Buffing a stainless sink

[t walgamuth]

Are there companies out there that will come buff an older stainless sink in place so it looks like new?

[Txjake]

I know they have companies that refinish bath tubs, so probably so

http://www.repairstainlesssteel.com/

[kerry]

You got no elbow grease yourself?

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by kerry

You got no elbow grease yourself?

I have some but I'm lazy and easily distracted.

[my83300cd]

When I worked in a restaurant the stainless sinks were cleaned with comet and steel wool and then rinsed and dryer with cotton towels to remove anything left. The towels always end up with a grey residue which I believe us steel wool and some of the sink. Bon ami does a pretty good job too.

[kerry]

http://www.amazon.com/Brasso-Metal-Polish-Liquid-Stainless/dp/B00BQY7HVY

[spdrun]

I've honestly had good luck with baking soda, a moist sponge, then vinegar to neutralize any residue.

Steel wool is bad, because tiny fragments of the wool embed in the surface of the stainless, causing tiny rust spots to form and making the sink look dull.

[barry12345]

Originally Posted by kerry

http://www.amazon.com/Brasso-Metal-Polish-Liquid-Stainless/dp/B00BQY7HVY

We used brasso to polish up plastic radio cabinets many years ago. It has a very fine abrasive component. I would suspect it may help.

Also I suspect there is no dedicated service to serious polish used stainless steel sinks as such. Based on my own experience. That said I might try a flex shaft motor with 5 inch buffing pads. I would expect improvement but not total restoration basically as an end result. The internal shape would present some difficulties I suspect but do not know. Using a dedicated stainless steel cutting compound on the wheel.

I accidentally marred the surface of a new sink after installation and for what it is worth sanding blended the issue. Depending on the current surface condition it may be a workable option. As you work your way down in grit size the surface may again be smooth enough to be satisfactory in use.

Everyone is throwing out old stainless steel sinks. So a person could latch on to one to experimentally do a small area of it before tackling the sink in place.

I suspect it may work. At least you will know if it is a good enough approach for you to employ a young fellow to do it. Although getting that surface blemish out of the one I damaged did not take as much effort or time as one would think.

I of course still know where it was and could pick it up under certain light conditions when really looking for it. The current homeowner in all probability never will. By sanding you are actually cutting down the old surface. Rather than just superficially polishing a situation that is somewhat beyond that. You eventually are going to polish of with perhaps 2000 grit paper. It in my opinion it has to finish off super smooth to be serviceable basically.

[t walgamuth]

Cool! Sounds like some good options!

[97 SL320]

Do you have a mirror finish stainless sink or the type with sanding lines? For the sanding line type I've used 320 ish wet / dry sand paper ( maybe it was a Scotchbrite abrasive pad ) and water then followed the original lines.

[t walgamuth]

The usual with the lines.

[compress ignite]

AND Green Scotchbrite.

Scour Away.

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The usual with the lines.

It doesn't take much work to clean these up, just follow the lines. I'm pretty sure I used a Scotch brite pad.

[Kuan]

Polishing compound.

[TX76513]

Baking soda, water and steel wool. Moderate elbow grease. Rinse with water and then wipe down with Goo Gone. Wipe dry/lightly buff.