Cleaning up stainless steel

[inane2]

Good evening guys,

I was finally able to score a Karcher hot water pressure washer on the cheap on CraigsList. Been going through it, getting it all cleaned up, etc. Just had the frame powdercoated and what a difference that made.

This unit has a stainless steel wrap around the burner itself. It’s a bit tarnished and doesn’t look the best. I’ve got new decals ordered so I’m going to remove the old ones and try to clean this up a bit. What would the members of GJ recommend to polish this out? I’m realistic in this goal and realize it won’t look like a new one but I’m thinking I should be able to clean it up some. Looking around at Wally World and noticed they had “Barkeeper’s Friend”, it was a powder made for cleaning SS.

Here’s a pic of a new unit and a pic of my wrap:





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[S Vier]

“FLITZ”

It will be new again. Ace Hardware.


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[JohnnyK8]

^^^^^agree

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[log man]

Bar keepers and vinegar with a fine scotch rite pad will get it back to metal pretty easily. If you want polished look Flitz too

 

[dr_clyde]

Stainless can be a bit funny when you want to clean it. Some things won't be an issue, some chemicals will eat the stainless.

As a rule, avoid any chemicals with chlorine.

I would coat it with some oven cleaner, which is basically caustic soda in a foaming aerosol. This will cut any grease or organic matter. Then give it a scrub and rinse, and see where you ended up.

The do make a stainless steel cleaner and polish for stuff like doors in a janitorial sense. Doesn't work to take off grease and grime though.

 

[crazylunker]

Bar keepers and scotch bright works awesome and effortless. I find the powder works better than the liquid

 

[PelicanPines]

Bar keepers and scotch bright works awesome and effortless. I find the powder works better than the liquid

This...

 

[inane2]

Wow, thanks guys! I knew this would be the place to ask. I saw that Barkeepers was in both a powder and liquid and thought the powder would be the best method.

I'll pick up some oven cleaner to do some initial cleaning. I should have vinegar and scotch brites in the house. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

 

[tinmanwpk]

Just be sure to polish WITH the grain.

 

[vrinner]

Just be sure to polish WITH the grain.

I work for a grill company we get that question a lot. Barkeepers is a recommended product as well as Surfox.

WITH the grain!

 

[palsor1]

We use bar keepers friend on our stainless pots in the kitchen when they start to dull and tarnish. It works really well. As someone else said, go with the grain.

 

[wout]

We used fine white sewing machine oil to clean it or when it was scratched to much we used sandpaperrol on a dril. So you got the 'very fine striped' finish, often used in the food industrie.

gr
Wout

 

[rlitman]

Bar keepers and vinegar with a fine scotch rite pad will get it back to metal pretty easily. If you want polished look Flitz too

Yes. Though I prefer lemon juice to vinegar.

Bar keepers and scotch bright works awesome and effortless. I find the powder works better than the liquid

The powder is MUCH better, because you can mix it to a paste consitency.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

We used fine white sewing machine oil to clean it or when it was scratched to much we used sandpaperrol on a dril. So you got the 'very fine striped' finish, often used in the food industrie.

gr
Wout

Do not use any abrasive or wire wheel that is not aluminum oxide, silica or zirconia. It will imbed impurities into the SS and cause rust stains.

Tommy

 

[rlitman]

Do not use any abrasive or wire wheel that is not aluminum oxide, silica or zirconia. It will imbed impurities into the SS and cause rust stains.

Tommy

Well, those are all good choices, but there are other safe options too. Just don't use steel wool, unless it is stainless steel wool.

 

[MoonRise]

Degrease/clean it with some appropriate cleaner.

If using anything abrasive, rub with the grain (if there is any).

And +27 on Flitz. It is some pretty darn magical stuff. Not all that cheap, but a little goes a long way and it works really well to remove rust, oxides, tarnish, etc and also polishes things a bit as well.

Or you can go all out and get some acidic passivization gel or liquid or some 'tint remover' (pretty much passivization gel/liquid under a different name). Usually an industrial supply place or your LWS will have something. RTFM carefully when using those chemicals, as some of them are REALLY nasty. Use proper PPE and read those directions!

example chemical:

https://www.derustit.com/products/wonder_gel.php

 

[wout]

Do not use any abrasive or wire wheel that is not aluminum oxide, silica or zirconia. It will imbed impurities into the SS and cause rust stains.

Tommy

If you use a brand new sanding wheel it’s no problem as far as I know, just don’t use one that you allready used on steel or other ferro material. Same thing don’t cut stainless steel with a disc you’ve used for steel before. In construction they use different machines for stainless steel en ferro.

Gr
Wout

 

[Marctrees]

Example of what others brought up -

I installed a commercial steel man door w stainless strike plates 6 months ago.

Had to slightly grind, and hand file throat in plate.

Just noticed that the plate has obvious surface rust where I used the handfile.

Marc

 

[66HertzClone]

Here is an organic alternative.

 

[unslow1]

I have to clean a couple of hundred sq ft of stainless daily. Using a strong liquid oven cleaner in a spray bottle will make it look like new and you don't need to polish it. Just make sure you rinse it well.