The front bumper bar on the Hudson was chromed about 18 years ago and has lost some of its shine. I enquired with a local chrome plater to do a very small repair and rechrome and that would be $1400. I would like to give it a shot with some other way,either some kind of metal polish or maybe another method. I did read somewhere that vinegar can restore some shine. I will eventually get it rechromed but I want to do a temporary fix so that it looks good for an event coming up and I don't have time to remove the bar and get it to platerand back and refitted in the time frame I need.
Ive had great luck using 0000 steel wool to polish old chrome. Gets rid of the rust pits but not abrasive enough to scratch the chrome. A soak in citric acid will clean it up any rust too. Perhaps share a pic of what youre working with would help
I would only use steel wool (or any metal wool) if I was trying to get rust stains off. If it's just faded, you can buff on chrome with a buffing pad and compound just like buffing paint. If the base plating is of good quality, you can actually wetsand it first with ultra-fine sand paper and then buff. But be warned, you're playing a dangerous game. If you think paint is thin for wetsanding and buffing, plating is even thinner. Get a clean wool pad for your buffer and some non-aggressive paint buffing compound and give it a whirl. I've had pretty good results on some less-than-stellar chrome pieces with that method.
I agree no steel wool it may scratch the chrome the Turtle Chrome polish is my go to takes a little elbow grease but works good IMO Dan
4" wool pad on a high speed angle grinder, red rouge, watch the heat as chrome can blue. Use the edge only. Finish with mothers on a clean pad. You can buy those pads on amazon cheap.
No pitting or rust just dull looking chrome in some places. Yes $1400 Australian for that job. Chrome platers here, because of small numbers and work that needs to be done can name their own price. And I can live with the little spot of damage,about as big as a 20 cent piece. Very hard to see anyway. Just want some brightness back on the bar.
I have never been disapointed by Turtle Wax Chome Polish and a clean soft rag. Whatever that can't handle just live with, or do the replate.
Agreed, really amazing stuff. Always excellent results. Seems to cut right through oxidation with little effort.
You may be struggling. The only time i have seen aged dull chrome is when its gone back to the nickle layer. At that point its past saving.
Not to be contrary to what some have said but.. Ive used 4 ought steel wool to clean old rusted chrome. Also the stock 22" chrome wheels on our OT daily driver Yukon. Its an 07 and the wheels still look as good as new. They sit outside, drive in shitty weather & still shine like new chrome. 0000 steel wool is plenty soft & in my experience will not scratch or hurt the the chrome at all.
Simichrome polish and a cotton rag. Or Flitz polish and a cotton rag. There is no way I would take any brass or steel wool near chrome that I cared about.
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