clean up and polishing Windshield and rear glass molding

[tmodel66]

I have good molding that is original to my '69SS.  I would like to keep it but as you probably know it is "white" dull. I have tried several polishes and wax and cream and I am just wasting my time and money. Can anyone tell me where to send it to get it polished out  like new?  I am about to do a  face lift and spruce it up a little and I just can't get it to shine like it's supposed too.

Thanks 





Daniel

[OBIWAN2T]

Daniel,

   I just did this to my 67 camaro. Get a grinder and put a polishing wheel on it. Then get a couple of sticks of polishing compound, one cleaner & one final polish, and CAREFULLY go to work. The original stuff polishes out to a brilliant shine!

Todd

[tmodel66]

Thanks Todd  could you give me the name of the stuff you used?  Still better give me the part number off what you used along with the name then I can't go wrong.

[KevinW]

Dan, take a look at this site and read the tech docs as well as the forums  http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/  Lots of info on polishing.  I did my stainless trim, easy, but time consuming.  It came out nice!

[OBIWAN2T]

Daniel,

  I got it @ Lowes ( of all places ) I just got your reply & I'll go out to my shop tonight and see the exact name of the 2 polishes I used. If that will be helpful I'll be glad to do it.

Todd

[JohnZ]

The original stainless steel reveal moldings were flash-chromed after polishing, to protect them from oxidation/dulling; to polish them, you first have to get through the clear chrome layer, and when you're done, they should be flash-chromed again, or they'll dull over time.

[tmodel66]

Thanks for the insight John.      Bet you don't know where a chap could get the flash chrome done?   I don't know about replacement moulding.   Do they fit ?

[JohnZ]

Thanks for the insight John.      Bet you don't know where a chap could get the flash chrome done?   I don't know about replacement moulding.   Do they fit ?

You'll have to check with platers in your area to see who can do flash-chrome. I haven't heard anything good about the fit of reproductiion reveal moldings - perhaps someone else can comment who has experience with them.

[mrdetails]

I tried the repo moldings about 2 years ago. They were thiner than original and the fit was bad. So unless they have been improved since then, I would'nt recommend them. I repolished the originals. I didn't know about the chrome flash but I think  it will take quite a while for polished stainless steel to oxidize. Especially if you keep after them with metal polish once and a while.
Good Luck
Sam

[JohnZ]

I didn't know about the chrome flash but I think  it will take quite a while for polished stainless steel to oxidize.

It only becomes obvious where you have two pieces next to each other and one is flash-chromed after polishing and the other one isn't - the one that's chromed will maintain kind of an icy-blue appearance in natural light, and the one that's not will eventually take on a slight yellowish cast. If all the adjoining pieces aren't chromed, you probably wouldn't notice it.

[Sauron327]

I didn't know about the chrome flash but I think  it will take quite a while for polished stainless steel to oxidize.

It only becomes obvious where you have two pieces next to each other and one is flash-chromed after polishing and the other one isn't - the one that's chromed will maintain kind of an icy-blue appearance in natural light, and the one that's not will eventually take on a slight yellowish cast. If all the adjoining pieces aren't chromed, you probably wouldn't notice it.

Yup. And you'll find out if you are polishing them and you go through the f. chrome when sanding out imperfections. There is a distinct difference in color.

[OBIWAN2T]

Daniel,
 
         Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.  What I used was #3 soft metal cleaning compound first and then switched to the #5 high gloss polishing compound. Both came from my local Lowes.

Todd

[L78 steve]

Flash chrome?  I've been filing ,sanding and polishing SS trim for ages and never seen any evidence of a layer of chrome.  Are you sure about this?

[Sauron327]

I've sanded some nasty imperfections out and not all showed a color distinction. The ones that did were were indeed a yellowish hue underneath in contrast to the rich bluish overtone they have. Some I hammered out and sanded, beginning with 220 up to 2500, cutting them deeply and did not see a variation.

[JohnZ]

Flash chrome?  I've been filing ,sanding and polishing SS trim for ages and never seen any evidence of a layer of chrome.  Are you sure about this?

Yes. Virtually all GM exterior stainless trim was flash-chromed after polisihing. "Chrome" is clear, and is less than a thousandth of an inch thick. Chrome on bumpers is different - it has nickel underneath it - that's what gives it the silvery look. "Show chrome" (which GM never used) has copper underneath the nickel.