Polishing door sill plates

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franklin
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Polishing door sill plates

Post by franklin »

Wondering if anyone has polished these and how they turned out? I think the original ones were like a brushed finish? Im checking this out with some of you before I hit them with the polisher. Did they turn out nice?
I dont want to screw up the finish.
1966 town hardtop 390 z code
tbird
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Post by tbird »

The door sill plates are anodized aluminum and are not intended to be re-polished, to refinish them the anodizing has to be removed then the aluminium can be re-polished prior to them having a bright anodizing dip to protect the finish. This operation will cost you about twice what a set of reproduction sills cost, yes they are suppose to have a high polish finish not brushed.
Jim Mills
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2002 Thunderbird
1965 Convertible
1962 Convertible (in progress)
1959 Ford Retractable HT
Many parts cars
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sseebart
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Post by sseebart »

Jim, do you know if the same goes for the wide aluminum trim strip on the flair bird door panels? Mine look like they've been polished down to the base metal.

~Steve
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redstangbob
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Post by redstangbob »

Id say yes, I've stripped a few of those parts. JMO Bob C
It's gonna be cool when it's done
And now it's really cool !!



59 convertible
58 convertible
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Post by tbird »

redstang is correct the interior door and quarter trim and seat trim is also anodized, it can be striped with oven cleaner apparently and polished but it is hard to find someone that has the right process for a bright polished finish all we have here is the finish that was used on the low gloss bumpers used years ago.

I had my interior pieces on my 65 done back about 2000 but had to take to Eastern Canada.
Jim Mills
VTCI # 8071
VTCI 1964-66 Technical Editor
2002 Thunderbird
1965 Convertible
1962 Convertible (in progress)
1959 Ford Retractable HT
Many parts cars
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rrbnut
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Post by rrbnut »

I have always used a 2 step process with masterformula.com
makes them very smooth and at the same time cleans them up without being shiny;and it lasts; makes a huge difference; these cleaners are awesome for chrome anywhere on a car.
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Re: Polishing door sill plates

Post by ICON 1956 »

I had polished many things from motorcycles to Mustangs, I use Semi-Chrome it's great for using on the scuff plates.
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Ozzy351
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Re: Polishing door sill plates

Post by Ozzy351 »

franklin wrote:Wondering if anyone has polished these and how they turned out? I think the original ones were like a brushed finish? Im checking this out with some of you before I hit them with the polisher. Did they turn out nice?
I dont want to screw up the finish.
I know its a bit late but someone else might benefit. I used Autosol on my '61's scuff plates and they came up like new and I just hand polished them. The car is pretty original and the plates didn't seem to be anodised. The uses of this stuff seems to be endless.

Image
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tbird
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Re: Polishing door sill plates

Post by tbird »

Ozzy
You might be right in that they are not anodized my 59 Ford plates are original to the car and do not appear to be anodized.
Jim Mills
VTCI # 8071
VTCI 1964-66 Technical Editor
2002 Thunderbird
1965 Convertible
1962 Convertible (in progress)
1959 Ford Retractable HT
Many parts cars
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Ozzy351
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Re: Polishing door sill plates

Post by Ozzy351 »

Jim,
Maybe it was only from the '64 onwards they were anodised.
"The sour memory of a dud purchase is remembered long after the sweet taste of a cheap deal has disappeared"
1961 T-bird H/T Silver-Gray Metallic/Raven Black roof.
1971 Ford Falcon 351 XYGT-Nugget Gold.
VTCI #11702
Adelaide, South Australia.
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Re: Polishing door sill plates

Post by tbird »

62 Thunderbird and beyond is anodized, just don't know for sure about earlier.
Jim Mills
VTCI # 8071
VTCI 1964-66 Technical Editor
2002 Thunderbird
1965 Convertible
1962 Convertible (in progress)
1959 Ford Retractable HT
Many parts cars
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