Rusty chrome

I seem to always have some rusty chrome I picked up at swap meet that needs cleaned. Sometimes it can be buffed off but not this time. Some center caps from my daily driver. Cheap China crap. I took the spinners off and put them in a tray. Added enough water to cover. Added some Oxalic Acid Wood Bleach I got at Home Depot for $8.95. That was at noon. At 2, I could see a lot of progress. A picture of the best and the worst after 2 hours. So back in the solution for a few more hours. I used about 3-4 gallons of water and 4 tablespoons of the wood bleach which is a fine crystal and readily disolves. I could add some more wood bleach to strengthen the mixture I suppose, but it is working so far, so I will just leave them in over night. I am not sure what the correct mixture should be so I need to play with it a bit. Lots more to run thru the mixture to see how it works but it has no effect on chrome or paint. One cap has a small grey area which is where the chrome was being removed when I tried a buffer. Like I said, cheap China crap.

 

I've never even heard of "wood bleach" before. This would be great for wire wheels which are a bastard to polish. Pretty impressive results. Do you have to neutralize them afterwards, or just rinse them off?

 

I bet it would be great on wire wheels. Just rinse off when done or maybe soap and water with a sponge or white scotch brite pad. Oxalic Acid can be bought from chemical supplies but it is what is in Wood Bleach. You can dump what is left down the drain.

 

Just rinse well. Oxalic Acid can be dissolved at approx 8oz to a gallon of water and not harm chrome or wood for that matter. It is also used to neutralize wood after stripping, it brings the PH back up and brightens the wood, it doesn't "bleach".

 

sweet never heard of this method have tried plenty other ways that suppose to get great results and they get minimal result but this looks like good results for a cheap price

 

What are the prolonged effects? does it harm the chrome at all?

 

Great tip, never used that before. Normally fine steel wall and brasso afterwards.

 

There are no prolong effects on the chrome that I have heard of from the guy that turned me onto this. But if the rust goes thru the chrome to the metal (blisters/pitts), then you need to protect the base metal.

The problem with steel wool is it scratches, even the fine. I used to use brass wool but the place I bought it no longer stocks it and I have not find another place to buy it. Maybe a boat shop/supply.