We just bought a used stainless steal trailer that wan't kept very well. We are trying to find something to polish it up. Any ideas? I have some jewlery cleaner but would like to get it done within a year lol!
Posted 2007-04-25 5:43 PM (#59960 - in reply to #59951) Subject: RE: Stainless Steel Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
We have had some trouble with stains on "stainless" steel in recent years on some used trailers. So far we haven't found anything, regardless of how much elbow grease you use, or how good your buffer is, that will clean this stuff up. We were told that there is some cheap stainless steel on the market right now that lacks some alloy or something that the more expensive SS has, but I don't know that this is true. I'd like an answer, and this forum is a good place to get feed back. Also I'd like to know if someone has found a good cleaner.
Posted 2007-04-25 6:54 PM (#59966 - in reply to #59965) Subject: RE: Stainless Steel Trailer
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
Your welcome. I only thought of it because I watched an airstream getting restored on tv awhile back. It went from nasty grey to that shiny blind you comming down the road.
Posted 2007-04-26 7:37 AM (#59984 - in reply to #59951) Subject: RE: Stainless Steel Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
Off the stainless steel subject, but Airstream should talk to some folks in the horse trailer industry that tried to use clear coat over aluminum to stop the oxidizing. We still have some of those peeling, discolored trailers floating around.
Posted 2007-04-26 7:33 PM (#60035 - in reply to #59951) Subject: RE: Stainless Steel Trailer
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Cleaning Methods
Stainless steel is easy to clean. Washing with soap or a mild detergent and warm water followed by a clean water rinse is usually quite adequate for domestic and architectural equipment. An enhanced appearance will be achieved if the cleaned surface is finally wiped dry.
Sections below give passivation treatments for removal of free iron and other contamination resulting from handling, fabrication, or exposure to contaminated atmospheres, and pickling treatments for removal of high temperature scale from heat treatment or welding operations.
Passivation Treatments
·Grades with at least 16% chromium (except free machining grade such as 303), 20-50% nitric acid, at room temperature to 40oC for 30-60 minutes.
·Grades with less than 16% chromium (except free machining grades such as 416), 20-50% nitric acid, at room temperature to 40oC for 60 minutes.
·Free machining grades such as 303, 416 and 430F, 20-50% nitric acid + 2-6% sodium dichromate, at room temperature to 50oC for 25-40 minutes.
Pickling Treatments
·All stainless steels (except free machining grades), 8-11% sulphuric acid, at 65 to 80oC for 5-45 minutes.
·Grades with at least 16% chromium (except free machining grades), 15-25% nitric acid + 1-8% hydrofluoric acid, at 20 to 60oC for 5-30 minutes.
·Free machining grades and grades with less than 16% chromium such as 303, 410 and 416, 10-15% nitric acid + 0.5-1.5% hydrofluoric acid, at 20 to 60oC for 5-30 minutes.
"Pickling Paste" is a commercial product of hydrofluoric and nitric acids in a thickener - this is useful for pickling welds and spot contamination, even on vertical and overhanging surfaces.
Stainless Steel Trailer
.jpg)
