S/S, Keeping it clean?

[AyeFinch]

Hi all,

I was wondering what you use to keep S/Steel clean and rust free? I know of a couple of products here in S.A., but was wondering about any tried and tested "old school" brews...

Thank you

Aye

[Nicholas Carey]

From working in restaurants, a long time ago...

Scrub it down with thin paste of scouring powder and water. Let it dry.

Buff the residue off with a clean cotton cloth.

Gleams.

[Thorne]

Depending on location, I think you can pastewax it to give it a slightly protective coating against scratches or stains. Not a permanent barrier, just a slight help in keeping it nice looking.

[pipefitter]

If SS is the right grade and prepped and polished correctly to begin with,it shouldn't rust at all. The bits and pieces they sell now rust because they dont give it the proper acid treatment,was machined and polished with cheap and incorrect abrasives. The worst case for SS is to coat it with any corrosion blocker sprays. They will turn it and the area around it somewhat an eerie green filmy color. I recently worked on a boat where the owner liberally applied and believed in that one step wash/wax and protect all in one stuff.His whole boat was slimey/slippery and all his SS bits were suffering from anerobic sickness of sorts from being too well protected.Paste wax is ok to polish with since it will go away in sun and weather allowing the part to still develop it's protective surface. Alot of the pieces are overheated in the grinding polishing or welding processes which cause it to release some of it's carbons or oxides to the surface making it not so stainless anymore. Thats why it is best to give it a wash of phosphoric acid(burn compound used after welding) which will seal the surface/remove stains and then sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid.
After we fabricate a piece, we use a special black colored heavy compound for SS and a quite rigid buffing wheel and we work it through two more processes of finer cut abrasives and the last one is a real fine rouge of chrome oxide. The parts never rust and all that is needed is a wash of soap and water and removal of water spots with a dry rag. The only problem is that all the other parts not treated will look quite dull in comparison.
If you use abrasive cleaners you will end up with grained/scratchy SS. Paste wax or carnuba would be about the only thing you want to polish SS with.

[paladin]

A4000162 SS POLISH (GLOW)

This is the stuff they use on DeLorean Motor Cars.....it's available in spray cans from DeLorean in Houston Texas...at about 27-28 bucks a can.......it's trade named SS Glo

[AyeFinch]

Thanks for all the info!

Aye