can scratches be buffed out of stainless steel windshield moldings or should i start looking for new ones? i've buffed them by hand with steel wool and metal polish but the scratches are still present. Anyone know how I can remove them? Thanks in advance for your help!!!!!

They sure can. When done properly, stainless can be worked to "look like a mirror". However, you will need the right stuff. First item is a bench grinder then some appropriate compounds and buffing wheels. These are available at lots of places including The Eastwood Company. To get them to look good you need "heat" and hand rubbing just doesn't do it, that's where the speed of a grinder comes in.

Depending on how bad the scratches and/or dents are, you may have to flatten the dents out, maybe use a file and even some sandpaper. Then you use the various compounds and buffing wheels (could be three steps depending on the condition of the stainless).

It could be time consuming depending on how bad they are. But it is not difficult and the end results can be "fantastic".

Good luck.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

thanks for the information Don. what type of compound should i be using. are most all the same. will a normal grinding wheel with a polisher pad work or do i need a special grinder/polisher. thanks again...

Check out : http://www.caswellplating.com/ . they also sell buffing supplies. If you look for the "Instructions Page", they have a pretty good booklet that you can download. It explains the buffing process pretty well. I bought most of my supplies from a vender at an auto swap meet.

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Rick
72 El Camino (http://members.home.net/jimmy4/rick1972elky.html)
TPI350/700r4 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/ricks%20motor%20-L)
TC#00038
ACES#00140

Regular bench grinder will work just fine.

Any dents and dings will need to be banged out and/or filed and/or sanded.

Depending on how bad the finish is, you can go through three steps:

One - Emery compound & sisal wheel
Two - Stainless compound & spiral wheel
Three - Rouge compound and loose section wheel

Hope this helps, good luck.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

thanks you guys. both of your responses helped out very much. i was going to pay someone to do this, but mine are really in good condition except the scratches. they have no dents or dings so i believe i might try to do them myself...

Take your time and good luck.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)