How to age/dull chrome

I missed "truck" when I answered the first time, but there still must be thousands of originals out there.

That said, at least the OP picked cheap repops and not like, NOS originals, to dull up. I think the best suggestion is flat clear paint - that way you're not damaging what is probably already too thin of a chrome layer - if you wanted rusty ones, hell I can even scare up a set of those.

 

I think it looks fine

drive the shit out of it..soon enough it will look like it should

 

Do as you ought-ah, add acid to wat-ah

 

i would deff go with the clear coat idea. spray bomb clear is dull anyway .. if you ever get a new grill you can get the clear off..

 

that's a new one on me. most people want to re-chrome, not de-chrome, or they paint their bumpers.

 

They sell "Dulling spray " in rattle cans at Aaron brothers , Michael's and those types of art supply stores . Works like a charm , used on movie cars all the time to cut reflections etc. in the camera . Be careful with it on paint though ! Isn't it easier to just try to be helpful to someone , as long as they are not hurting anybody ?

I've had to use the stuff a couple times because a brand new chrome part doesn't match everything else on the car and I couldn't just trade for a used one .

 

brake fluid really bits chrome hard. give it a try on a small section, let it sit for a bit and see if it bites.
If you have ever handled your nice chrome wrenches with brake fluid on your hands you will know that brake fluid is hard on the finish.


.

 

You DO realize that in time the patina "just happens", don't you? If you do something to hasten that process, the treated part will age faster, thus becoming more patinated. Then you have to acid wash, or whatever, the original part to match the one you put all that work into. Thus begins a vicious cycle... Soon your truck will begin to look like a "field car". Maybe you should fix some other stuff and let nature give you that aged look. Believe it or not, by the time it will take to fix all the little stuff on a truck that old, the cheap chrome will fade.

Besides, you're making that faded out look more work than a shiny car. How doesn't that make sense?

But then, as we say on the HAMB these days: "Itz ur ride, bro, do what u want. These guyz r juzt haterz..."

 

set it outside and let nature go to work !

 

btt

 

Buy bumpers from Bumper Boyz and wait a year or two. You'll have all the patina you want..................................

 

Now that's funny ! More like a month or two !!!

 

No way not the panel.

I'm working on the '54 Chevy pickup in one of my albums.

I hope to have some updated pictures of it soon.

 

That my friend is a matter of opinion..........

I myself respect all styles. May not care for them but nevertheless respect them and their owners vision.

 

i was trying to clean some chrome parts in my '55 with green scotch brite pads and some simple green. now they look like brushed stainless...im not too happy about it but at least its a consistent look.

too much elbow grease and not enough common sense was to blame

 

Thanks for your comment. And thanks for your final statement of doing it my way.

I suppose some of the confusion comes from people not understanding what I am working on and myself not posting pictures. This build was started with no budget whatsoever and was intended to use left over parts and pieces I have accumalated from the 8-10 previous builds.

Though the budget did increase to buy a few things there clearly was not going to be enough money in the pot to do any body work or paint. I will include a couple pre-build pics here.

I was lucky enough to find an original chrome grille to replace the damaged grille while at the Autofair this year. Granted it was straight but dulled from the age.

Now for some of you that detest fake patina I can only say that my desire is to just keep the two new bumpers from sticking out like a sore thumb on this build. I have looked for almost a year for some old chrome bumpers with no luck. So I'm not just trying to fake it but merely trying to make it all consistant.

I do appreciate all the input................

These are pre-build pictures. I will try to post some updated pictures later today.

 

You are not in a unique group. Lots of us haven't completed our project because we're still looking for a couple of special parts.

Patina happens. Nobody can create it, try as you might.

Life is hard. Some things take time. Rare parts are not always easy to get. Keep looking for an original bumper that you like. Drive it without bumper until you find the right one.

 

really? do these guys suck? or is it because they cant use arsenic to clean before they plate? ive been told that buy platers that arsenic would clean and give the plating something to hold.

 

id go with the matt clear coat , add a spot of black or brown to it to help dull things

 

I've not used any in years so the EPA may have killed off the good stuff but, aluminum wheel cleaner will make chrome look very old and faded. I ruined a nice set of chrome wheels about 20 years ago just because I was in too much of a hurry to read the bottle. I also know for a fact that diluted Muriatic acid will age chrome too. I'd mix up a batch, rub the bumper down rinse and wait a couple of days and repeat until I got it where I wanted it. I watched a guy building a movie set roll vinegar on a brand new tin roof. Made it look really old.

 

Do a search for "Bumper Boyz".

 

If you are seeking to dull the chrome my suggestion would be one that was only mentioned once but that is to get some medium grade buffing compound and use that on the chrome. This way you will actually be dulling the finish and not removing it which is what will happen if you use Muriatic acid. The dulling experienced there is the actual removal of the chrome. Though if the chrome is removed the nickel underneath will dull much faster than the chrome. The thing to remember in this is that the nickel on an imported bumper is likely very thin and rusting will start very soon if muriatic was used to remove the chrome. You could try the clear coat on something to see if you like that. If not try buffing compound on something else. If that isn't what you are going for try the acid. FYI always add acid to water. NEVER add water to acid. Even when adding acid to water be carefull as there is still a reaction just not as violent if done the other way.
Hope this helps. PM me if you have any questions. I used to do custom chrome plating so I have a little experience with chrome.
Jimmy
-

 

Thanks Jimmy, I have had experience with the acid and I don't think that is the way I will go.

I still think that applying some of the aluminum cleaners/sprays will dull or etch the chrome in a fashion that I need.

Still looking for some originals but no luck.

 

Arsenic is not it, nor is it used in any plating I've done or even heard of. You may be thinking cyanide, which is used in a copper strike. This is still used, mostly for pot metal.

Bumper Boyz simply doesn't do it right, they do it fast and cheap and don't use copper anyways. I've re-rechromed a handfull of their junk over the years and it ALWAYS peels.

I agree with Jimmy on the chrome-dulling info.

 

So wht's wrong with the bumpers in your pictures on post #46 above? Steel wool them a little, you'll have what you want.

 

i've done it, flat clear paint..........

 

liquid plumber spilled in my shop and dripped down on some chrome, it gave it a patina and also turned it kind of antique green.

 

Well it's been almost 4 years since he asked that question...

Maybe if he left the bumpers out in a field this whole time they would have acquired the desired patina?

 

twenty fucking ten. that's when this was originally posted.

 

I didn't look at the date until now either. I guess if he left the Chinese bumpers out all winter for 4 years, they probably look just right now!