Hey guys! Ok, I have removed all of the trim AND bumpers off of my caddy so I can sand and paint. Question is, how can I tell what type of metal it is so I know how to restore it (stainless, chrome, steel etc...)?
I think you use a magnet to see if it is chrome or s.s. or you can usually tell by looking closely at it and how it polishes.
I think the bumpers are stainless, Im not so sure about the trim though. I think its AA (anodized alluminum). shadowmt hooked me up with a really good article on fordification.com (http://www.fordification.com/trim-polishing.htm) about getting AA worked out but Im pretty sure that if I try it on anything else, it will ruin it. Im sure all you guys know, these parts ain't easy to come by so I don't want to ruin them if I don't have to.
A magnet wont stick to it if it is SS, ulness its 304 SS, that has megnetic properties. It should be stainless trim, and I always thought bumpers are chrome, would be pretty pricey to make a stainless bumper, let alone harder to press.
Yeah, once again, I think you guys are right. See, thats why Im here. I think my bumpers are chrome and the TRIM is stainless. I dont really have any pits on any of the trim but the bumpers are starting to get these little tiny rust spots on them and I want to take care of them before it gets any worse (plus I want to get them back on the car so I can drive it!) So then, whats the best way to treat these pieces?
The bumpers are chrome plated steel. A lot of the trim (like the headlight bezels and grille surround) are chrome plated "pot metal", also known as die cast. Trims around the windshield are stainless steel. The grille might be anodized aluminum, I'm not sure on a '65 (mine is a '68). If a magnet sticks to it, it's chromed steel. Sometimes a magnet will stick to stainless too, depends on the makeup of the stainless. But stainless will have a different finish than chrome or aluminum, so you should be able to tell by looking at it. If the part is cast instead of stamped, or if it's pitted, it's probably pot metal. Pot metal gets pitted, chromed steel gets rusty. If you post a pic of specific items I'll be able to tell you exactly what it's made of.
i have never tried it, but i hear coke and steel wool works a treat on spotty chrome, but i am sure there are better ways.
What I've always done is run my finger along the back side of the part, if it is pitted or rusty, it is chrome; if it is smooth, its stainless.
You can wipe the small rust spots with RUST CURE, its found at a paint and body supply. You can watch the rust spots dissappear. I like the product, but man does it smell bad, egg farts.
ilike steel wool for my chrome, ive had things that looked complettly rusty then steel wool and elbow greese = shiny chrome stainless you need a buffer two really for the different compounds green and white is what i use. theres got to be other ways tho
Well, I used the coke and steel wool. Didn't work. I did try the WD-40 and steel wool, and it seemed to help. After the WD and wool I used the turtle wax metal polish and a buffing wheel and it came out looking a lot better than it started but no where close to where I want it. I took a bunch of pics and Ill post them as soon as I figure out how. Oh yeah, tried it just to see (and before I get bashed, I learned my lesson and Ill never do it again) 400 grit sand paper doesnt do anything but ruin metal.
Ok, I added some pics to the site so Im going to try to put them on here...Oh good. It looks like it worked...somewhat. Well, you can see that it shined up the metal pretty nice but these aggrivating little rust spots wont go away! It looks decent from a distance but up closer, rust. Im going to try and get some of that "RUST CURE" tomorrow and see how that works. BTW, pretty good pics for a phone huh?
My philosophy on my '60 Caddy is "if Turtle Wax metal polish doesn't get it off with a lot of elbow grease, then it is time to thrilled I EVEN HAVE A CL***IC CADDY TO BEGIN WITH!
On my 57 cadillac the side trim was stainless, it wil have a slight yellow tinge, Cadillac staneless is flash chromed at the factory to make it bright, my bumpers were chrome plated steel the cowell grill was potmetal as were the head light rings. the grill was anodized aluminum. good luck.
Never polish chrome with steel wool. I don't give a **** what grade it is, steel against chrome will damage the finish. You should never "polish" something with a material that is harder than what you're trying to polish. If I was you, I would buy some buffing compound, the kind you would use to buff out paint. I like Wizards Turbo-cut since it smells nice and is cheap. Put a little on a rag and polish with it. Sometimes it takes a little elbow grease but it works well and won't damage your finish. If you can affort Simichrome or Flitz they are both excellent products but they're pricey especially if you're working over a whole car's worth of brightwork. Keep in mind that if your chrome is pitted, that will never come out since a pit means your base metal is damaged through the plating. That can only be fixed by rechroming. But hazyness, rust stains, and paitn overspray will all come off with a good polishing. Please promise me you won't use anymore SOS pads or 400 grit sandpaper.
LOL, Squablow. "I promise!" I will never use sandpaper again. I think, like brian26 said, that Ive resolved myself to just polishing it out the best I can and being happy that Ive got SOMETHING to work on. I found out last night as I was painting that acetone (big surprise) cleans and shines the trim up extremely well.
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