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Stainless steel requires polishing to maintain its lustrous finish and enhance its resistance to corrosion and contaminants. Key processes for polishing stainless steel include cleaning the surface, sanding with progressively finer grits, and buffing with the appropriate compounds. You can also use natural alternatives like baking soda and vinegar for minor polishing tasks.
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Stainless steel is used across a wide range of industries, from automotive and appliances to furniture and knife making. In addition to being aesthetically appealing, stainless steel is durable, corrosion and chemical-resistant, and won&#;t degrade under high temperatures. It is, however, prone to fading over time, which is why polishing is a key factor in its upkeep. In this guide, the team at Red Label Abrasives explains how to polish stainless steel so that it looks as good as it functions.
Benefits Of Polishing Stainless Steel
As stainless steel ages, its distinctive sheen can fade. Although polishing stainless steel helps keep it looking good, there are other benefits as well. The benefits of polishing stainless steel include:
In metals, polishing reduces the number and size of crevices that encourage rust.
When stainless steel is polished, even invisible contaminants are removed from the surface. These quality issues may be undesirable in some applications.
What Finish Are You Looking For?
Generally speaking, the method and tools you use to polish your stainless steel surfaces and components will be determined by the kind of finish you&#;re looking for. Below is an overview of the most common finishing options.
Brushed Finish
By brushing stainless steel, delicate parallel lines are created to create decorative patterns. It works well in areas exposed to bright indoor lights or lots of sunshine because it lacks the typical reflective sheen of stainless steel. However, it can reduce the steel's resistance to corrosion, so rustproofing may be needed depending on the application. To make the lines uniform on brushed finishes, a high-grade abrasive is required.
Gloss Finish
Polishing stainless steel to a gloss finish improves corrosion resistance by smoothing crevices where rust can collect. It's perfect for automotive parts with its chrome-like shine, but it needs an adequately prepared surface. After buffing, it can also achieve a mirror-like shine with the help of high-quality buffing compound and a grinder with a polishing wheel.
Matte Finish
Unlike other finishes, matte is unpretentious and requires less time, effort, and expense to achieve. It is commonly used for practical purposes like kitchen or bathroom sinks and workbenches. A matte finish can usually be achieved with one or two buffing levels, such as 240 grit and 300 or 400 grit.
Mirror Finish
With this highly reflective finish, stainless steel achieves its most iconic look. Besides hiding welded metal, it makes cleaning easier. If you want to polish stainless steel to achieve a mirror finish, you'll need buffing wheels with compound or abrasive belts in the super fine grits.
Do You Need to Sand Stainless Steel Before Polishing It?
Sometimes, but not always. If the stainless steel surface only has minor surface imperfections, you can usually deal with them using a polishing compound. Deep scratches, on the other hand, will need to be sanded out.
To determine whether sanding is necessary, locate the most serious blemish on the surface. Use the least aggressive grit you have available to buff it. Typically, it will be a 400-grit compound. If the scratch is still visible, repeat the process with a slightly coarser grit such as a 320-grit metal polishing compound. Clean and inspect the surface again. If you still notice the scratch, you may want to sand it.
Machine Polishing Stainless Steel
Below are the supplies and steps you will need to get a smooth finish using an angle or bench grinder.
Supplies
Angle grinder or bench grinder
Buffer and buffing pad
Abrasive (sandpaper)
Acetone or alcohol
Soft sponges or clean cloths
Polishing compound
White vinegar (optional)
Step #1: Clean and Prepare the Stainless Steel
Stainless steel surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned before polishing. If left, foreign matter can scratch and blemish the surface, making it look worse instead of better. Remove any sticky residue with acetone or alcohol. Next, clean the surface with warm soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth: do not use steel wool or anything else that could damage the stainless steel. Make sure the surface is completely dry before proceeding.
