Projects Cleaning Rusty Chrome

I have a shifter that's corroded with surface rust. It's a chrome plated piece. How can I polish it back to chrome? It's not something that can be easily replaced.

 

Try a little CLR and mild scotch bright pad
Then polish

 

When I was a kid we used Coke and aluminum foil on surface rust on our bike rims.

 

^^^ Yeah, coca cola and aluminum foil was always a favorite method in motorcycle lore. It is an interesting approach.

 

Yes the aluminum foil thing works, but I think you only need to use water with it.

 

Dupont #7 polish works like a champ. It is co**** enough to wipe away the red haze with a couple swipes, gentle enough to leave polished chrome. Follow with a coat of Turtle paste wax and near like new.

 

Noxon from the grocery store does a great job on chrome. Ammonia based. Put some wax on it after to protect it

 

NeverDull is also good to use.

 

Oxalic acid

 

I got some rusted sockets and wrench’s from an estate sale and let them soak overnight in a mild concentration of citric acid. In the morning wire brushed them with soft wire br*** brush and they came clean and bright. White vinegar will als remove rust without damage to the chrome.

 

Tinfoil and Windex. I've also had good luck with Zephyr polish.

 

I found a chrome 4 speed shifter in our machine shed on the farm. No one knew where it came from and it was rusted badly and would not move at all. I soaked it in citric acid for a couple days, rinsed well and BAM! It shifted like new, and looked good. Found out it was a mid 60s Corvette shifter.

 

I've used tin foil and WD40 with decent results

 

Naval Jelly if you can find it