Polishing 316 SS

[olds]

I need to clean/polish 3 55 gallon drums made of 316 SS. Will 00 steel wool do it? Or is there a polish I can apply with an orbital buffer? This is for work and it goes outside my normal scope of duties so I want to use as little effort as possible.

 

[Aceman]

You don't need to polish them. You need to sell them to me!!!! Homebrewers drool over 55 gallon SS drums!!!!

Steel wool will just scratch them. Use fine steel wool, if any. Find some stainless steel polish.

 

Do not use steel wool, use brass wool.(Rust)
Home Depot carries it

 

[Aceman]

Roger,
316 Stainless steel shouldn't rust. Now the steel filings residue from the wool might show rust.

 

Now the steel filings residue from the wool might show rust.

Exactly.
It will show rust, trust me

 

[olds]

It does show rust but I think it is superficial. It looks more like oxidation from the elements. I have zinc anodes inside the drums to protect against electrolysis.
You can see part of one of the drums here.

 

[woodie1]

Try some 0000 steel wool or go to an auto parts house and get some chrome polish.