TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jan 10, 2003 2:59 pm

Anyone had any luck restoring deluxe beltline trim and bumper trim to show quality aside from taking it to a professional metal polishing shop? How have you filled nicks and gouges, etc? What type of polish? Semichrome? Steel Wool?

Thanks Tons,
Benfalia

Sat Jan 11, 2003 8:26 am

Benfalia,

I had to restore a couple of bumper trim with big gouges in them. Had a welder fill with aluminum. Then I filed and wet sanded down to 800 grit. Used Semichrome and polished by hand. Could have done the polishing with a buffing wheel on a bench grinder to save some time, but kind of enjoy the hand work.

Scott

Sat Jan 11, 2003 8:08 pm

when you are doing body trim it also helps to mount it to a piece of wood like a 2 by 4 then work on it like that.

Sat Jan 11, 2003 9:00 pm

I would do like scott, but go down to 1200 grit wet-sand, then hand-rub with rubbing compound, then Weenol, then wax.
I tried using a buffing wheel with aluminum polish compound stick, and it made "waves" in the surface. Probably bad technique on my part, but I think doing it by hand is best. I like the idea of screwing it to a strip of wood, I wish I had thought of that. Though I would recommend the wood being slightly narrower than the trim so that you can rub all the way to the edge.

Sun Jan 12, 2003 8:32 am

The block of wood mounting is a good idea. That metal edge wears some grooves in your hands after while.

J.Pickens, what kind of rubbing compound do you use? I used to be able to find some off white material in the past but now just the 'red oxide' looking stuff.

Scott

Sun Jan 12, 2003 9:40 pm

I just use the Turtlewax red rubbing compound which comes in the red tub.

Tue Jan 21, 2003 11:14 am

Mounting them to plywood works great! Here are some tips though: Put thick plastic under the trim and use a buffing wheel, the best way is to think ahead and polish them on the bus before you restore it!

Tue Jan 21, 2003 12:03 pm

Good post! Just for fun, I checked around and the best deal I could get for professionally re-polishing the trim was $175. I started with no trim, bought some used stuff for $125, so I'd still be way ahead of buying the WWest stuff, but this looks like a project most anyone could handle with a little patience.

Tue Jan 21, 2003 1:58 pm

Thanks all for the tips...hey, did the trim change along with the bumper end change? If so, which ends/features are correct for a '67?

Benfalia

Wed Mar 05, 2003 3:50 pm

Altho' this is an ancient thread, thot I'd throw my 2 cents in. I had success using
#00 steel wool followed by Turtlewax red rubbing compound followed by Mothers Mag/Aluminum polish. I tried the 1200 grit wet sand technique and while it did a comparable job, I found the steel wool to be a lot easier to use.

Wed Mar 05, 2003 4:19 pm

I'll give it a try, I'm ready to do my rocker trim next. Thanks.

Wed Mar 05, 2003 4:57 pm

Benfalia,

Yes, the bumper trim changed with the bumpers. Slash bumper, Slash trim. Pointed Bumper, Pointed Trim. The '67 is all pointed.