I tried searching around Pinside and did not see what I was looking for. These are circa 1978 Bally side rails. Looking for the DIY/budget method to clean them up. The usual scratches and such, but good enough to reuse. Looking for recommendations or methods you have used successfully, beside replace or powdercoat. Can you wire wheel or sand them? Has anyone made them look good with any other methods?
I’ve achieved good results by starting out with the 4-inch 180 grit abrasive balls from harbor freight followed by hand sanding. The trick is full strokes all the way down the rail in one direction only. Never stop in the middle or work back and forth. Keep your pressure nice and even. Use a sanding block for the hand sanding part. After the abrasive ball, I use 180 grit sandpaper and step up grit by grit to at least 1200.
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Berea, OH