Remove Scratches & Scuffs from Stainless Steel Surfaces Leave a comment
How to Remove Scratches & Scuffs from Stainless Steel Sinks & Bars
Even though portable bars are constructed of stainless steel, with bump guards or rails, there will be the occasional scratch or scuff during it’s regular use. For simple scratches or marks, cleaning your stainless steel portable sink & bar with a vinegar and water blend, or other compounds can help the metal’s luster. When it comes to deeper scratches you must first learn more about the stainless steel before you resolve to more abrasiveness solutions.
Light Scratches & Scuffs
Water & Vinegar can wipe down most scuffs and light scratches. If this doesn’t give you a desired result, then try one of these solutions. Fine microfiber cloths can assist in the removal of the scratch depending on it’s depth. There are also stainless steel scratch removal compounds & kits that can assist with this process, all methods must keep in mind to always take a close look at the grain or brush marks on the surface or the portable sink because you need to go with the grain for the best result, otherwise there could be more damage.
Go with the Grain
Faint striations that can be found on the surface on your appliance is the Grain, and each piece of stainless steel has grain going in a certain direction.
- Access the Grain, the direction any finish lines made
- Apply Solution to a microfiber or a paper towel
- Lightly wipe the surface with a fresh damp microfiber
With enough water, any powdered stainless steel scratch removal compound creates a creamy substance with the consistency of tooth paste. Apply some of the compound to a microfiber cloth and very gently rub it back and forth over the scratch, in the direction of the grain. Do this until the scratch buffs out. Lightly wipe the surface with a fresh barely damp microfiber cloth to remove any compound residue, then dry with another fresh microfiber cloth. You may need to repeat this a couple times or more to completely remove scratches or scuffs.
Deeper Scratches
Scratches or damage that do no respond to the compounds, use scratch removal kits. Generally these compounds contain a polishing compound and set of abrasive pads. Most of these kits come with manufacturer directions, but generally you will use the scratch removers from the coarsest grit to the finest for the best result.
Polish & Shine
Polishing will remove metal from the surface until it’s smooth. Since you can not fill scratches, removing thin layers of metal around scratches is the only way to create a smooth, polished surface finish. You will use sand papers to shave away a thin layer of metal from the surface, usually deep enough to reach the bottom of existing scratches.
Polishing Tools:
- Sandpaper in 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit
- Stainless Steel Cleaner, Scratch Removal Compound, Polish
- Cleaning Pads, Brite Pad, Scour Pads, Sand Paper or Microfiber cloth
Rub the scratch with the grain, in one direction, otherwise you can cause unattractive marks. Make sure to only use as much pressure as needed to remove the scratch, it’s possible to go deeper than the scratch. Move from course to smoother grit pads if recommended by manufacturer, and continue buffering, adding water, or any compound included in the kit. Wipe down the stainless steel unit with a microfiber cloth to finish buffering your stainless steel bar to a clean shine!
