DIY:Polished window trims "93-97 GS300"

I dont know about you guys,and gals,but when i see a 1st gen GS,i dont see luxury.it looks more like a sporty car.even though its not.:sad:so to give it more of that modern and luxurious look,i polished out my window trims.i'll try to take it step by step.
1.take off your window trims.
sorry,mines were already off so dont got instructions for that.
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0023.jpg[/IMG]
2.spray or apply a paint remover on the trim.i like using this product.
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0024.jpg[/IMG]
3.after you applied the remover,wait for about 10 minutes or so.and the paint should wrinkle up like this.
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0037.jpg[/IMG]
4.use something to remove the old paint off.i used a green scrubber.
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0041-1.jpg[/IMG]
it should look like this after the paint was removed
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0025-1.jpg[/IMG]
5.after that,i sanded it with 600 grit and 1000 grit just to make it smooth and free from imperfections.sorry no pic.:slap:

6.use a metal polish and a buffing wheel and start polishing.
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0028.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0029-1.jpg[/IMG]
7.it should be shinny like this
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0031-1.jpg[/IMG]
8.and you're done!
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0049-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0051.jpg[/IMG]
it didn't come out as shinny as i wanted it,but its only because i didnt take enough time sanding them and my cordless drill died.so im gonna re-do that one.and dont mind the pillars,im not gonna polish those.im having them painted black.now i've got 3 more to do.:signdammit:
this is what inspired me to do them.
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/p1CASWA8ZH.jpg[/IMG]

Good write up! I wonder where they got the chrome trim around the bumpers?

*thumbsup* Good stuffs. Just wondering, if it's metal or aluminium?

If it's metal, a clear coat will do?

you've been stuck!!!! nice write up man, and great job on that trim! :biggthumpup:

good stuff. i threw this up on that aussie site i mentioned in your build topic just in case any of them are keen :)

metal or aluminium? i thought aluminium was metal :P either way the clear coat sealer is probably a good idea once they are polished up nice and brightly to make sure they stay that way

glad to see that worked out.

Got some pointers for you. 
 
If you go up to 1500 and 2000 grit you will get a better finish. Also Use a Jewelers Rouge for the Buffing not a polish..
 
Every grit you go up in the sanding proccess take more time...SO if you start with 400 for 5 min then 600 should be like 7-8 minutes 1000 grit should be 10 min and so on...this will deff help yuo out when buffing and polishing...
 
Once you buffed it then polish it wiht metal polish.
 
 
I had a T-maxx RC car that was very custom and I had polished all them metal...Sucker looked like chrome...

hey shaun, looks nice!

Zion, what is a Jewelers Rouge? Is it a material polish compound or ?

Sorry for the newbie questions, I want to learn about polishing metal :)

Thank you.

Yeah its a buffing/polishing compound....go to ace and ask for it...maybe homedepot...
 
Its like a dark maroon color and really brings out the reflective properties in the metals..

badass dude, look great.  good job :thumb:  If you want it super shiny, try using that Eagle On polishing compound.  It kinda looks like cotton, but you rub it on then buff it off....stuff works like magic

someone please tell me where to find 1000+ grit at a local store... I've been to like 5 different hardware stores and the highest they carry is 600

[QUOTE=LuxFaction;175551]someone please tell me where to find 1000+ grit at a local store... I've been to like 5 different hardware stores and the highest they carry is 600[/QUOTE]

Autozone carries 1000-2000 grit.

[QUOTE=chrispy;175566]Autozone carries 1000-2000 grit.[/QUOTE]

wrd, any paint or auto supply store will have it

:pat: thats why! thanks guys

Thanks everyone!i dont usually like doing this kind of diy's.cuz if i mess up,its exspensive to replace them.but so far so good.
[QUOTE=zion_97;175367]Got some pointers for you. 
 
If you go up to 1500 and 2000 grit you will get a better finish. Also Use a Jewelers Rouge for the Buffing not a polish..
 
Every grit you go up in the sanding proccess take more time...SO if you start with 400 for 5 min then 600 should be like 7-8 minutes 1000 grit should be 10 min and so on...this will deff help yuo out when buffing and polishing...
 
Once you buffed it then polish it wiht metal polish.
 
 
I had a T-maxx RC car that was very custom and I had polished all them metal...Sucker looked like chrome...[/QUOTE]
thanks zion,yesterday i tried going with 320,600,1000,2000 and 3000 grit.and it came out way more shiny.
[QUOTE=RaCinStylez;175449]badass dude, look great.  good job :thumb:  If you want it super shiny, try using that Eagle On polishing compound.  It kinda looks like cotton, but you rub it on then buff it off....stuff works like magic[/QUOTE]
yeh i heard that works real good.i might try that.

thanks again everyone.:biggthumpup:

Oh my god!! If I knew you could do that i'd've kept my papagmos. Awesome beyond all awesomeness

heres a little update.i finished polishing 2 of them.
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0015-2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0019.jpg[/IMG]
now i got 2 left to do and need to have the pillars painted.they should be on by September.

heres what they look like on the car
[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff314/biggie86/DSCF0005-1.jpg[/IMG]
[B][SIZE="5"][COLOR="Red"]*WARNING*[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]
Do not do this mod,unless you plan on polishing it once every week.its not aluminium so the shine gets kinda dull.but they look great when done.

You could also have them chrome dipped, or plastic-chromed for pretty cheap.

I just started doing this to my car. started with 320, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, now doing 4000 tomorrow. then a good buff. Granted mine is a 02 Q45.. but i do plan to clear coat them when done so They dont rust, since its not aluminum

that looks really good

Thanks for bumping a 2008 thread just to say "that looks really good"

[QUOTE=volkgt7;405403]Thanks for bumping a 2008 thread just to say "that looks really good"[/QUOTE]

hahahaha

if you look kouki monster started it really...

and finished the game with it.

are all lexus trims like this?

dam i might just do this to my 2gs pillars. fuck getting the jp chrome pillars when u can diy