Rust spots on Stainless?

[slowfinger]

Chevynut, Been cleaning up the chome and stainless trim for our 56 chevy since the weather was so good this weekend. We have some rust spots on stainless that goes over the last piller rear on the belair sport coup. Was wondering what you guys use to remove that? I've tried steel wool but at a loss with that.

[chevynut]

Are you polishing it? What is the rust from, the car's body? The stainless should not rust as far as I know. I've never seen tri5 trim rust myself.

If you're polishing it I would try to sand it off with fine (2000+ grit) sandpaper, then put it on the buffer and see if it goes away. I'm no expert on polishing stainless trim so maybe someone else has dealt with this.

[slowfinger]

Anyone here use Navel Jelly on stainless?

[chevynut]

Where is the rust originating from? Got a pic?

[slowfinger]

The car sat in a driveway in Atlanta for many years. The rust I think, must be from rain dripping off the roof rails. I'll try a small area with navel jelly. G.

[BamaNomad]

It's likely just 'rust stain' on the SS... I've removed such many times using #0000 steel wool; you can also put a little dupont chrome polish on the steel wool which will speed it up... :)

[rockytopper R.I.P 5-13-2017]

My nomad has an area like that on the front window top stainless. The interior pieces that have deep scratches also appear to have rust. I also see some rust stains on the backs and these are screwed to wood. I wonder what grade of stainless is used because some grades can rust my exhaust system is an example. 403 stainless.

[chevynut]

I've never seen rust on any tri5 stainless trim (I have lots of pieces) and I doubt that's where the rust is coming from. I believe the trim is 400 series, possibly 430. It should also be ferromagnetic. The 300 series stainless steels are more corrosion resistant.

The attaching screws were not stainless, but chrome-plated steel. So the screws are susceptible to rust and that rust spreads to the stainless...on the surface. It should buff off easily. I don't think something like muriatic acid or phosphoric acid will aggressively attack 430 stainless steel so it should be fine to use, but I'd test it somewhere.

[MadMooks]

I've seen stainless with pitting. I was always under the impression it wasn't 100% stainles. I coulda swore I stuck a magnet to it

[rockytopper R.I.P 5-13-2017]

I've seen stainless with pitting. I was always under the impression it wasn't 100% stainles. I coulda swore I stuck a magnet to it
I just did it sticks nicely lol. Must be a lower grade of stainless

[567chevys]

Chevy nut is correct

There are two types of 400 series steels, Martensitic and Ferritic. Martensitic ismagnetic; Austentic (300 series) and Ferritic are not, from my understanding. A. Austenitic stainless (300 series) is what the industry calls non-magnetic, while martensitic and ferritic are magnetic.