The problem with buffing

imported_buick5563 · February 11th, 2005

I have been up for the last week (til midnight or so) every night buffing the stainless mouldings for my 55 Special, which is currently stripped to bare metal awaiting paint. What I have noticed is that, unfortunately for me, I'm getting better at it so the first pieces I did (which I thought looked great) now look like dog doo compared to the most recent. No question really. Just thought I was coming to the end, but I guess I'll head back out to the garage.

You guys go out and work on your cars and stop reading this stuff.

Mike

imported_buick5563 · February 11th, 2005

Oh yeah, what the heck do I do with my hubcaps?
Mike

my3buicks · February 11th, 2005

you realize once you redo the early peices they are going to look better than the latest ones, so you will ahve to do them over again also, then........

raleets · February 11th, 2005

Mike,
If it makes you feel any better, I too went through that routine a few years back while buffing the stainless on my '56.
It's a dark and dirty job, but can actually be fun while watching the crappy looking stainless trim s-l-o-w-l-y turn into a shiney mirror.
I always wore eye goggles, and when I came into the house my wife would call me "Rocky racoon"!
As for the wheelcovers, I've always rubbed, rubbed, rubbed with SemiChrome, the great chrome polish in a tube. Pricey, but great!
Bob Leets

Flint, MI

imported_buick5563 · February 11th, 2005

D'oh
Mike

chriscraft · February 11th, 2005

Mike:
Could you elaborate on the process you use from coarse to fine; materials, which type of rag wheels,etc?

Also, (I apologize - I am an antique boater - we use SS rub rails along the junction of the sides/deck). These rub rails have a tendency to get dinged and dented. Anyone have any advice for regaining the proper shape/contour?

NTX5467 · February 12th, 2005

Glad to know you've been doing something constructive and your wife knows where you are at night, Mike.

Enjoy!
NTX5467

imported_buick5563 · February 12th, 2005

chriscraft,
I got the stainless buffing kit from http://www.Eastwood.com. Basically it has all of the wheels and compound you need. Don't try to go to Lowe's or Sears, the stuff they sell takes twice as long and works half as good. Believe me I know. If you have dents, you need to bang them (gently) from behind with a small hammer and chisel or punch,backing your trim with a jean leg filled with sand (thanks for that freebie tip Dr. Pittman) and then I use my random orbital sander with 220 grit to actually grind some metal away. Then you use progressively finer grits, this time wet sanding by hand, through about 600, then buff with the black (emery) compound with the sisal wheel in the kit. Then, I think there is a blue stainless compound on the spiral wheel, finishing with white rouge on a flannel wheel. I think a pamphlet came with the kit but I got a book from one of the major mall-type bookstores called "How to restore metal auto trim" by Jeff Lilly. His book goes into much finer detail than my cliffnote version and I'm sure I will get other suggestions/ criticism from guys who know more than I do. Also go to Bill Stoneberg's site. I usually access it by finding something he has written on this forum and follow the link. I don't remember how much detail he goes into but his pictures inspired me to do my own buffing instead of farming it out, thanks Bill. Just take your time, and try to practice on your worst pieces first so if you do mess something up, you might have had to buy a new piece anyway. Oh yeah, I also use cheapie flannel gloves so my dainty hands don't get dirty, cuz this process is pretty messy. (And a dust mask and full face shield).
I haven't figured out how to fix my hubcaps yet. After cleaning up my car, and my trim, and my chrome, and my upholstery... you get the picture, I realized that my hupcaps are seriously driver quality (but with fancy new plastics

). So if any of you guys have some nice ones let me know. The Kelsey Hayes wires just wouldn't look right on my Special.
Yeah Willis, my wife just follows the gentle hum of the buffer and knows exactly where I am. No more gallivanting all about town.

OK seriously, y'all get back to work.
Mike

Reatta Man · February 12th, 2005

Mike,

You make one mistake when telling some of these people to get back to work on their cars. 1) It is February, 2) many of them are not fortunate enough to live in Texas, and, well 3) some of them can't FIND their cars because they are either a) buried in snow in places like MAHH-se-chews-its or b) they are sliding down a mud cliff in Cah-LEE-for-nya (thanks, Gov. Arnold!).

So, PLEASE show some compassion on our yankee brethren. They are the ones that REALLY worry about rust, and can only work on their cars 5 monts per year.

Remember, it makes them cry when you tell them it is going to be 77 and sunny in San Antonio tomorrow--oh, sorry, guys. For those of you that can't work on your car, there is always the Speed Channel and those Barrett-Jackson auctions.

Joe
Enjoying the weather in Alamo City

imported_buick5563 · February 13th, 2005

Joe,
Yeah but they'll be tooling around with their tops down in July while we are all inside posting minor tidbits of interest for the other sad, sweaty guys.

Mike