'71 GS350 convertible. What's the best way to polish up the stainless rocker trim? Also, any tips/tricks for applying the 3M Tomato stripe tape? Should the tape go also go around the front & rear edge of the rocker, or just be applied to the long, outer facing length? Thanks
Yeah, best to have someone that’s set up to do it for you. You need a powerful bench grinder/buffer, tight buffing wheel, rouge, and a lot of room and a TIGHT grip, and gloves
The problem with factory rocker moldings is that they are flash chromed. Chrome layer needs to be removed before the stainless can be polished. Otherwise, if you try to polish the chrome, all you are doing is giving it a heavy cleaning.
I had to sand the flash chrome off then polished mine. Later i read "oven cleaner" will take it right off. Haven't tried it yet but could have saved a few hours!
On a 70-72, rocker moldings and front wheel opening moldings are for sure chromed. 70 GS grille stainless surround (3 piece) is chrome plated. I have seen several examples of front and/or rear windshield moldings that had chrome plating on them. I've only done a few 68-69 things, but I have seen the front hood and fender moldings in chrome, and also not. Lots of the second gen Riv moldings are chrome plated... It can be frustrating to remove, but I've used a few different approaches. It seems the "green" muriatic acid from Lowes works well without eating into the trim piece. As long as it's not left in there over night. Regular muriatic acid does the job well...you just have to be vigilant. Of course, mechanical means (sanding) does a good job. Oven cleaner, in my experience, doesn't cut the mustard.
I've just always used semi chrome,..3m compound or mothers ,..it looks pretty dang nice after just a few min,..good enough for me anyway
If you just looking to clean them up, you can use some 0000 steel wool and some Flitz or other metal polish. They won't be perfect, but they'll probably look 10 times better than they do now. As far as the stripe, just keep it straight. I do 24" at a time. Wrap it around the edges and onto the backside.
So, don't try and get the stripe on in one piece? Do I simply overlap the ends of the 24" pieces, or butt them together? Thanks
Once the flash chrome is removed, then the stainless gets polished, how do I then keep them from getting discolored in the future? Should I apply some type of sealant before applying the tomato stripe tape? Thanks
No, I believe what Jason is saying is start at one end, (leave a few inches extra hanging off the end for wrap around) push it down so it sticks, unroll 24" push it down, unroll another 24" push it down, unroll another 24" push it down, etc, until you reach the end, ALL ONE PIECE. No adhesion promoter, just make sure the molding is clean, and dry. Use Windex or rubbing alcohol to clean it. Most of all DO NOT STRETCH THE TAPE when applying it, a lot of people have the natural habit of wanting to stretch it to keep it tight and straight, if you do that it will wrinkle up eventually, as it has a memory.
I just took a pic of my rocker mounding, the tomato red stripe has been on 20 plus years. Hope this helps
Mark has it 100% correct. Exactly what I meant. keep eyeing it up as you go along. And you going to need 2 packages
Stainless won't discolor. The chrome layer was used to keep the finish bright and resistant to scratching. I don't see many gravel roads in your future, though.
Should I just take the rockers to this metal polishing shop near me: http://www.maclellanmetalfinishing.com/ If so, should I remove the flash chrome myself, before bringing it in? Thanks, once more.
For big pieces like this, I don't attempt to put them on the buffer. I put a buffing wheel on a high-speed hand drill, then use the buffing compound on the trim while it is sitting on a flat surface. That way it does get ripped out of my hands and thrown into the wall. If you got the bucks, you can just take just it to the polishing shop and tell them what you want.
If you wanna take it to a polishing shop I wouldn't mess with it,..no matter what you do or dont do they gonna say you hindered the process. I still say polish a place with Semi chrome or something similar it will come up like chrome almost,..all you need is cheap harbor freight buffer and some mothers from O'Reillys
