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01-10-2018, 07:12 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: oshkosh wi
Posts: 216
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polishing stainless hub caps
A friend of mine took 4 dented, 1939 Lincoln Zephyr stainless hub caps to a respected automotive stainless polisher/restorer. He picked out the dents, and greatly improved the caps, but he said he could not just polish the caps because they were 'flash chromed' at the factory, and thus , he could not just polish the caps. Any one know about this, and what is involved to ' restore stainless caps ? My friend paid $100, but was quoted $500 to fully restore the 4 caps.
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01-10-2018, 07:24 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 2,651
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Re: polishing stainless hub caps
I have polished many original Ford caps of 30’s and 40’s. Never had a problem using a buffing wheel and two grades of polishing rouge from Eastwood.
Never had one “burn through” any coating. And I’ve got them real shiny. |
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01-10-2018, 07:37 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Hartford, Ct
Posts: 5,898
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Re: polishing stainless hub caps
Yes, chrome flashing of stainless caps/wheel covers is standard practice.
The reason they are plated is that the chrome is harder and resists scratching. I have straightened several wheel covers with the first step being to have them chrome stripped, straighten then polish without any re-plating. The re-plating is probably the costly part and if happy with just the polished look of the stainless, the plating does not have to be done. Yes the chrome can be just polished to a point if there is no metal finishing involved. .
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DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES Last edited by 51 MERC-CT; 01-10-2018 at 07:43 PM. |
01-10-2018, 07:51 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Sask. Canada
Posts: 2,424
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Re: polishing stainless hub caps
A bit of steel wool , some time and effort will do wonders to a dingy old hub cap. These Meteor caps laid outdoors in all the weather for I don't know how many years and actually had some rust on them. They are not perfect but good enough for me and look good on the Merc. And the price was right. Used the same process on the bumpers.
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01-10-2018, 10:35 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 524
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Re: polishing stainless hub caps
Picked up a can of Never-Dull at Wally World. Did a great job on mine.
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01-10-2018, 11:47 PM | #6 |
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Location: Sask. Canada
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Re: polishing stainless hub caps
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01-11-2018, 04:18 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: oshkosh wi
Posts: 216
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Re: polishing stainless hub caps
Thanks guys, all answers have helped, -51 MERC CT explains the process, but all the answers are great! Thanks again!
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