Restoring Bright Work on '68

[devauxmidwest]

Thinking of restoring the bright work on the exterior of my 1968 Roadster.

I've got new stainless steel bumpers and have a stainless grill surround on order.

What is the best way to shine up the other stainless steel on the car? Steel wool then buffing?

Are these all stainless steel?:
Side molding
Windshield trim
Grill insert
Vent window frames

And these are the chrome pieces?:
Headlamp scoops
Grill center piece
Hood scoop trim
Trunk handle
Fuel cap
Door handles
Rear license plate lamp housing

Thanks very much

[eye]

Steel wool will sometimes leave particles in the stainless that will rust. I always start with the lightest grit wet/dry sandpaper that will take the scratches out. Start with 2000 and work your way down to 400. If 2000 works, then buff the metal. If it doesn't take the scratches out go to 1500....

The key it to NOT put scratches in the metal deeper than the ones you need to take out. A small wooden block to hold the paper( Paint stir stick) plenty of clean water with some liquid soap in it and go 90 degrees to the scratches.

If you can get it smooth to 1000 grit, then it will buff like a mirror.

[theunz]

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-buffer-61557.html. You won’t regret it and you’ll be surprised at how often you use it.
Sounds right on your stainless vs chrome. You can bring some dull and even slightly rusted chrome back to life with it also, just don’t get too aggressive or you will burn through the chrome.

[devauxmidwest]

While I was taking off the door panels to remove the outer door handles I came across the door handle escutcheons, Are the escutcheons chrome?

[mraitch]

Pix??

[C.Costine]

00 steel wool is the old standby for chrome. After two winters and one full year I have no rust problems. I recently polished my wiper arms. There were no bad scratches so I started with 2000 sand paper and then polished by hand with white polishing compound. They look a lot better.