Getting dings out of the stainless side trim on a Roadmaster wagon

Has anyone seen any how to's, videos, or other info on how to straighten minor damage to the side trim? I have a few small annoying dings and was wondering how to fix it.

x2!

Trim hammers, dollys, files, a few different grits of sandpaper on a D/A, then polishing on a wheel with compound. Trim hammers are like body hammers, but smaller and pointier. Pound out the dent, file flat, sandpaper smooth, then polish.

http://www.hotrod.com/howto/3401_stainless_trim_repair/

Bookmarked that link. Nice article.

To shine your moldings after you remove the dings without compounds, here is what I do, using a red scotch brite and a 3000 grit piece of sandpaper. I have done plenty stainless repair in my life but that has faded due to less stainless on cars.

Just the 3000 grit (after the scuff pad) brings back the shine? On my computer the stainless looks more like a matte finish than shiny. Is that just the photo? Thanks for the tip.

Yes trust me it shines. I do this all the time with stainless on my roadmaster.

Is there a way to tell stainless from chrome? I ask because my 78 Coupe De Ville has some thin trim around the window and upper door opening. I have been hesitant to try anything for fear of ruining trim I would have a hard time replacing. If it helps, the trim seems to be a little cloudy, and the metal is very thin. I'm thinking it is stainless, but not really sure.

I do believe that stuff is aluminum with some type of coating it. I have a 78 caprice with the same type of molding material. I have plans to bring it back to life but not right off. It entails some paint work.

I must've got ripped-off because the trim on my RMW is thin aluminum, not ss.

Really, did any of these wagons come with stainless trim installed? If so I would love to have a set of that.

I have been pulling and stripping the trim and it bends very easily - the front spear is really tough to play with due to the plastic pins / bushings.

Looks so much better than "decaying" wood though, its worth the effort.

The trim on the "wooded" cars is aluminum. The big fat trim with the rubber on the Belt line is stainless.

Superior Finish wrote:

The trim on the "wooded" cars is aluminum. The big fat trim with the rubber on the Belt line is stainless.

You're right. I have been fighting the wood surround trim and forgot about the wide trim with the rubber bumper.

I fought that a long trim ago.

Wood surround trim is really fragile, bends real easy when you dont want it to.