Need tips on DIY stainless polishing

[CloudDiver]

I have a few areas on stainless steel parts of my C22 that need polishing (its all taken apart). I don't see it as enough work to send out for professional polishing and I really only need a 90% solution, not a mirror polish... Plus, the bigger pieces like the bow and stern pulpits, although very light, are a pain to transport.

So, all I have done is add some tubing to my stern rail to modernize the mainsheet traveler. I used polished 1 inch 304 stainless tube, so I will need to polish is the welds. All the other small parts and the bow pulpit were previously polished so I'm really just doing a "clean up" job on those. I feel like its worth doing before everything gets reinstalled and bedded.

My general tools list should cover the job. I use a pneumatic die grinder with coarse, medium, and fine scotch brite discs to get to a fairly good satin sheen. Beyond that I have a DeWalt variable speed hand held polisher and also a stationary wheel.

So what type of cloth wheel should I use and type of polishing compound? After I go from the blue fine scotch brite disc how to get reasonably close to a bright polish?

Any tips on technique and materials is appreciated. I can post some pics later of parts that have been cleaned up with the scotch discs and follow on later with finished polishing if I am successful.

Thanks in advance!

Here is a pic of the stern rail with the tubing I added for the new mainsheet (the two tubes at center with the horizontal);

 

[berner73]

Have you looked into Spotless Stainless?

No affiliation other than a satisfied customer. Not sure if it's what you're looking for but myself and others have had good luck with it.

http://spotlessstainless.com/examples

 

[CloudDiver]

Thanks for the suggestion, but that product is basically a phosphoric acid solution in gel form. I already use that as a cleaner for welding prep and general stainless cleaning. It does a good job with running rust and it makes it look good, but only if it is previously polished.

Have you looked into Spotless Stainless?

No affiliation other than a satisfied customer. Not sure if it's what you're looking for but myself and others have had good luck with it.

http://spotlessstainless.com/examples

 

[All U Get]

I used a buffing wheel on a drill to polish some stainless. Used green and red wax on the wheel with some good results. Totally DIY since I only had done this once before.

All U Get

 

[woodster]

3m makes a system for polishing this its like scotch brite pads that velcro to a holder a little pricey but they are out there

 

[caguy]

Buffing wheel and polishing compound. I still use the same stuff I used as a kid. My wheel in on a stand but you can use a right angle grinder just as well.
IE: http://www.grainger.com/category/bu...asives/ecatalog/N-i39?nls=1&suggestConfigId=2

Here is an excellent how to video.

 

[Picflight]

@caguy, how do you use the buffing compound? Looks like a solid hard stick in the link you provided.

 

[caguy]

@caguy, how do you use the buffing compound? Looks like a solid hard stick in the link you provided.

Sorry added video after.

 

[CloudDiver]

Sorry added video after.

Thanks... thats the ticket right there! I'm getting a relatively bright but still satin finish from the blue scotch brite discs. If I get that kind of wheel for my 4" right angle grinder or my DeWalt variable sped buffer that will do the trick!