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Author Topic:   Scratches in Stainless Rails

Beaner posted 04-14-2003 01:42 PM ET (US)
Is there anything that can be done for deep scratches in the stainless grab rails? I have one scratch that is kinda sharp! My first instinct is to sand but I don't want to make the problem worse. Any suggestions?
ONO posted 04-16-2003 07:17 PM ET (US)
I recently polished the stainless steel on my sportfisher. I spoke to a local stainless steel fabicator and he recommended a polishing wheel and an abrasive compound that comes in bricks. Both the polishing wheel and abrasives were availible at CTI Abrasives in Santa Ana Ca.
The polishing wheels came in different grades the coarse was built out of hemp rope, the finset was all cotton. I bought a first and second finest grade on 6" wheels and put them on a car polisher, other people on the dock have bought the 3 inch and put them on a handheld grinder.
I also bought two grades of the abrasive bricks, but ended up using only the finest
The results were fantastic. The rails are now close to mirrior finsih. I was not able to totally eliminate the deep scratces but boy do they shine.
BTW the SS polishers guys start out with 80 Grit on a grinder and will polish them with progressively higher grit before switching to the polishing wheels. I wouldn't worry about fileing the scratches first then using the polishing compound.

To find these products I would to either call you local stainless steel fabricators and asks for his/hers abrasive supplier and/or search the web.

I have been told that the polishing compound is also used by hot rodders to polish their mags this may be another source

Hope this helps
bojunk posted 04-18-2003 07:26 PM ET (US)
any more details on the wheels and compound?
Beaner posted 04-19-2003 09:35 AM ET (US)
Ono,
Thanks for the tips. I wet sanded the scratches first with 220 and then with 600. Then I used the dremel with polishing whhen with white polishing compound (Home Depot) and then with 3M Marine Metal polish. Still can see a minor scratch but feels very smooth to the touch which is all I wanted to accomplish. Also, looks wise you would never know I took sandpaper to the metal. Turned out being alot easier than I thought.

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Author	Topic: Scratches in Stainless Rails
Beaner	posted 04-14-2003 01:42 PM ET (US) Is there anything that can be done for deep scratches in the stainless grab rails? I have one scratch that is kinda sharp! My first instinct is to sand but I don't want to make the problem worse. Any suggestions?
ONO	posted 04-16-2003 07:17 PM ET (US) I recently polished the stainless steel on my sportfisher. I spoke to a local stainless steel fabicator and he recommended a polishing wheel and an abrasive compound that comes in bricks. Both the polishing wheel and abrasives were availible at CTI Abrasives in Santa Ana Ca. The polishing wheels came in different grades the coarse was built out of hemp rope, the finset was all cotton. I bought a first and second finest grade on 6" wheels and put them on a car polisher, other people on the dock have bought the 3 inch and put them on a handheld grinder. I also bought two grades of the abrasive bricks, but ended up using only the finest The results were fantastic. The rails are now close to mirrior finsih. I was not able to totally eliminate the deep scratces but boy do they shine. BTW the SS polishers guys start out with 80 Grit on a grinder and will polish them with progressively higher grit before switching to the polishing wheels. I wouldn't worry about fileing the scratches first then using the polishing compound. To find these products I would to either call you local stainless steel fabricators and asks for his/hers abrasive supplier and/or search the web. I have been told that the polishing compound is also used by hot rodders to polish their mags this may be another source Hope this helps
bojunk	posted 04-18-2003 07:26 PM ET (US) any more details on the wheels and compound?
Beaner	posted 04-19-2003 09:35 AM ET (US) Ono, Thanks for the tips. I wet sanded the scratches first with 220 and then with 600. Then I used the dremel with polishing whhen with white polishing compound (Home Depot) and then with 3M Marine Metal polish. Still can see a minor scratch but feels very smooth to the touch which is all I wanted to accomplish. Also, looks wise you would never know I took sandpaper to the metal. Turned out being alot easier than I thought.