Stainless Steel polishing

[rockfla]

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.

[corvette8n]

Nice job, looks like patience is the key here.

[scicala]

Very nice. Now, how about the process ?

Sal

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by scicala

Very nice. Now, how about the process ?

Sal

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.

[Steve/IL]

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.

[KiWinUS]

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Great stuff Robert. Love it

[Hughes Automotive]

Very nice

[scicala]

Originally Posted by rockfla

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.

Thank you.

Sal

[Tim Ayers]

Love it. Thanks for sharing. Curious, do you charge by the bolt or by the hour?

[sugarmaker]

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

[rockfla]

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.

[glennpm]

Nice job!

I use various abrasive nylon wheels for first and second passes. The wheels are good for getting into tight spots.

https://dicoproducts.com/products.php?gid=5

Another thread on polishing:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ight=polishing

[56FordC750COE]

Thanks, that may save some of us, self imposed, low budget types from having to buy new hardware!

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by rockfla

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.

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

[flathead48]

Well done Robert