Cleaning Brushed Stainless Steel

[heyskull]

Around our local town we have a large amount of stainless steel directional signs and Information boards.
Stainless Steel has been used as we are a coastal town and used to have a huge steel industry.
These are manufactured from Brush Stainless Steel but the finish is discolored and tarnished.
Is their an easy and cheap way of restoring this finish without resorting to fancy cleaners and spending a lot of time?

Thanks
SC

 

[tbullo]

I have used Brightboy blocks in the past to clean stainless. Just rub in the grain direction. They come in different sizes but I like the eraser size for hand work. Usually a few rubs and its done.

 

[heyskull]

Personally the amount of signs and posts to renovate in this way would take so much time, the job would not happen.
I heard that bicarbonate soda and washing up liquid works well and then some vinegar!
Any other suggestions?

SC

 

[HDvinyl]

Maybe this??

 

[rjssigns]

Would need to know the scale of the project to know if tool cost could be "buried" so to speak.

3M makes the air tool and attachments to do brush finishes on stainless. Straight shank with a small pneumatic tire that accepts the conditioning sleeves. I used them at my former job.

Not inexpensive, but works. Once you have the tools you may become the go to guy for stainless or just sell them when you're done.

 

[heyskull]

Hi

None of the posts are removable, their is 30 off directional signs with at least 3 directional arms that are removable.
Also their is 8 free standing lockable information boards which are 4' x 4' in size with two posts.

SC

 

[Mosh]

Green scotch pad. My family had restaurants with lots of stainless stuff in the kitchens. just rub with the grain with a little soap and water or 409 works good too.

 

[HDvinyl]

My family had restaurants

Were soybeans on the menu?

 

[Billct2]

I'd contact a company that specializing in metal refinishing. I worked on a few jobs were there were metal doors, monuments, architectural elements that needed restoration and those guys know how to do it and then seal it to preserve the finish. They won't like the cost though.

 

[CreatedDesigns]

Mosh hit it on the head green scotch pads. Very little effort just takes some time. Been using them for 12 yrs on stainless.

 

[James Burke]

If elbow grease won't cut it, then I would opt for a straight line sander. You'll have better control of the grain direction, and it won't hop around like a belt or drum sander. They're air hogs, so you'll need a good sized portable air compressor.


JB

 

[artbot]

one of my favorite tools. specifically designed to refinish stainless grain. you can make your own scotchbrite donuts with a 45 degree seem, a piece of heavy duck cloth, and liquid nails. the tool has a bladder wheel and does stuff to metal that no other tool can do period.

http://www.lehighvalleyabrasives.co...-1503/Detail?gclid=COTXgrTPtsECFeQ7Mgod8FcAVw

 

[heyskull]

Thanks for all the advice people.
But Taking the posts down and sending them to a specialist company is not an option.
They are just tarnished and blotchy in places almost as if someone has spilt coffee on the face.
Most of the cleaning has to be done on site (in a busy street), so it needs to be a wipe on, wipe off sort of renovation!

SC

 

[player]

Thanks for all the advice people.
But Taking the posts down and sending them to a specialist company is not an option.
They are just tarnished and blotchy in places almost as if someone has spilt coffee on the face.
Most of the cleaning has to be done on site (in a busy street), so it needs to be a wipe on, wipe off sort of renovation!

SC

Wipe on, meticulously scrub every square inch for hours per sign...

 

[Billct2]

Almost all the suggestions including mine of using a specialists can be done on site. It's just harder and slower