Tips on how to restore grills and trim pieces

[lunarkingdom]

Hey guys,

I have seen it mentioned a few times but without any specifis so I am wondering if any of you can share with me what tools/rescources/technics it takes to fix small dents in beltline trim, rocker trim and early grills. I assume some kind of small anvils and a rubber hammer or something like that to fix the dents? How to you polish them afterwords?

I have some pretty decent pieces that I would love to restore myself regardless of how much time it would take.

Thanks!

[TobyB]

Rather than hit it with a hammer, try pressure.

Look up 'burnishing' as a metal working technique, too.

 

There are lots of YooToobs about repairing brass instruments,

and those techniques tend to also work on aluminum IF you factor

in the work hardening.

 

The trim's anodised, so any sort of abrasive work then needs to be followed

by some form of clearcoating.

 

And practise on some wrecked candidates first!

 

t

 

[visionaut]

https://aerospacemetalsllc.com/how-to-remove-anodized-aluminum/

[Mark92131]

Here's a writeup on how I cleaned up the trim on my 1975 Mintgrun car.

 

Mark92131

 

 

[Mike Self]

I did a column on straightening and repairing bent/broken (roundie) side grill bars, and repairing center grilles with bent bars and/or broken mounting studs.  PM me if you'd like a copy.

 

mike

[conkitchen]

So there I was, having coffee minding my own business and reading a lil FAQ. Stumble on this thread and thought to myself, self? We need to do this very same thing. Next I am off to the store to buy a bottle of Sodium Hydroxide. 

 

It did not really work. 

 

Next I took out the 400 grit and WD 40 and went to town. Then Followed that up with 2000 grit and WD 40. Finally wiped it vigorously with buffing compound and.... 

 

I may even go a step further and pass it under the buffing wheel, but that is a flirtation with disaster when the wheel takes hold and twists the workpiece into right angles.  

 

 

 

 

[conkitchen]

P.S. 

 

After about a couple hours doing 3 pieces this way-which actually works out well I began to think, those complete sets from MVP for like $700 is not such a bad way to go.  🙂 

 

smoke'm if you got'm otherwise do the work and save a buck.  

[TobyB]

the bummer is when it oxidizes as soon as you turn your back on it...

 

t