restoring stainless steel fenders

[bigbikerrick]

Hello Folks, The front fender on my Convert is in pretty nice shape, except it has a small ding on the front leading edge, and there are also a coupe of dime sized dings right `in the center, below the triple clamp. I would like to keep the fender in polished stainless, if at all possible. I have watched a few U tube videos of guys restoring stainless trim on old cars, using a small hammer and anvil, and then sanding with  increasing finer sandpaper grit, until getting to 2000, then polishing it to a chrome like finish.
  Has anyone here tried their luck at restoring a fender this way, or is the learning curve just too steep, for the amateur/ do it yourselfer,  to ever get the fender looking good again?
I thought I had better ask the groups opinion first, before I buy the tools needed, and start "tapping", and sanding on this fender.
   I appreciate you sharing opinions, suggestions, and any "tips" that may be helpful.
Thank you
Rick D.

[Frenchfrog]

I had a couple of shallow dings and scratches on mine...did as you described and they are hardly noticable now. Time and patience is your friend ,a polishing machine is your ally !!!

[larrys]

Yer on the right track. A good buffer is important. Use the correct compound for stainless steel. I have a cloth wheel for every compound. Jewelers rouge for the final polish.
Larry

[Frenchfrog]

I never went as far as the rouge larry as I don't have any...the bike isn't concours anyway so not bothering me. Quite a lot of work though.

[normzone]

A lesson I learned in my day job long ago - never use media that has touched ferrous metals on your stainless surfaces - they will demonstrate apparently inexplicable corrosion from the iron transferred to the stainless.

[bigbikerrick]

Thanks guys for the tips. I am going to give it a try, and see how it comes out. If worse comes to worse, I can always use filler and paint the fenders, as a last resort. Hopefully I wont have to do that. I will post some photos of the progress...or lack of, as I proceed.
Thanks
Rick D.

[tris]

A lesson I learned in my day job long ago - never use media that has touched ferrous metals on your stainless surfaces - they will demonstrate apparently inexplicable corrosion from the iron transferred to the stainless.

This- plus if you need to grind, use an INOX wheel for the same reason ...... and experience 

[bigbikerrick]

Hopefully i wont need to grind, i hope to slowly, and carefully “smith” out the dings. I need to make a few tools to help with the shaping, and deffinitely need to watch a few more videos on the technique.
Rick

[bigbikerrick]

I spent a few hours yesterday hammering out a few small dings on my front fender, and then polishing it . I had two dents right above the hole in the side of the fender, where the brake line stay bolts. you can still see them if you zoom in, but they were way worse. I also minimized a ding at the front edge. I just used a small hammer, and a big box end  wrench in the vise , in different positions worked as a backing to hammer against. Its far from perfect, but much improved.
The polishing part is no problem, just finer grits of wet sandpaper starting with 120, finishing with 1500, then a little buffer wheel in my drill did the rest. I must say, last night, my wrists and shoulders were trashed! I think with the right tools, like a special anvil, and  picking hammer, and then a proper polishing motor/ wheels, I could have done better.
Overall, I am happy with the results, fit looks decent from a few feet away.
Rick

[n3303j]

Makes me feel that I am doing my T3 fenders wrong by not giving them a similar treatment. I'm embarrassed.

[bigbikerrick]

Give it a try,n3303j  its not that hard, I recommend doing it in a comfortable place and take your time and tap, tap ,tap, slowly, bringing down the high spots, then bringing up the low spots. There are a bunch of you tube videos of guys that restore car trim, that are helpful. Any scuffs, or light scratches are easy to remove with sandpaper, then buff .I used wenol metal polish on a medium stiff cloth wheel. Use gloves, as the fender gets pretty hot.
Rick

[n3303j]

Hi Rick,

I don't have the dents. Fixed that by buying a used, dent free fender for $100.

But I certainly do not have the luster you achieved.
Your fender is EXCELLENT.
My fenders are adequate.

Next time the bike comes apart I'll go through the power buffing routine.

[chuck peterson]

Awesome looking! I’d suggest there is an army of tonti bikes that got resurrected just because the ss fenders were still looking kinda bright in the back of a garage after sitting for 40 years…you aren’t faced with 2 huge fenders made of rust…how many other bikes can you think of with stainless?