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Any hints for polishing sill plates?
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56D500boy
Posted 2017-04-10 7:59 PM (#537817)
Subject: Any hints for polishing sill plates?



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Patient is my 56 Dodge Custom Royal 4 dr.

I took the front passenger side sill plate off yesterday to better access the edges of the foot well to remove crud and get down to as much bare metal as possible as part of the footwell rehab. That also let me see what if any rust is under the sill plate (none - nice!). But the sill plate itself has become a bit dull and scratched.

Yesterday I spent about 8 minutes with a Mothers Power Polishing Ball chucked in my 18V drill and some Mothers Metal polish. The part I did yesterday is from the left (rear) end to the "e" in Dodge. Today, I screwed the sill plate to a length of 2 x 4 and put the assembly in my 35 year old Black and Decker Workmate and went at it again with the Drill, PowerBall, polish and a bit of water (it was raining on me by that time). Starting to look much much better.

I need hints on how to diminish the little nicks and scratches in the aluminum. If left to my own devices, I would probably try 600 grit Wet and Dry (wet) sandpaper and then go to 1000 grit, 1500 grit and then 2000 grit and then repolish those areas. Does that sound like a plan or are the better ways?

Here is yesterday's effort just placed back on the sill for photographic context. It's still off, screwed to the 2 x 4 and in the basement now.


Edited by 56D500boy 2017-04-10 8:17 PM




(56DodgeCustomRoyal4DrSillPlateAfter5minutesOfPolishing.jpg)



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Attachments 56DodgeCustomRoyal4DrSillPlateAfter5minutesOfPolishing.jpg (158KB - 229 downloads)
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Ray
Posted 2017-04-12 8:41 PM (#538000 - in reply to #537817)
Subject: RE: Any hints for polishing sill plates?


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I found that a high polish makes all the small dings more visiable. Try 600, but if you plan to get rid of all dings it may take a coarser grade to start with. I am not sure, but I think these were manufactured with some sort of anodizing which produced a matte finish. I plan to try a heavy layer of matte clearcoat when I finish getting rid of as many dings as practical.

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mstrug
Posted 2017-04-12 9:49 PM (#538011 - in reply to #537817)
Subject: Re: Any hints for polishing sill plates?



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If they are anodized, they need to be replated or completely stripped of the coating then polished then cleared or heavily waxed/coated:

Glisten PC is the best on the market for clear coating polished metal. Many of the OEMs use it for coating those high end polished rims on the newer cars. Adhesion is great and durability is sufficient to withstand the abuse that wheels get on a day to day basis. I buy it by the gallon and get the activator in half pint cans...makes it easier to use/keep over time.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/how-to-polish-clear-coat...

http://www.jegs.com/i/KBS-Coatings/191/8404/10002/-1?CAWELAID=23000...

http://www.usatoolwarehouse.com/usatoolwarehouse/EWT-10200Z.html?gc...

Edited by mstrug 2017-04-12 9:54 PM
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Leadfoot1000
Posted 2017-05-15 12:07 AM (#540039 - in reply to #537817)
Subject: RE: Any hints for polishing sill plates?



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My sill plates had some deeper scratches, nicks and corrosion, so I started with 80 grit and worked my way down to 2,000. Then used a medium and fine polishing compound on a dremel polishing wheel.
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Rebels-59
Posted 2017-05-15 8:56 AM (#540053 - in reply to #537817)
Subject: Re: Any hints for polishing sill plates?



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I have used brillo Pads with great results , and then polish it up with White diamond metal polish.. This polish removes scratches etc from stainless trim also

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l131...

.
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60 dart
Posted 2017-05-15 11:53 PM (#540119 - in reply to #537817)
Subject: Re: Any hints for polishing sill plates?



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i used these followed by mothers aluminum polish -------------------------------------------------------------later

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scotch-Brite-Scuffing-Disc-Ultra-Fine-07468...
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56D500boy
Posted 2017-10-12 3:06 PM (#550212 - in reply to #540119)
Subject: Re: Any hints for polishing sill plates?



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I had to take a photo of my sill plate so I could send it to National Moparts so they could correct their eBay advert that calls this a 55-56 Sill Plate (I think it is a 57-58 sill plate based on the Font used):



So since I had the photo, I thought I would post it up. This is using Mothers, Meguires, VIM and who remembers what and a Mothers mini-power ball and my cordless drill. Very messy but worthwhile. (I think) (I screwed the plate to a piece of 2 x 4 so there was a backing for it and I could bear down on it a bit).



Edited by 56D500boy 2017-10-12 3:07 PM




(56Dodge4doorRightFrontSillPlate.jpg)



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Attachments 56Dodge4doorRightFrontSillPlate.jpg (86KB - 195 downloads)
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56D500boy
Posted 2018-05-23 8:40 PM (#563935 - in reply to #550212)
Subject: Re: Any hints for polishing sill plates?



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In finishing off the windlace and carpet installs, it meant that I had to install all four sill plates (56 Dodge Custom Royal 4dr sedan). While I had previously polished the two front door plates, I had not touched the two rear plates. In the interim, I bought some Mequires No. 4 liquid to do the initial cutting.

I started with some 220 grit wet and dry lubricated with the Mequires No. 4, by hand. Once I had gone over the entire plate (front and back) with that combo (NOTE: Where gloves or your hands will turn black with aluminum residue), wiped the residue off and I switched to a new Mothers Power Ball in my 18V Black and Decker, but also with the Mequires No. 4.

When that was done, I went to 600 grit wet and dry lubricated with the Mother's liquid metal polish. Front and back of both plates. Then I wiped the residue off and used the Power Ball and Mother's liquid on the front/upper side until I had worked over the entire plate twice. Then I wiped off the residue and switched to Mother's Mag wheel paste.

I spread dobs of paste over the upper side of the plate and then used the Power Ball and drill to go over the plate. Twice. Then I wiped it off and went after bits that I didn't like with 600 grit and/or Mother's whatever and then Mother's paste until it was better and buffed to a shine with a new blue shop "towel".

I might have stopped there but my neighbour came over with a tube of Autosol to try. So I did. Okay, it works great. So I went over both rear plates with the AutoSol, by hand, then buffed it shining with another new blue shop "towel".

Could use more work in some areas but it's pretty good, as shown below.

The first photo is the chemical arsenal that I used. The other two photos are the left and right rear sill plates.

(I got a photo of a very virgin sill plate this AM from George B. and his 56 Dodge - they were never shiny from the factory). Too bad. I like the shine.





(DaveFs56DodgeSillPlatePolishingArsenal.jpg)



(DaveFs56DodgeCustomRoyal4drSedanLeftRearSillPlate.jpg)



(DaveFs56DodgeCustomRoyal4drSedanRightRearSillPlate.jpg)



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Attachments DaveFs56DodgeSillPlatePolishingArsenal.jpg (219KB - 149 downloads)
Attachments DaveFs56DodgeCustomRoyal4drSedanLeftRearSillPlate.jpg (178KB - 152 downloads)
Attachments DaveFs56DodgeCustomRoyal4drSedanRightRearSillPlate.jpg (201KB - 162 downloads)
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