Step #2: Level the Surface
Using sandpaper in the 80-120-grit range, level out any rough areas once you have a clean surface; if the steel is welded, the bead should be removed. Take your time and avoid over-grinding the surface and causing a low spot. For larger pieces, an angle grinder is the easiest tool to use, while a bench grinder may be the most appropriate for smaller items. Make sure that you clean the piece again before moving on to the next step, as any residual contaminants could affect the final product.
Step #3: Sand the Surface
As soon as the blemishes are reduced, start using sandpaper instead of the grinder. For metals with a mill finish, you can start with paper in the 120-grit range and work your way up to progressively finer grits as the surface becomes smoother. Typically, you should progress from 240 to 400, then 600, and finally grit. For a mirror finish, you could go a step further with grit sandpaper.
Set your sander between 4,000 and 6,500 RPM for buffing stainless steel. Be careful to move the sander at a 90° angle to any noticeable scratches. (Every time you change the grit of the sandpaper, move 90° from the previous motion.) As soon as you get the stainless steel piece to an even, satiny finish, you're ready to move on. Conclude by wiping the steel surface with a soft sponge or cloth dipped in water.
Step #4: Polish
Choose a buffing compound designed for stainless steel: we recommend green rouge or white rouge. Apply a small amount to your buffer wheel and slowly work the machine up and down the length of the surface. Be sure to overlap your paths to avoid leaving polishing lines on the surface. Just as importantly, keep your buffer moving to keep from burning the surface of your steel.
Buffing stainless steel removes scratches and imperfections so that debris cannot collect in microscopic crevices. Through the multi-step process, imperfections are gradually smoothed out and the metal's best qualities are restored. Buffing is time-consuming, but it is the only way to repair the surface and give it that aesthetically pleasing and durable mirror finish.
Some Tips for Best Polishing Results
Buffing stainless steel is the most important step in polishing it to a mirror finish. Don't rush, and each time you apply compound to the buffing wheel, take care not to overdo it.
Other tips:
Be gentle. Since you're just finishing off the piece, you don't need to apply much pressure.
Keep your lines tight and as close together as possible. To achieve an even finish, avoid overlapping too much and make sure you always move with the grain.
Quickly pass over the piece. Avoid lingering too long anywhere on the surface.
Keep plenty of clean cloths and buffing wheels on hand so you can swap them out whenever you change compounds. When using different abrasives, it is extremely important to prevent cross-contamination.
Before going on to the next step, check the piece over for scratches or imperfections.
Natural Polishing Solutions
If you prefer using natural materials and your stainless steel surfaces only have minor scratches, you can apply the following materials to the problem areas, using a circular motion. Use a soft-bristled brush or dry cloth. Wipe clean when done.
Baking Soda
If your stainless steel simply needs a little brightening, you can apply a small amount of baking soda to a damp sponge or cloth and apply it the same way you would with stainless steel polish. Be sure to go with the grain of the steel as you work, since baking soda is slightly abrasive. It&#;s also food safe, so it&#;s a great option for cleaning and polishing kitchen surfaces, utensils, and appliances.
Vinegar
As well as being non-toxic, vinegar removes dirt, grime, and sticky residue from stainless steel. However, you&#;ll need to dilute it with water before using it to polish stainless steel: if you use straight vinegar on your steel, it will turn black.
Combine one part vinegar with eight parts water. Spray the solution on the stainless surfaces and let it sit for five minutes. Afterwards, rinse with cool water or wipe with a damp cloth. After your stainless steel surfaces have dried, sprinkle them with olive oil and wipe them with a clean cloth.
Dish Soap and Baby Oil
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Stainless steel appliances and counters can be cleaned with a small amount of dish soap mixed with water. Rinse their surfaces thoroughly with warm, soapy water. After the stainless steel has dried, apply a light coat of baby oil and polish it.
Red Label Abrasives: A Cut Above The Rest
Although stainless steel is one of the hardest metals to polish, you can restore its original shine. It doesn&#;t matter how large or small your project is: with the right tools and materials, you can get outstanding results.
