Best way to clean rust from chrome?

I have a little rust appearing on my bumpers and was wondering the best way to clean it off without scratching the bumper all up. Also, what do you use to protect it once it is cleaned? I was thinking of using phosphoric acid but wasn't sure it would etc the chrome. Any idea?

I tried to do a search for this sort of thing but didn't really get much on it.

 

I've heard tin foil dipped in Cola works wonders. Never tried it though.

 

blue magic and 0000 steel wool. one step process to accomplish both and it works just too damn well.

 

Mothers and 0000 steel wool, but if it's cheap chrome, use a diaper instead of the 0000 steel wool... I know all too well.
r

 

Copper pot scrubber and polish is my trick.

 

For old chrome bicycle fenders I've had real good luck with chrome polish and the finest grade brass wool you can find. The problem I've had with steel wool is the little particles break off and remain in the pits in the chrome and rust again.

Then I just use a simple turtle wax over the fender to help seal it. I've used the same process to clean up the chrome on my caddy and it worked great.

bryan

 

Anybody try something like Por-15's Glisten PC? I have a couple of spots on one wheel-thanks to Jack the cat. Thought I'd clean it down,then cover just the spots.

 

Should NEVER use steel wool on chrome.
Stay away from anything that contains ammonia, acids or anhydrous, which doesn't leave much.
If rusting is yellow to light brown it will polish off with a good quality chrome polish.
Check the ingredients, most are rubbish.
Check out the net for polishes that are pH neutral rather than balanced, and that offer wax protection.
I'd normally say no wax on chrome, but if you have rusting then you have bleed through at best, failing chrome at worst.
Using steel wool on chrome just supplies it with more iron to help it rust, chrome has micro cracks and micro pores that accept the iron from the wool.
That expands as it unites with the iron, and makes the pores/micro cracks bigger.
"OLE!" one messed up piece of chrome.
Aluminum foil using ketchup as a slip agent and activator works well for temporary clean up.

 

Wow.
And here I was thinking you were just some perv with a huge right arm.

 

this stuff called "The Must for Rust" by Krud Kutter works great, contains phosphoric acid. www.krudkutter.com

 

Maybe he still is?

 

I second that. Don't polish it with steel wool, it's harder than the chrome.

 

Polisher,

Is there a specific (brand name) product out there that you would use in this situation?

 

Steel Woool ... Worked On My Stuff..

 

I like it here--Lears something new evey day. the blue magic is good stuff,though. it has a sealer in it.

if no steel wool, what would work best?

I can say that the new mothers powerball is junk.does about as good of a job at cleaning wheels as a newborn. (they aren't abrasive at all...)

 

As I always say, listen to Polisher. He knows his stuff!

And I have to ask: is the copper wool any better than steel wool? Copper has its own set of oxides, and it tarnishes quicker than steel rusts, at least in my garage.

 

Dow spray bathroom cleaner....at areo can NOT THE PUMP
Not only does it take the shit off it leaves the bumper sparkeling and smelling good!!!

Honest this stuff has a very mild acid and briten'r!!!

Even cleans old green stuff off

 

AMEN to that. I thought everyone knew that by now.

If you have some old Cragars or bumpers that are ultra-rusty and you want to try to give them one last hurrah, then maybe you could use some SOS. But shit, not on anything nice.

Working in a plating shop and a resto place for awhile, I learned a few tricks. If you've got some really nice chrome and you just want to polish it, there's some stuff called Simichrome that's excellent. It's like $10 for a travel toothpaste size tube but it's worth it. At the plating shop, when a fresh chrome part needed to be cleaned, that's what we used.

If your chrome is a little worse off than that, I like to use a mild/moderate buffing compound, the same stuff you'd use to buff out a freshly wetsanded paint job. I like Wizards Turbo Cut, it's pretty mild compared to some of the compounds, and you get a pretty big bottle for about $20. Way better than any dedicated chrome polish I've ever used. If your chrome has some mild rust staining and that white, hazy 'time crud', this is the shit to have. Works fast and non-abrasive.

Steel and brass wool cuts fast because it's a harder material than the chrome. It'll shine shit up in a hurry but it's also wearing hard on the plating and depositing chunks of shit in the pits that's only going to get worse. Tin foil is better because the aluminum is softer.

 

Well, I try not to blatantly promote my own products, and there are a couple of equivalents out there, but if you go to my website you'll see a full range of metal polishes that are endorsed by the most respected museums in the world.
you'll also get loads of useful information about polishes and polishing.
If you drop me an email I'll send you a copy of my polishing booklet which is free by email to any of the HAMB members.
Get that and you can make a much more informed purchase, whether it's my product or anybody elses.

 

Copper or fine Brass is much better on REALLY bad aluminum.
Basically it should come off easily enough by hand.
Copper can contact plate though if the atmospherics are right.

 

Ive been using Comet cleanser in a soupy paste to clean rust stains off chrome. BRASSO works too. Then a good polish ( NOT a wax) followed by a mild soap and water wash job. Finally I put on a light coat of non yellowing clear such as Zero Rust Crystal Coat which is invisible. Seems to hold up very well, at least a year, on 1950-60's original bumpers in a New England acid rain and salt water mist enviroment.

 

Perfect timing,I was just going to start a post!...This is exactly whats going on with my rear bumper! where do you get this Stuff? ,xtralow

 

YOU GUYS ARE ALL WRONG!

I sell Wizards, the Turbo cut is ok....................

Ask ROCKY, I turned him onto QUICK GLO chrome cleaner. The best chrome cleaner in the world bar none. Many Bicycle shops can get it through Island Bicycle Supply or do a web search, they have lots of products but the only one I have tried is QUICK GLO

IT IS SIMPLY THE BEST, I MEAN IT. Non toxic even.........

 

YES!!!! NEVER STEEL WOOL!!! I LEARNED THE HARD WAY.... DULLS THE CHROME...

USE PATROLEUM JELLY.... WORKS WONDERS, really!!

 

NO 7 chrome polish works wonders on slightly tarnished, lightly rusted, or dull chrome. It's a little more abrasive than regular chrome polish, but not as harsh as steel wool. Follow up with regular car wax to prevent rust.

 

You can purchase Quick - Glo at www.quick-glo.com

 

What would be the reason not to use wax on a bumper?

I've always waxed my chrome bumpers and haven't experienced any problems. HRP

 

Phosphoric acid and 000 steel wool are the ONLY way to go.