Harv wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2020 10:54 am
I'm grateful, as after doing the rest of the stainless I'm not sure I had the patience to polish the scuff plates

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Harv, you haven't touched the tip of the iceberg yet.... I love polished stainless.... to me, it's better than chrome - less work and not subject to rust... a quick buff lasts almost forever.
After the scuff plates, I bought my first couple of stainless bolts.. ground off the markings then started work working them up.
I was so happy with the result, I also did the 6 hex sides on each as well.
When they were fitted - it was the start of a meniacal mission to do the engine bay with every bolt, nut, screw and washer that did not have a high tensile requirement... so far, there are over 360 of them in my engine bay... included in these were the threaded screws from fuel pump, wiper motor and other accessories and replaced them with domed head stainless allen key types.
I made up a special jig rod to hold the bolts and present them to the buff.... prior to this buffing, all of them were hand ground on an oil-stone until all markings were removed then run over progressive grades of wet/dry on top of the oil stone until all markings were removed and a satin finish was obtained.
The nuts were easier than I first thought - I learned that by fitting a nut to a bolt, I could hand ground both the hex on the nut and also the bolt at the same time. I did not grind the face of the nut - they all came up quite well just by using the stitched rag then calico buffs and dressing compounds.
The grille (EK) looks particularly impressive with these bolt heads... I also used a bit of "artisan" craftsmanship and aligned all the heads with a flat uppermost.. and all nuts likewise. Self tappers were similarly fitted using a convention of having them fitted in an "X" instead of a "+".
It was only on rare occasions that I had to do any "shimming".... I used nylon washers under the stainless ones on the grille - they compress slightly and allow the head to be aligned. The screws generally afford sufficient leeway to either go + or - minus enough under compression to do likewise.
Not many "see" this - but to those who know to look for it - it certainly gets some response.... it's an old craft - like so many others, they are being "lost".------- how I hate rattle guns and electric drills used as screw and bolt drivers...
I have had people look into my bay and tell me they are aware of "something", but can't "see" it...... I let them struggle for a bit, then ask them if they have noticed anything "strange" about the way the bolts and screws have been fitted.... this opens their eyes and you can see the penny drop once it it brought to their attention..and then they usually take a step back away from me.... I seem to have grown a second head...
Meniacal.. most certainly... but appreciated (occasionally).
frats,
Rosco