At Red Label Abrasives, we have the resources you need to get a finish you&#;ll love. Red Label offers high-quality
sanding discs
,
buffing wheels
, and
buffing compounds
that smooth out and add luster to all types of metals, including stainless steel. For more information or to place an order, please call
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Stainless steel is an appealing option for everything from accent work to kitchen appliances. It adds a modern twist to architecture and design features, but it also provides durability and functionality to tools and utensils, especially in the food and automotive industries.
It&#;s not easy to find a material that looks better than stainless steel when it&#;s polished to a mirror shine. That shimmering, high-gloss look isn&#;t the only reason people choose stainless steel for everything from refrigerators to auto parts. Many people appreciate that it&#;s a generally maintenance-free material and happily pay more for the aesthetic appeal.
Stainless steel holds up well against corrosion, high heat, and most chemicals, making it an ideal choice for industrial, commercial, hobby, or residential use. Unfortunately, even though stainless steel is tough, it can still age. You may notice scratches or a dull cast to the pieces over time.
You don&#;t have to suffer with less than shiny stainless steel, though. While stainless steel is one of the toughest metals to polish, it&#;s possible to get your items back to their original shine. It doesn&#;t matter how large or small your project is, you only need to know one basic three-step process for buffing and polishing stainless steel.
How to polish stainless steel in three simple steps:
1. Clean and prep the stainless steel
2. Buff the stainless steel
3. Polish the stainless steel
The first place to start with any corrective project is cleaning the surface. Any leftover debris or residue can make scratches worse, so it&#;s best to start with a clean slate when learning how to polish stainless steel.
Use a mild detergent, like dish soap, and a clean sponge to gently clean the surface. Make sure you remove any sticky spots, even if you have to use a soft-bristled brush to clear the gunk off. Do not use steel wool or anything that could damage the stainless steel further.
Rinse the soap off with clean water and dry it with a clean towel. Note that smudges do not matter at this point, you will address those later.
Pieces with significant mottling or rough edges may need to do some additional prep work before moving on to buffing. Some people like to do an initial once-over with something in the 80 to 120 grit range, especially if you did some welding on the piece or have significant surface damage and gouges. It&#;s a way to level the surface for a better finish.
Make sure that you clean the piece again before moving on to the next step. Any contaminants left behind could interfere with the final product.
Once you have a clean, dry surface, it&#;s time to pull out the tools and get to work. The buffing or sanding stage may not be the most fun, but it&#;s necessary to restore that mirror shine you want.
Buffing stainless steel is a gradual process that may require a little trial and error on your part. You may be able to handle smaller or narrower pieces by hand, but using a power sander is likely your best bet for achieving an even result.
Start buffing stainless steel with sandpaper between 150 and 240 grit. Many pros suggest going from 240 up to 400, then 600, and finally grit to round out your progression. You could take things a step further with a grit sandpaper, but it&#;s probably only helpful or necessary for a mirror finish.
Set your sander between 4,000 and 6,500 RPM for buffing stainless steel. Be careful to move the sander at a 90° angle to any noticeable scratches. Every time you swap out the sandpaper to a different grit, move 90° from the previous motion.
When you get the stainless steel piece to an even, satiny finish, it&#;s time to move on. Note that you want to remove any imperfections before moving to the polishing phase to get optimal results.
If you truly want your piece to shimmer, so clear you can practically see your reflection, then buffing is a necessary step. Especially with food and kitchen items, it can be tempting to take the easy route and just use olive oil or something similar to do a quick polish and call it a day. Unfortunately, that method won&#;t last, and it won&#;t correct any scratches.
Consider this: you have a dull, scratched piece of stainless steel. You apply oil or polish by hand that fills in the cracks, including the microscopic ones. That polish wears down quickly, debris gets caught in the crevices, and it takes no time for every scratch to stand out like a sore thumb. Plus, the light reflects strangely off the surface giving it a dull appearance.
Buffing stainless steel allows you to smooth out those scratches and imperfections so that debris can&#;t collect in the microscopic crevices. The multi-step process slowly smooths imperfections and restores the metal&#;s best qualities.
