chrome & wood luggage rack (replaced with the correct folding black one). Now it will have the classic look of a brand new 1929 tudor rather than the cover of the J. C. Whitney catalog!

You forgot the white walls.

[Tacoma Bob]

I have had good luck with Fitz polishing products.

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

You forgot the white walls.

They will be gone the next time I need to buy new tires. I am not ready to get rid of good tires because they are WW. Besides I think they look OK against the black wheels.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

IMHO I think the model A Ford looks better without them, and all the other "bling" you see on them. On my 29 tudor I eliminated the step plates, wind wings, "jeweled" headlight visors, yellow wheels (back to black), and the chrome & wood luggage rack (replaced with the correct folding black one). Now it will have the classic look of a brand new 1929 tudor rather than the cover of the J. C. Whitney catalog!

Ya but it won't get the same thumbs up on the road and attention at the car shows. I was told a similar story at a show on the weekend and the person had 16 inch wheels, radial tires, alternator and turn signals. And he had the nerve to criticize whitewalls. Wayne

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

IMHO I think the model A Ford looks better without them, and all the other "bling" you see on them. On my 29 tudor I eliminated the step plates, wind wings, "jeweled" headlight visors, yellow wheels (back to black), and the chrome & wood luggage rack (replaced with the correct folding black one). Now it will have the classic look of a brand new 1929 tudor rather than the cover of the J. C. Whitney catalog!

plus 1

[C26Pinelake]

[B]It's often been said that those people that don't like whitewalls are the people that can't afford them. Not in all cases but in many I am sure! Wayne[/

[Bob-A]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

IMHO I think the model A Ford looks better without them, and all the other "bling" you see on them. On my 29 tudor I eliminated the step plates, wind wings, "jeweled" headlight visors, yellow wheels (back to black), and the chrome & wood luggage rack (replaced with the correct folding black one). Now it will have the classic look of a brand new 1929 tudor rather than the cover of the J. C. Whitney catalog!

I agree with this too, to a certain extent. I try to use only original accessories on my "A's". What I really like to see are pics of Model-A's
back in the day when they were new or nearly new. With original accessories mounted on them. Recently on TMC (Turner Movie Channel)
I caught a 30-31 "A" standard roadster with the following on it: Running board spot light, spot lights mounted on each windshield stachion (windshield was flolded flat), Cadillac style hood ornament, radiator stone guard, accessory road light mounted between the headlights, the car was painted all over one solid light (white, beige, yellow ??) color to include
the fenders! I only saw it for a minute or two and it only showed the front of the car. But, it was one wild looking "A"! The movie was from
1932 and the guy driving the car was an "ambulance chaser" lawyer.

Bob-A

[5window]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

IMHO I think the model A Ford looks better without them, and all the other "bling" you see on them. On my 29 tudor I eliminated the step plates, wind wings, "jeweled" headlight visors, yellow wheels (back to black), and the chrome & wood luggage rack (replaced with the correct folding black one). Now it will have the classic look of a brand new 1929 tudor rather than the cover of the J. C. Whitney catalog!

As soon as the Model A came out, there were accessories to modify it. That is what we do with our cars-work to make them our own. What you do with your car is your own business, but I think you may be confusing "classic" with "original". Both are fine by me. There are some pretty cool ideas for accessories out there.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Just have the "BALLS" to do your car the way you WANT to do it!!!
Be your OWN MAN, you don't have to follow the crowd, you may end up in a DITCH!
Bill Arrogant

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Just have the "BALLS" to do your car the way you WANT to do it!!!
Be your OWN MAN, you don't have to follow the crowd, you may end up in a DITCH!
Bill Arrogant

I agree Bill. But there are some Barners that intimidate others and they follow their leader. These weak Barners are scared to disagree and become members of the group. We all know who they are.

[johnbuckley]

It not BALLS that I need , just step-plate polish!

[denniskliesen]

Mine are aluminum and were heavily oxidized. I debated whether to polish or leave alone, but I'm more of a chrome and or shine kind of guy so I polished mine out. I started with wet dry paper keeping it wet and clean between grits. I started with 300, went on to sanding in step of grit to 400, then 600, 1000, 1500, and finally 2500. I next used some Mequires #205 Ultra Finishing Polish that I bought at HF. I squirted the polish on my wool buffer pad and worked it into that pad against how the wool was laying. Start out on a slow speed and gradually increase to full speed. Keep the aluminum surface a bit wet with the polish until you see a good shine and then full speed to give it a high gloss. Btw Can anybody tell me how old these plates are? I've seen a couple photos with this type that have the Ford logo near the side compared to most with the logo in the center. I will probably take them off when I replace the mat on the running boards.

[JDupuis]

Nice job! . Look great. Jeff