How to shine up "rub rail"?

W

watson524

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Joined
Mar 24, 2008
RO Number
29669
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322
Hi all,

As I've been wet sanding by 1987 Chap, I noticed that the black strip all around it (I think this is the rub rail), is clean, but not shiny. Can anything be done about that? It's not even an inch wide. I thought about getting some tire dressing on there but that won't stay shiny. Also, there's 2 stainless strips, top and bottom as well. Can anything be done to shine those up? I thought about taking my dremel with a white buffing wheel to those but didn't know if that was safe.

thanks!
 
You can use polish on the stainless. I used to use acetone on a rag and LIGHTLY and quickly wipe the black rubber insert in the rubrail. It would shine it right up. Don't get carried away with the acetone, you don't want to melt the rubber, just freshen it up a bit.
 
There is a product made by Mothers called Back to Black. This does an excellent job of restoring vinyl, rubber, etc. to the original black color.
 
"BLACK JACK Professional Detailer's formula BLACK AGAIN"

Works great, apply and let dry in sunlight. It is UV dried polymer. It cleans, renews and shines.

I've tried most of the stuff on the market and this is the longest lasting
dressing I have found.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Once I get the compounding/polish done I'll move to this step. My husband started working on a few carpet spots last nite with some good stuff we found so little by little we're getting there.

Do you recommend taping off around the rub rail before applying products? Or do you apply with a small pain brush and go from there. Wiping off stainless I don't mind, but I don't want it to eat through it.
 
I would tape off anything you don't want to get polish or wax on. Epecially the black inserts in the rub rail.
 
I give my rub rail an annual dose of WD40 sprayed onto a rag. It doesn't last as long I'd like, but it does recondition the rubber. The WD40 won't hurt the metal which secures the rubber strip......
 
With my white rub rail, I clean it with acetone then wax it when I do the boat. Not sure how that would work with a black rub rail.
 
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