Even though buffing is time-consuming, it&#;s the only way to repair the surface and give you that aesthetically pleasing and durable mirror finish you desire.
Depending on the piece, you may not want to spend too much time refining the finish.
A matte finish is like a basic repair. It works for pieces that don&#;t need to be shiny or attractive but require some work to repair pitting and gouges. Basically, a matte finish is the step before everything looks shiny and new. You can usually get to the matte level with one or two buffing levels, like a 240 grit and then 300 or 400 grit.
A brushed finish is generated with 150 to 240 coated abrasive belts or drums or medium very fine nonwoven abrasives.
A matte or satin finish is generated with a 220 to 240 grit coated abrasive or very fine nonwoven abrasive belt, drum, or disc.
At this point, if you are looking to create a brushed finish, you need to be mindful of the direction you are sanding. If you want a brushed/satin finish with the grain all going in one direction, it is best to use a grinding belt or abrasive drum to set the grain pattern.
The brushed finish is quite common, especially for kitchens and spaces that see a lot of light. Since we don&#;t love being blinded by our appliances, a brushed finish offers all the shine without the reflection. Unfortunately, it may leave your piece with a little less corrosion resistance, so you may need to apply a rust-proofing finish.
The mirror finish is aesthetically pleasing and masks imperfections from other repairs, like welding. It makes stainless steel extremely shiny and easy to clean. However, that extra shiny finish takes time and effort.
After you finish the buffing process above, prepare to do a few more steps to complete the process. Cut buffing and color buffing use different tools and abrasive compounds to refine the stainless steel further. Note that the more you refine your piece during the initial buffing stages, the less cut buffing you need to do at this phase.
Cut buffing uses a black stainless steel buffing compound that contains an abrasive mineral. The compound removes the extremely fine scratches that you might not notice with your naked eye. We recommend using the blue airway buffing wheel for best results.
Switch gears slightly to a less coarse abrasive. Grab a fresh yellow airway buffing wheel and some brown tripoli compound. Shifting to the brown buffing compound will improve the color to give you a better finish.
Color buffing rounds out the process by pulling out the stainless steel&#;s brilliance to achieve that mirror-like aesthetic. Using a green rouge compound with a fresh untreated white airway buff should get you a nice, glossy surface.
Take a step back and admire your, almost, reflection in your mirror finished stainless steel.
For your convenience, we have combined all of the products just mentioned into a complete stainless steel buffing kit set.
Buffing is the most important step in polishing stainless steel to a fine mirror finish. It&#;s important to take your time and work steadily.
Make sure that you always move with the grain and routinely check the piece over for scratches or imperfections before moving on to the next step. While you can revert to an early step at any time, it&#;s easier and more efficient to check your work as you go.
Polishing stainless steel requires less elbow grease, but possibly a little more finesse. It&#;s also the highlight of your project because you get to see actual results.
Maybe you used power tools to buff the piece but now you&#;d like to get down and dirty with the polish and your own two hands. It may even be the best option for smaller pieces that won&#;t take long.
Carefully clear away any excess compound or debris left behind during the buffing process. You should get a nice sheen with a commercial polish and a clean, dry cloth. Start at one edge and work across the surface in circles, like waxing a car.
When you finish, make sure you wipe away any excess polish with a clean, dry towel.
Whether you have a larger project or you want an even finish, polishing your piece with a buffing wheel might be your best bet. Knowing how to polish stainless steel with a machine might be more efficient, with a more even result and a shinier outcome.
If you did the buffing stage correctly, including cut and color buffing, your piece should look pretty fine already. However, the compound you used left something behind that blocks some of the shine, so you need to remove it.
Grab a quality stainless steel polish and a polishing wheel or buffing pad. Go over your piece for five or ten minutes to remove residual compounds and anything else left behind. Don&#;t forget to wipe away any excess polish.
No matter which finish you chose, the final product should look shiny and new with no more blemishes or notable streaks.
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