Been tackling some small projects in the shop...a '35 Ford steering wheel and a '37 banjo. I've just about got all the cracks filled in the '37 rim and have spent some time getting the spokes looking nice, but man, those pot metal spoke separators just look nasty! Pretty much all the chrome is gone and with fresh paint and nicely detailed stainless spokes, they stick out like a sore thumb; At the risk of anathematizing myself (yes, I realize there is no substitute for proper chrome plating), I took some time to clean them up...they look much better IMO, but being bare pot metal, they'll oxidize in no time. I'm looking for some options on how to seal 'em up. Haven't had much luck with clear coat on polished items... Suggestions welcome!
Which is clear lacquer. Problem is it doesn't stick well to polished materials...flakes and yellows pretty quickly when exposed to UV (this is going in a roadster) been there, done that. Anyone use Gibbs for something like this? I know it does a bang-up job on real magnesium wheels...
Tung oil works well on several metals, brass, aluminum, copper. I have not used it on pot metal, tho if it works on zinc it should on pot metal. I would check it for paint compatibility too. Use caution if you use rags to apply, it can cause spontaneous combustion, hang your rags to dry.
Have you tried Zoop Seal or something like this? http://www.shineseal.com/ This is the guy that originally designed Zoop Seal which I always heard worked really well.
Great tips guys, much obliged! I've done some woodwork with polymerized tung oil...dried to a nice hard finish. Might have to polish the other two spoke separators and try a different product on each. I've heard great things about shine/zoop seal as well.
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