Metal counter top finish

[Karl Fields]

Just picked up my 12 gauge counter tops tonight. Fit is real good but these are real stained. Any thought on cleaning them up some? Wire wheel, sandpaper, chemical, ??? About 22'. Don't know if they are hot or cold rolled - but the price was right.
Will be a working counter but would like them to start out nice(r)
Thanks

 

[dragonballz]

Just picked up my 12 gauge counter tops tonight. Fit is real good but these are real stained. Any thought on cleaning them up some? Wire wheel, sandpaper, chemical, ??? About 22'. Don't know if they are hot or cold rolled - but the price was right.
Will be a working counter but would like them to start out nice(r)
Thanks

What kind of finish do you want on it?

Start out with the least aggressive method. I think that would be soap + water + sponge.

For me, I think i would like a brushed finished. So I would use a green scotch pad or high-grit sandpaper

 

[strength_and_power]

For a brushed finish, use sandpaper wrapped around a wood block and always go in the same direction.
Or use a D/A sander for a swirl finish.
22' is going to take some time working it by hand.

Clear coat is always an option.

Post up a pic, let us see what you are working with

 

[matt_i]

Wire cup wheel is decent balance of fine finish and cleanup although it throws metal spears, make sure to wear a face sheild and a heavy sweatshirt for that one, you can always use scotchbrite pads by hand, do 1 foot every day and it will be done sooner than you think. If stuff is thicker than you want, spot treat with 100 grit sandpaper by hand before going with the green scotchbrite.

 

[Cyberbear]

They make and sell a DIY chemical finish that leaves a gray coating that prevents rust and is easily repaired, similar to Parkerizing used on firearms. Check the Net and see what's out there for industrial coatings. If you enjoy the raw metal look, be prepared for lots of maintenance. Hot rolled steel has a coating on it that usually flakes off at the bends, cold roll is just plain steel in appearance.

 

[Kevin54]

Scotch-Brite, maroon, and some WD-40. Spray it down with WD, and scrub it in one direction. It will give it a nice brushed finish look.

 

[Rrumbler]

I just used solvent and a rag to clean the one in the last shop I worked in; sometimes I'd go at it with a red "ScotchBrite" and solvent, then give it a wipe with light oil and polish it off. Looked pretty good most of the time. The one on my bench in my garage most usually gets just a wipe with whatever "sort of oily" rag I have at hand, and a wiping with a dry one.