Kingsford Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 My running boards on my truck are stainless steel and they are getting somewhat scratched up, obviously since people step on them. I thought I'd attempt to try some Metal Polish on them but the residue didnt turn black so I gave up on that.... What else can I try? UPDATE: See page 3 for my tiny write up and picks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mato Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 If you are not seeing a black residue on your rag when using metal polish it's chrome. To polish it try fmp with revive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Couldn't hurt... but like with anything else you'll need to follow up with the other steps to get the best result. Will do! I'll throw up some pictures of the other side when I am done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Adam's Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Couldn't hurt... but like with anything else you'll need to follow up with the other steps to get the best result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 Looks like you definitely got that black transfer you were looking for! OH YA! Except with FMP and not Metal Polish haha. I was wonder if the Black Residue was from them being dirty or if it was the reaction to being polished. Dylan, what do you think about using a Green or Yellow Pad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Adam's Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Looks like you definitely got that black transfer you were looking for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1anonly Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I would give the green/SSR or yellow pad/SHR a shot, what's it going to hurt? Just make sure you use SHR with the yellow, not the SSR....but you already know that. I'm not sure what SSR and yellow would leave behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 Alright, I had 15 minutes this morning to do this and it was cold in the garage so I know it can only get better with time... Heres what I did, I started with some Waterless Wash to clean the dirt and dust off since I just washed it on Sunday. I then followed that with the Orange Pad with SHR. After the SHR I threw on some FMP. I then finished up with some Revive Polish.... pretty much just cause I love Revive and I always follow FMP with Revive. Can't let the machine do everything! I am pretty happy with the results. Sorry the pictures are from my iPhone and poor lighting. Please ignore the small rust spot on the mount of the running boards, I need to get some undercoating on them this summer. Heres what I used: Before: After: Look 99% better, there are a few really tiny swirls in it now. I was wondering.... Would a Yellow or Green 4" Pad on a PC take care of the rest? The Orange Pad Cleaned up pretty good but the White Pad is now dedicated to the running board only! Thank god I ordered a 2nd kit last week to get the Green Pad and a 2nd Backing plate! It's supposed to be really on Saturday, high 50's and sunny, I am going to probably give it a good wash and run to the store and grab some painters tape so I can do a side by side on the passenger side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mato Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Jason, not trying to confuse you here. Just because a magnet did not stick does not mean they are stainless steel bars. There is such a small amount of metal in chrome plated step bars that you would need a pretty strong magnet to get it to stick. I have, Westin Stainless Steel Chrome plated bars on my truck. I tried to stick a magnet to them and it also didn't stick. But, I know for a fact that these are chrome plated and not polished steel. Either way, I have used metal polish to clean them and FMP/Revive (DA and drill) to remove minor swirls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 That's good news, SS is much more apt to polish out than chrome. Do you have the 4" pads and our Metal Polish Jason? Try the orange pad, then white pad... report back with results! Thanks for the quick responses Adam! I will give the 4" Pads a shot tomorrow before I go to work! Would you recommend on the PC or the Drill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 That's good news, SS is much more apt to polish out than chrome. Do you have the 4" pads and our Metal Polish Jason? Try the orange pad, then white pad... report back with results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 I am going to guess they are Stainless Steel, the magnet did not stick what so ever. So I guess that its Stainless Steel with some type of clear coat on it. Am I right? Adam, Dan, Dylan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Jason, put a magnet to it. If the magnet sticks, it chrome. SS is not magnetic. Great tip Dan!! Jason, try the 4" pads and a drill, but be careful. People have buffed to a point of yellowing chrome! Stainless you can polish for a long time.... the pad should turn black if stainless is the material. They should have cost a bunch-o-$$ if they are stainless too! I'd say 3-4X the cost of chrome ones. I've always looked at replacing chrome with black on my vehicles, but, that's just me......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1anonly Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Jason, put a magnet to it. If the magnet sticks, it chrome. SS is not magnetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 I think I am going to take a 4" pad to it tomorrow. Maybe throw some Revive on it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Adam's Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Metal polish works on chrome, just don't expect miracles... chrome is EXTREMELY hard to remove scratches from. If you remember Adam had that challenge for people to try the chrome polishing kit from another company... the ended up discoloring the chrome. Our stuff will put a nice shine on it, remove water spots and some defects, but it won't fully correct. Chrome is simply too hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 What can I do to tell if it is Chrome? Also, if it is what can i do to polish it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Adam's Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 if you got no residue transfer they are 1 of 2 things: 1) Chrome - this would be my guess as thats what they would most commonly use for steps 2) Clear Coated - in this case you need to use paint polishes to fix them I'd bet money that option #1 is the answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 I honestly have no idea guys.... If there is a way I can figure it out let me know and I'll do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mato Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Are they chrome plated or stainless steel running boards? *Edit, you beat me to it Dylan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 Well all of the oval tube running boards I have seen that are polished are stainless steel. They came with the truck so I am not sure of the brand. They are not factory though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Adam's Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Are you sure they are stainless and not chrome? You won't get black residue transfer and chrome is much more commonly used on running boards as its more durable than stainless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris@Adams Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Could they have clear on them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 the FMP will make it shine, but wont get the scratches out. Try the metal polish 1 and 2 on the white focus pad. Im just throwing suggestions out there Metal Polish wasn't working, the oxidation process usually turns the residue black when it works and it just stayed gray. I dont think using a white pad would make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueGenCoupe Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 the FMP will make it shine, but wont get the scratches out. Try the metal polish 1 and 2 on the white focus pad. Im just throwing suggestions out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsford Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 I'm doubtful I will get the scratched out since its in metal... I just want to know if I can do something to hide them and make it shine more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Kingsford
My running boards on my truck are stainless steel and they are getting somewhat scratched up, obviously since people step on them. I thought I'd attempt to try some Metal Polish on them but the residue didnt turn black so I gave up on that....
What else can I try?
UPDATE: See page 3 for my tiny write up and picks
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