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The trim piece across the top of the windshield frame where the top seals looks like stainless but I am able to pick it up with a magnet. Is this piece chromed or polished stainless?? Some low grade stainless will attract a magnet. Mine has scratches and really stands out with my new corner pieces so I need to re-chrome or polish it.
Hi Buddy,
I believe the large 'I' shaped piece of trim is SS was 'flash chromed' to match the four cast/chrome plated pieces it butts into. Of course on a convertible, it's just the two cast/chrome plated pieces on the windshield header.
It's pretty difficult to find a shop to chrome plate SS.
Regards,
Alan
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Hi Buddy,
I found that when I started to polish my SS piece it became obvious that in some areas I was buffing through the chrome plating. I went ahead and buffed ALL the chrome off and the piece looked great.
But when I installed it I realized I could see a difference in the 'color' of the SS part and the 4 chrome plated castings.
Although there is a difference it may not bother many people. Finding someone to do 'flash chrome' isn't easy and it's even more difficult to find someone to plate SS.
It all depends how 'wacko' you are.
Regards,
Alan
PS: I believe the same thing is true with the rally trim rings.... SS that's been 'flash chromed'.
They (VV) may mean electro-polishing it, which is most common on stainless and can be done in varying roughness of finish. 316L stainless can be made mirror perfect in fact.
They (VV) may mean electro-polishing it, which is most common on stainless and can be done in varying roughness of finish. 316L stainless can be made mirror perfect in fact.
We do not Electro Polish. We use a five step process that results in a finish that is absolutely mirror perfect, show quality finish. The process is labor intensive but that is what it takes to get professional results.
The typical customer sends in the worst trim and hope the remaining trim will look OK. Once our polished piece is returned, we usually find the "OK Trim" in the next weeks UPS to make it look as nice.
Our turn around varies by work load and now it is about three weeks.
Virginia Vettes
First, Thanks VV. I've saved your info will be in contact this winter for some work.
Alan-
Electropolishing is simply an electrochemical (as is electroplating) process where you are "re-arranging" the metal ions on the surface of the metal. As noted there are several grades of stainless incl 300 & 400 series and further flavors in each grade. Some contain no iron, others have enough to be magnetic. Some grades have higher Ni content, others higher Cr content. So with chemistry & electricity (usually post mechanical polish) you get some nice shiney surfaces by shedding or gaining surface ions.
The typical customer sends in the worst trim and hope the remaining trim will look OK. Once our polished piece is returned, we usually find the "OK Trim" in the next weeks UPS to make it look as nice.
This is the reason you have my trim, I replaced the two corner pieces then the center piece looked like crap. But I knew it was a never ending money pit when I started.
If I had the choice, I would probably remove the stainless and polish it. As you know there are risks associated with removing the stainless, bending or breaking clips, bending, denting or scratching the stainless.if you wish to polish the stainless while it’s on the car I would recommend a Dremel tool. The Dremel tool speeds can typically range from 5000 to 35,000 RPM. They have hundreds of buffing attachments available. The Dremel tool comes corded or battery operated. Just my 2 cents worth.
If I had the choice, I would probably remove the stainless and polish it. As you know there are risks associated with removing the stainless, bending or breaking clips, bending, denting or scratching the stainless.if you wish to polish the stainless while it’s on the car I would recommend a Dremel tool. The Dremel tool speeds can typically range from 5000 to 35,000 RPM. They have hundreds of buffing attachments available. The Dremel tool comes corded or battery operated. Just my 2 cents worth.
I'm guessing that sometime in the past sixteen years they figured out how to polish their trim
Stainless or Steel
