School me on polishing stainless

[Tunajoe]

So about a month ago, I re-purposed an old table saw stand, 220v motor with a bad capacitor (fixed it with one from an old pool pump), and a 1 1/4" buffing spindle with pillow blocks I bought off craigslist.
The only place I was able to find buffing wheels in an 1-1/4" was McMaster Carr.
They are pretty thin buffing wheels. On the right side, I doubled up on the wheels.
So yesterday I bought some 304L SS scrap from my local steel supplier.

I tried to buff it out and the results were really bad. (see last pic of SS on right that blackish)
What am I doing wrong?

 

[Bobf]

I've always used some "stainless" compound I got at the hardware store in a cardboard tube. It's a white color I just hold against the wheel then hold my stainless item against the wheel. Works great on old car trim including a 30 A radiator shell and head light buckets.

 

[larry4406]

I frequent another forum and found this link to be informative. Not sure if you have to be a member there to see pictures.
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=81891.0

 

[stikman56]

Looks like you need to sand that first, it looks too rough. It takes much sanding,it's hard material ,it's even harder to get the sanding scratches out as you progress finer and finer. I took dings out of the window trim on my '56 by hammering ,filing and sanding and polishing. It takes time.

 

[AndyCBR]

So about a month ago, I re-purposed an old table saw stand, 220v motor with a bad capacitor (fixed it with one from an old pool pump), and a 1 1/4" buffing spindle with pillow blocks I bought off craigslist.
The only place I was able to find buffing wheels in an 1-1/4" was McMaster Carr.
They are pretty thin buffing wheels. On the right side, I doubled up on the wheels.
So yesterday I bought some 304L SS scrap from my local steel supplier.

I tried to buff it out and the results were really bad. (see last pic of SS on right that blackish)
What am I doing wrong?

I think the "white" polishing compound prevents some of the blackening and is used for harder material. Maybe a clean wheel would help too.

I agree it looks like you need some intermediate sanding steps before you can go to the polishing compound. Fine grit flap disks work pretty good and are a little flexible to get around corners.

 

[wrenchguy]

its kinda a mill finish when u get it. i da mine with 400 then 600 to get the dullness gone. then i use white ruge

 

[EOC_Jason]

It kind of goes without saying that one wheel = one color. If you start mixing them then all those different compounds just get mixed in the wheel. Also a lot of people put on way too much, just need to touch it for a second or so (watch the video someone linked above). Otherwise you have to rub off all that excess compound by hand.

But yeah, buffing wheels are for your final shine, use higher grit sandpaper first then you polish with your wheels.

 

[Robby321]

I've polished Alum, SS for decades. M/C parts. Get a Scotchbrite wheel. Hit with that, then over to white rouge buffing wheel. Comes out like chrome and will STAY that way to. Link wheel.. (pricey, but really last)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006NE2VO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Robby321]

OK, reply my last post using a Scotchbrite wheel. Polishing SS (or Aluminum)) 101, so easy even a cave man can do it! Sequence pix. Piece SS, and the wheel I use. Then after the SB wheel. Then on the buffer white rouge. Then under a incandescent small light and you can see the reflection on the lamp shade. total time on the "Baldor""? 30 seconds. Also if ya never have enough space/room (who DOES!), I mounted a buffer, grinder, sander on a old TV cabinet, beefed up, casters on, and its now a roll around anywhere shop. Hope this helps!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yeah I totally forgot about those scotch brite wheels, they are awesome. You can debur edges of material too with them, but for large flat surfaces you can polish things real nice (just be careful you don't use too much pressure).

I was cheap and bought some unitized wheels off eBay from china for about $9. A little harder than the scotch brites but work just as well.

 

[Tunajoe]

So looks like I need a scotch bright wheel.
The problem I'm having is finding things with a 1- 1/4" arbor

 

[Tunajoe]

OK, reply my last post using a Scotchbrite wheel. Polishing SS (or Aluminum)) 101, so easy even a cave man can do it! Sequence pix. Piece SS, and the wheel I use. Then after the SB wheel. Then on the buffer white rouge. Then under a incandescent small light and you can see the reflection on the lamp shade. total time on the "Baldor""? 30 seconds. Also if ya never have enough space/room (who DOES!), I mounted a buffer, grinder, sander on a old TV cabinet, beefed up, casters on, and its now a roll around anywhere shop. Hope this helps!

That's what Im talking about!
Nice!
Actually looks like McMaster Carr has some Scotch bride like wheels that will fit.
Should I get 80 or 120 grit?

 

[wrenchguy]

That's what Im talking about!
Nice!
Actually looks like McMaster Carr has some Scotch bride like wheels that will fit.
Should I get 80 or 120 grit?

way too course if u want mirror finish without scratches. i build these using 18gauge, 304, 2b finish. i weld them down the center then machine/buff the thing to almost chrome.

my boat parts webpage, http://www.cutwaters.com