Keeping a stainless/mild steel roll bar polished?

[youngsyr]

I guess this is car related and doesn't fit in any of the other forums, so general gassing is the best place?

I'm in the process of polishing up a roll bar for my MX-5, I looked into chrome painting and plating and it turned out to be either impossible ("painting") or expensive (plating), so I went with the old fashioned way of grafting it to a shiney state.

Now the issue I have is keeping it shiney. I wiped part of it down with a damp cloth the other night and when I returned to it the next evening a very thin film of rust was already covering that area.

So, apart from not wiping it down with a damp cloth, what's the best way to keep it rust free and shiney? I'm thinking either a wax/sealant, such as Poorboys Wheel Sealant, a spray on lacquer like you'd use on paint, or just polishing it on a weekly basis with a quick rub down with a polishing paste?

Can anyone give me any pointers please?

[dudleybloke]

paint it or get a stainless steel one.
there's a variety of special coatings that you could use but these will be similarly priced to plating.

[youngsyr]

dudleybloke said:

paint it or get a stainless steel one.
there's a variety of special coatings that you could use but these will be similarly priced to plating.

Are those really my only two options?

Painting is out, I want it to be a chrome finish and although there are companies out there that can "paint" chrome, I've been told that it's not possible on my roll bar due to the complexity of the shape and the processes involved.

If there's no way of keeping it rust free, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and get it plated.

I'm not sure whether it's stainless or mild steel. I understand there are different grades of stainless and I've seen "stainless" steel rust too, so how do I tell?

Edited by youngsyr on Thursday 3rd June 13:14

[dudleybloke]

it sounds like mild steel to me if it tarnishes overnight.

[Carparticus]

Alsa make all sorts of exotic paint for cars, including various chrome varieties. Might be worth reading through their site :-


http://www.alsacorp.com/products/mirrachrome/mirra...

and

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/mirrachrome/mirra...

[dudleybloke]

if you can remove the roll hoop any powdercoating firm should be capable of doing a good job of it.

[youngsyr]

Carparticus said:

Alsa make all sorts of exotic paint for cars, including various chrome varieties. Might be worth reading through their site :-


http://www.alsacorp.com/products/mirrachrome/mirra...

and

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/mirrachrome/mirra...

Thanks, I already looked into painting on a chrome finish - it's expensive and very tricky to do. I understand that it involves spraying on a black colour coat, then clear coat and getting it to a very high gloss appearance. Then you dust on the chrome "paint" which is actually microscopic chrome particles.

During the lengthy dusting and drying phase you have to keep the piece above 23*C at all times. So you can see it's a bit of a ball ache. Not to mention that the "paint" costs around £20 for 500 ml!

I guess the answer is to bite the bullet and get it plated then.

[snotrag]

What roll-bar is it? a proper roll bar or a 'style' bar?

I have fitted to my MX5 a really solid hoop that falls somewhere inbetween the two, its made from extremely shiny stainless steel.

I could be willing to swap if you have something interesting/decent fitted, as I would quite like one in black or white.

You got a picture?

[youngsyr]

dudleybloke said:

if you can remove the roll hoop any powdercoating firm should be capable of doing a good job of it.

Unfortunately that's not an option, the roll bar is the one pictured below, just with an additional harness bar incorporated between the two front uprights:

[dudleybloke]

ask gulzar how much to get it gold plated!

[AbarthChris]

Why dont you just use clear lacquer? Done right you wont even notice it

[Swarley]

spray it with some clear lacquer, or always have a light coating of oil on it. ie wd40

[youngsyr]

AbarthChris said:

Why dont you just use clear lacquer? Done right you wont even notice it

That was a thought, but will it bond ok to polished mild steel and will it stop it from rusting?

[youngsyr]

Swarley said:

spray it with some clear lacquer, or always have a light coating of oil on it. ie wd40

Hadn't thought of the oil coating idea - I like the idea, but it could be messy for anyone touching the bar and it might make the interior of the car smell a bit funny with the roof up.

I'll keep it in mind though.

[hornetrider]

Have you tried autosol? I find that works very well on exposed metal surfaces - it's a bit like brasso.

[Swarley]

youngsyr said:

AbarthChris said:

Why dont you just use clear lacquer? Done right you wont even notice it

That was a thought, but will it bond ok to polished mild steel and will it stop it from rusting?

It sticks to polished brass well enough.

Yes it will stop it rusting as long as moisture can not get under it. water will eventually get under the lacquer but you should have at least a year with out a problem.

If you do lacquer it make sure all the wax is off first.

Edited by Swarley on Thursday 3rd June 13:35

[youngsyr]

hornetrider said:

Have you tried autosol? I find that works very well on exposed metal surfaces - it's a bit like brasso.

A weekly wipe down with autosol is a possibility, but if the bar is going to tarnish overnight then there's little point in fighting an uphill battle and I may as well just cough up and get it plated as it will take me several hours to get it polished in the first place.

[youngsyr]

Swarley said:

youngsyr said:

AbarthChris said:

Why dont you just use clear lacquer? Done right you wont even notice it

That was a thought, but will it bond ok to polished mild steel and will it stop it from rusting?

It sticks to polished brass well enough.

Yes it will stop it rusting as long as moisture can not get under it. water will eventually get under the lacquer but you should have at least a year with out a problem.

That sounds like a good option then, after a year I can just remove the lacquer, repolish and reapply.

Do you have any recommendations for a good lacquer for this job?

[Sisyphus]

youngsyr said:

Swarley said:

spray it with some clear lacquer, or always have a light coating of oil on it. ie wd40

Hadn't thought of the oil coating idea - I like the idea, but it could be messy for anyone touching the bar and it might make the interior of the car smell a bit funny with the roof up.

I'll keep it in mind though.

Use baby oil, my wife uses it on all of her stainless steel appliances with excellent results.














A deliberate fnar fnar comment but also very true, you only need to use the very thinnest film.

[Swarley]

youngsyr said:

Swarley said:

youngsyr said:

AbarthChris said:

Why dont you just use clear lacquer? Done right you wont even notice it

That was a thought, but will it bond ok to polished mild steel and will it stop it from rusting?

It sticks to polished brass well enough.

Yes it will stop it rusting as long as moisture can not get under it. water will eventually get under the lacquer but you should have at least a year with out a problem.

That sounds like a good option then, after a year I can just remove the lacquer, repolish and reapply.

Do you have any recommendations for a good lacquer for this job?

Sounds cheep but I always get good results from Halfords own rattle can stuff.