Anyone got a Good Trim Stainless Trim Restoration Guy?

[Henrius]

I had a guy years ago that could take smashed and dented body trim, pound it out, polish it, and it would look almost brand new. He could really work that metal. I am sure he is retired by now.

Found him in Hemmings, but I don't take that huge book anymore. I am leery of some guys that advertise there, anyway.

Anyone know of any honest, competent guys like that to straighten trim? One corner of the rear trim on my 1965 Fury quarter panel got dinged real hard, and I could never find another.

 

[68plymouth383]

www.cbodies.com Murray Park should have a good piece of trim for you.......

 

[saforwardlook]

If Murray can't help (no one more helpful than Murray), then George Iverson in MN has a great reputation, and he has some recent ads in my Chryler 300 newsletters still. He is in Minnesota. 800 325-0480 or 612 932-9026. I am going to send him some trim to fix for my 1971 Chrysler 300. I talked to him last about a year ago and he was still going strong. Probably no one better.

 

[Big_John]

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffman.htm

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-week-may-2013-chrome-trim-repair-simplified.799131/

I buffed all the stainless on my car myself, fixing dings and dents as I went along. I bought one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-buffer-94393.html and a stainless buffing kit from Eastwood http://www.eastwood.com/stainless-steel-buff-kit.html

I bought some replacement buff wheels from Caswell. A pair of mechanix gloves and some dust masks to protect myself and that's about it. I probably have as much invested as it would cost to have one or two pieces professionally done.

I clamped the grinder to a piece of plywood and laid it on top of a couple saw horses. Nothing fancy.

I'm pretty happy with how everything came out... I do have to redo one piece that shows some wheel marks in the sun, but other than that, everything looks pretty good.

It's not that hard to do. A little patience goes a long way. You aren't going to perform miracles with wadded up trim, but you would be surprised what you can do with some rough pieces of trim that someone else might throw away.

 

[Henrius]

If Murray can't help (no one more helpful than Murray), then George Iverson in MN has a great reputation, and he has some recent ads in my Chryler 300 newsletters still. He is in Minnesota. 800 325-0480 or 612 932-9026. I am going to send him some trim to fix for my 1971 Chrysler 300. I talked to him last about a year ago and he was still going strong. Probably no one better.

Thanks so much! This is indeed the guy I used many years ago and did such a good job. Surprised he is still working!

 

[BIGBARNEYCARS]

Yup, He'z good, no argument there but just be prepared for $40 an hour for hiz 12 step process

 

[Tink]

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffman.htm

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-week-may-2013-chrome-trim-repair-simplified.799131/

I buffed all the stainless on my car myself, fixing dings and dents as I went along. I bought one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-buffer-94393.html and a stainless buffing kit from Eastwood http://www.eastwood.com/stainless-steel-buff-kit.html

I bought some replacement buff wheels from Caswell. A pair of mechanix gloves and some dust masks to protect myself and that's about it. I probably have as much invested as it would cost to have one or two pieces professionally done.

I clamped the grinder to a piece of plywood and laid it on top of a couple saw horses. Nothing fancy.

I'm pretty happy with how everything came out... I do have to redo one piece that shows some wheel marks in the sun, but other than that, everything looks pretty good.

It's not that hard to do. A little patience goes a long way. You aren't going to perform miracles with wadded up trim, but you would be surprised what you can do with some rough pieces of trim that someone else might throw away.

Great info Big John. I read the article about using the drill press as an arbor press with mandrels, brilliant. Much better than hammers and dollies. Another technique added to my bag of tricks. Thanks.

 

[73Coupe]

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffman.htm

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-week-may-2013-chrome-trim-repair-simplified.799131/

I buffed all the stainless on my car myself, fixing dings and dents as I went along. I bought one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-buffer-94393.html and a stainless buffing kit from Eastwood http://www.eastwood.com/stainless-steel-buff-kit.html

I bought some replacement buff wheels from Caswell. A pair of mechanix gloves and some dust masks to protect myself and that's about it. I probably have as much invested as it would cost to have one or two pieces professionally done.

I clamped the grinder to a piece of plywood and laid it on top of a couple saw horses. Nothing fancy.

I'm pretty happy with how everything came out... I do have to redo one piece that shows some wheel marks in the sun, but other than that, everything looks pretty good.

It's not that hard to do. A little patience goes a long way. You aren't going to perform miracles with wadded up trim, but you would be surprised what you can do with some rough pieces of trim that someone else might throw away.

I bought that Eastwood kit 20 years ago and still using it, although it's time for new wheels. I also bought their expander wheel with abrasive belts for deeper scratches. With those kits and a Sears bench grinder, I restored all the stainless trim on my Chevy and now using it on the Chrysler. It's very tedious but worth the effort, also nice to have around to touch up various pieces if they get scratched. I got married last year and got a stainless cobalt ring, which I can easily polish on the buffer too! The most recent upgrade was get a cast iron stand for the buffer, which was well worth it. Can now move the operation outside so I don't get dust all over the work bench. Plus it's very stable and more ergonomic.