000 Steel Wool - Promise me it'll be okay!

[Mark Schnell]

Okay, it's time to clean up my beloved Crate and Barrel Performer. I've heard several here saying that 000 steel wool and dawn dish soap will do a great job in cleaning it up without scratching. I'd rather not go the oven cleaner route and the steel wool and Dawn method involves stuff I already have.

So, those of you that swear by this, do you promise, promise, promise (the way my daughter would say it) that this won't scratch up my bright green beauty?

[zavod44]

I have used 0000 and 000 a hundred times....if your still worried try it in an inconspicuous place.....

[Jeff]

I use it on my chrome bumpers on my weekend car!  AND, I use it on my grills ALL the time.

[pbe gummi bear]

Yeah I was skeptical at first but 0000 won't scratch it. I keep the pad wet an it glides along the surface no problem

[1buckie]

I used 220 SANDPAPER with KrudCutter two days ago, no prob......

They're almost bulletproof......

[Jaronimo]

I use Brillo pads and a heavy hand and I never had a problem.

[mike.stavlund]

OOOO doesn't mar the surface at all, and actually polishes it wonderfully. 

And to further put your mind at ease, I've used really heavy stainless steel scrub pads on the inside of kettles without any visible scratching (I would NEVER do that on the exterior, though).

Another advantage of skipping the oven cleaner is the way in which it discolors the vents.  (Oh, and speaking of vents, 0000 works great to polish them up!)

[bryanw21157]

Will the 0000 get rid of scratches in SS or does it need to be coarser and work back up to 0000?  My Genesis has a few I would like to get out....

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[Danny C]

Where do you guys buy the steel wool at
Danny

[mike.stavlund]

Danny, I get 0000 steel wool at Home Depot or the hardware store.

Bryan, I've had some success taking scratches out of stainless steel with 220 wet or dry sand paper and cheap stainless steel cleaner.  What you are basically doing is 're-scratching' the 'grain' back into the stainless steel by sanding it.  The stainless steel cleaner acts as a solvent. 

Depending on how deep the scratches are, you might not be able to get them completely out, but the sanding will mask them to a large degree.  But you need to be very careful to sand 'with the grain', and to have very straight strokes.  Also, just like if you were sanding a fancy piece of wood/furniture, you need to sand *past* the end of the piece, or you'll see the marks where you stopped short.  So if it's at all possible, remove the piece of ss you are sanding to allow yourself to run your sandpaper right past the end.  Then take your time and pay careful attention to your work.  And like I said, if the 'cross-grain' scratches are very deep, you'll need to work for awhile to either cover them completely or hide them sufficiently. 

[jacoblee]

I get my steel wool from home depot or lowes in the paint department.  No scratches from it. Also I use a dremal with a polishing brush on the dampers legs ect.

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[Bman]

000 is finer than Brillo or S.O.S. pads and they work pretty well also.  No issues either when I've used all of the above.

[Mark Schnell]

Okay, I feel more confident now that so many of you chimed in on this. 

[Bbqmiller]

I am currently rehabbing a RK. Used 0000 steel wool and dawn to take this

And end up with


You can view more pics in the thread
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/index.php?topic=2599

[nicky]

I am currently rehabbing a RK. Used 0000 steel wool and dawn to take this
...

That really looks great! What is your technique? Is this done by hand? Really awesome!!!!!