Stainless Steel

Chris Murray · 10 September 2006, 18:51

I have a significant "graze" on my radar arch.

Please can someone advise what I need to "polish" it out.

"Polish" isn't really the answer that I am looking for!

Any tips on how to do this and what kind of polish/emery cloth etc. would be most welcome.

Thanks!

Chris.

Hightower · 10 September 2006, 20:00

You'll never get rid of some form of evidence of the scratch unless you weld over and file/dress back and polish.

If you don't want to go down the weld path then I suggest you file and dress and polish the area to look like a shallow dent.

Dinner needs dishing....If you want info on tools I'll be back online later.

Chris Murray · 10 September 2006, 20:26

Thanks Andy!

Further info on the filing & polishing would be most helpful.

Regards,

Chris.

codprawn · 10 September 2006, 21:31

Depends how bad it is but solvol autosol(halfords) with a power mop works wonders. If it's really bad you will have to sand it or grind it first. Some of the paint stripping nylon discs for angle grinders are great.

Hightower · 10 September 2006, 21:44

Dinner over, kids in bed....

Right...First find out how thick your frame is. Second find out how deep your scatch is.

If the scatch is as deep as the thickness of the frame you'll have to weld.

If not then follow the instructions.

1. Gently file the scratch out. The finest file you can find to avoid too much metal being removed and to minimize the amount of polishing.

2. Get a sheet of 80, 240, 600 and 1200 grit emery cloth or wet and dry paper and gently rub the area from the course to the fine to a very smooth finish and to your satifaction.

3. Get a polish, as Codprawn suggests and metal polish as sold in halfords or Brasso. You need a bit of elbow grease for this unless you follow Codprawns advice and find a polishing mop.

One last thing. I wouldn't use a powered tool with a sanding disc on, unless you know what you're doing. It's dead easy to go right though the wall of the tube if you're no too carefull.

Good luck.

Have you got a piccy of the graze/scratch?

Nos4r2 · 10 September 2006, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

3. Get a polish, as Codprawn suggests and metal polish as sold in halfords or Brasso. You need a bit of elbow grease for this unless you follow Codprawns advice and find a polishing mop.

Stuff that-it gets everywhere and doesn't do a lot compared to the proper gear. The best compounds come in a solid block and the mops go into a powerdrill.
Try these guys. I've used their gear before for serious mirror polishing of solid bike wheels that had machining marks all over them. You can't beat it. Make sure you're wearing a dust mask and goggles while using a mop and polish anyway or you'll get a really nasty lungful and eyeful but you won't realise it til you cough up solid black stuff and your eyes start to hurt.

Cetem Polishing Supplies

codprawn · 10 September 2006, 23:13

I have used a few of the solid blocks - also various pastes and creams etc - used to be sad enough to make my own telescope and laser mirrors in a past life. Principal is the same - glass is even harder!!! You have to be careful with some of the solids for leaving streaks etc. Solvol really is awesome stuff - will even give a mirror finish on perspex and other plastics but won't remove deep stuff. Yes it does make a bit of a mess but not too bad.

Limey Linda · 11 September 2006, 01:05

Suggest when filing round tubing you use the "draw filing" method as apposed to cross filing. It will produce finer finish and less ridges. File will cut in both directions. Do not let file clog, use chalk. Perform all work along the axis of the tubing not across and take is slooooow. This is the old gunsmith method of hand finishing gun barrels.

Hope this helps.

Hightower · 11 September 2006, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Stuff that-it gets everywhere and doesn't do a lot compared to the proper gear. The best compounds come in a solid block and the mops go into a powerdrill.
Try these guys. I've used their gear before for serious mirror polishing of solid bike wheels that had machining marks all over them. You can't beat it. Make sure you're wearing a dust mask and goggles while using a mop and polish anyway or you'll get a really nasty lungful and eyeful but you won't realise it til you cough up solid black stuff and your eyes start to hurt.

Cetem Polishing Supplies

Does look like you can buy some great kit from these people but it looks expensive stuff for a one off application.

Nos4r2 · 11 September 2006, 07:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Does look like you can buy some great kit from these people but it looks expensive stuff for a one off application.

It's not cheap but you get so much gear in the kit that you'll be able to do a huge amount of stuff with it afterwards. It's surprising how much stuff you find you want to polish when you can.

Hightower · 11 September 2006, 13:13

Get that family Silver and Gold out

Chris Murray · 11 September 2006, 22:43

Thanks guys,

I shall give this a try as soon as I can. What a shame that I live 100 miles from my boat!

Very helpful.

Cheers!

Chris.