Polishing SS

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Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Why buy new when all it needs is a little polishing. Here are the 2 pedestal guard bases from my boat. I have purchased a new guard and the fabricator said it would be highly polished so I thought I better purchase new bases too. This afternoon I got out my Dremel to see if they could be brought back. I also added a couple of weep hole for water to drain.

As you can see I only polished one of them and it was worse off then the other.
 

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CalebD

CalebD

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Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
I second SD's question. Which Dremel attachment did you use for polishing?
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
I used the little beige buffing pads(about 1 inch in diameter). I started with Presta cutting creme(similar to 3M rubbing) followed by Presta chroma(similar to Finesse It). Both stages I had the motor set at about 1.5. There was a deep scratch in the edge of one of them that I progressively sanded starting with 120 all the way up to 1200 and then polishing.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
The Presta products are excellent ones..... Maine Sail recommends them and I just started using them.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
When I have very much to polish I use a sewn cotton wheel and buffing rouge on a bench grinder.
 
T

tommays

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Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
I use a 8" cotton wheel with a brown stick OR 6" if you have a small grinder it allows you to put a lot more power into the metal

Just be careful about burning your hands as it gets HOT quick
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
tommays said:
metal

Just be careful about burning your hands as it gets HOT quick
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Yes it cna get very HOT!!!

Sewn cotton wheels and rouge are great and available at Home Depot or Lowe's to fit bench grinders, all you need to do is remove the guard and you're ready to polish. I polish lots of stuff this way and it works great.




Tim,

Nice job! I had never thought or trying Presta on stainless. Do get yourself a sewn cotton buff wheel though, and some rouge sticks, which come in different grades and they make them specifically for stainless.. Those Dremel accessories don't last long and get expensive..:doh:
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Hey MS. I first need to buy a bench grinder. I did try the brown rouge stick with the dremel but it was a little more agressive than than the cutting creme. I know I can get different grades but I only had the cheapie stuff that came with the Dremel so I experimented with the Presta.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
A radial arm saw also makes a good buffer. But take the blade off and add the cotton buff. ;) (it says here you have to tell them everything.)
 
Bob S

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Ross! this isn't the first time you made me laugh out loud.

What's the difference between jeweler's rouge and rouge? I have used this method of polishing.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
bsmith said:
Ross! this isn't the first time you made me laugh out loud.

What's the difference between jeweler's rouge and rouge? I have used this method of polishing.
Click to expand
About three dollars per pound. ;)

Unless you consider the stuff mama uses on her make-up table.;D
 
G

Guest

SS cleaner

I've been very pleased with Bar Keepers Friend, a cleanser found in most grocery stores, to restore SS luster. It works great on removing stains, grime, tarnish, etc. from SS and other metals. Be sure to wear rubber gloves.

Terry Cox
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
If you can find it - usually covered with dust in an oldtime hardware shop that catered to the manufacturing industry - look for "Tripoli" buffing compound. "Tripoli" is a mixture of very fine clay and diatomaceous earth - was 'mined' near the NorthAfrican city of .... Tripoli. Tripoli can be used for buffing any 'white' metal.

Modern equivalents of "tripoli" still can be found .... they are GREY in color and are available in 'stick form' - like a large 'crayon'. 'Rouge' (red or brown) are used for polishing 'red' metals.

For even better 'protection' of your buffed stainless: buff to 'mirror' bright, then take the piece to a shop that performs 'electro-polishing'. Electropolishing is the 'reverse' of electroplating and will remove all the macroscopic 'hills and valleys' (which are what 'rusts'); the metal will become more 'chemically stable' but will reduce somewhat in 'brilliance' and become somewhat 'satinized'.
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Ross said:
just about the time when I think that I have a pretty good understanding of a subject I "google" it and find out that I don't know much at all.
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Ross, we used to have a framed sign at work (when I used to work) that said, "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about."

Maybe if they'd stop inventing things, maybe we could catch up?
 
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