Taking dings and dents out of stainless

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

can you massage out small and large dings and dents out of stainless???

 

Assume taking it off is first job??  Any tricks of the trade for any of above?

 

The front top bar on my grille is smashed in a couple inches too,,,right in the middle,,,I see a epay one for 200 bucks but thought I would try fix first

[White Spyder]

There is a guy here that  kind of work and I have seen him do amazing work so it can be done.

 

***spelling

Edited November 11, 2013 by White Spyder

[Plymouthy Adams]

I can..and so can you if you just go out and give it a try...plenty to read on the internet if you choose about technique and polishing..

 

I use special shaped tools for tapping the metal...good anvils for backing and such..be innovative..look about your shop..you gots plenty of stuff laying about that can be used..you do not have to bang the metal..slight tapping is all is required 95% of the time..

Edited November 11, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[DJ194950]

Worth a try. Go slow and Very easy,as it's very thin. Follow Tim's advice, watch some videos.

 

Several people who do stainless straightening here in Ca. charge $80 per hour. Adds up quickly!

 

Trim worth more than the car.

 

Doug

[ssnowden]

This guy shows how he repaired a dented piece of stainless trim. 

 

Part 1: 

http://youtu.be/8gw4gGHJ4iE

 

Part 2: 

http://youtu.be/drV1iuH7AYs

 

Part 3: 

http://youtu.be/MlTOg4tb_V8

[arado]

I rework my trim dents  with body hammers and buffing wheels from Harbor freight.  I enjoy doing it. But, then I also like doing  hand rubbed lacquer.......

[RobertKB]

As others have said, give it a go as you have nothing to lose but time. Basically it is pick, file, and polish. I have done lots of smaller dings and dents but have not attempted anything big...................yet. Trim is probably the hardest thing to find for these old girls!

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

I read several articles,,,thanks for telling me they existed.  Have yet to see how the BEST way of unhooking the clips from the fender/door etc and the stainless.  Will a curved pick work about best?

 

Thanks all,,,getting excited to 'try' this one.  I was thinking a roller like you use putting in screen moulding rubber might work on a hard backing

[Scruffy49]

Sand bag as a backer, grind the profile needed into some scrap and use it to reshape the metal. Oak pallet chunks and a belt sander make really quick and surprisingly durable dies...

[greg g]

I fashioned some wooden tools from scrap hard wood, making several different shapes and worked the nicks and dings from the back side then doing some light filling and polishing.

[builtfercomfort]

I have heard of using a drill press, not running, with a carriage bolt in the chuck (polish off any markings on the bolt head) to press out dents in stainless trim. Use soft wood underneath.

[Oldguy48]

I have heard of using a drill press, not running, with a carriage bolt in the chuck (polish off any markings on the bolt head) to press out dents in stainless trim. Use soft wood underneath.

I wish I had heard about this method when I was attempting to straighten mine! Great idea.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I wish I had heard about this method when I was attempting to straighten mine! Great idea.

attempting...tell me you got the job done...

[Oldguy48]

Tim,

  Yeah, I got it done.  And I think it turned out pretty good, but I think the drill press method would have made the job much easier.  And while we're on the subject...please be careful when buffing/polishing.  Those high speed buffers can rip that trim out of your hands in the blink of an eye, and cause major injury.  Just a reminder to be careful.

 

Wayne

[greg g]

most of the trim that is held on by the clips can be removed without taking off the clips,  Some are nutted some are spring tension but in either case, pushing down on the trim from above at the clip then releasing the bottom with a small prying type instrument will get them off.  just use a stir stick or siilar to protect the metal under the trim from your tool.  I believe i used a modified small tack remover to good effect.  I heated and bent the tips to grab the underside of the trim.

 

Edited November 13, 2013 by greg g

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

ok progress report time,,,

 

still havent found 'best' way of taking off the car,,,most were on a snap spring that came out of the body,,,some clips rusted out badly.

 

So I picked and tapped,,,some are just a tish high but thinking a slight file will have it all even.  lots of little dings in the first piece, like tiny pin prick dings  Need to get some tools and sand paper together for next steps.  a buffingwheel and compound too

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

so went out to remove more trim,,,picked on the front fender trim,,,score,,, don-0, fender- 24  tried flexing bottom-didnt work too stiff,,,tried flexing top, still too stiff.  Tried loosening bolt clips from back side, no go, the 3/8 deep socket dont fit nuts with undercoating covering them.  Got trim pryed off just far enuf to see where clips are

 

Am I not rough enuf?  Any other way to unclip stubborn trim?  Already watched every u tube vid,,,their are not near as stiff as mine seems to be.

 

sign me 'baffled'

[BobT-47P15]

Most or all trim pieces on a P15 seem to have a stud with nut at each end of the trim with regular clips in between.

So, if you remove a couple nuts---assuming you find some---then rest of strip should come off---either off the clip

or pulling it out as they are often rusted.   As for the gunked up nuts----either have to clean them off, or use small

vice grips to turn them.   Based on my own experience.       Replacement trim clips are available from a few sources.

Some sellers on eBay offering a dozen clips or so for a price.    Or Restoration Supply Co, I think, sells clips.  

 

There are newer style universal clips where you break off some of the plastic to make them fit the trim piece and maybe

twist them into the trim channel.  I figure  you don't see those clips.......so anything that holds trim in the proper place is

OK.          

[RobertKB]

Once the trim is off and repaired it is time most likely for new clips. You can purchase as indicated above or you can make your own as I did. A bit time consuming but well worth the effort. I have attached the thread where I covered this topic.http://p15-d24.com/topic/22494-trim-clip-solutionoption/?hl=%2Btrim+%2Bclips

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

todays progress ,,,  I climbed under the fender of which I didnt fit as well as I did 50 years ago,,,after clamping a vice grip on the week long "Kroiled" fasteners a couple times my 1/4 socket handle with deep 3/8 -6 point socket fit alot better.  The clamping vice grip seemed to knock the undercoating loose.

 

EXCEPT the very back one which is behind the inner fender.  Its so close to the pillar there is no room for arms, hands eyes and lights let alone wrenches and grips.

 

One of those spring loaded clamps like the doors had would be 'BEST" there.

 

While taking off this trim from passenger front fender discovered the top and bottom fender is poorly fit together.  Bottom is 1/4" proud of top at least,,,was this a common occurance and reasoning for this trim in first place??  Sign of a repair or old crash damage??

 

Never did get the clips off the trim itself,,,they are crimped in a pocket that lets them slide a 1/4 or so and that is IT!!  Must be a secret to de clip them

 

Used  the 'bastard' (who ever named that tool?) file on the one I had off before, have much to do on it yet but got kicked off the kitchen table with that project

 

Its getting colder out there, hope to continue for a while any way