Anyone have a good method for removing tarish from the reflectors? I've had my A headlights disassembled for too long and the reflectors tarished. They looked new before the prolonged reassembly.
If I remember right the reflectors are nickle plate and nickle is soft so don't use an abrasive. never dull might work.
doesnt tarmex have a liquid that disolves the tarnish..check under your wifes sink i dont know specifically if they have a product for nickle..wonder if the silver tanish remover would work..maybe try it on one you know your not going to use, for a test?
Carbon black is the traditional cleaner/polisher for original silvered headlamp reflectors. Are the reflectors originals, or reproductions? Reproductions, China & Taiwan, are usually chrome-plated, old Argentine reproductions use something like mirror silvering. which easily wipes through with any cleaning/polishing compound. Reproductions just aren't optically correct as were the original reflectors. If they are originals and you plan on using them, as in driving at night, get them redone by UVIRA in the NW. They use a space-age process of aluminum coating which allows something like 95% reflectivity without the tarnishing problems of silvering rated at something like 98% reflectivity. Of course the bulbs must be adjusted properly in the reflectors for maximum light.
found this 1 Use a commercial metal cleanser to clean your nickel pieces. Wipe clean and buff to polish to a desired sheen. This is always the best option for cleaning and polishing your nickel. <LI id=jsArticleStep2 itxtvisited="1">Step 2 Spray your nickel pieces with a household oven cleanser spray. Let this set on the piece for about 30 minutes and wipe clean. Buff to polish the piece. <LI id=jsArticleStep3 itxtvisited="1">Step 3 Soak your nickel pieces that have become covered in dirt and tarnish in a solution of water and vinegar. Use 4 parts of water to 1 part of the vinegar. You may have to soak the pieces overnight to thoroughly clean them. Rinse the vinegar and water solution off, dry completely and buff with a clean dry cloth to polish. <LI id=jsArticleStep4 itxtvisited="1">Step 4 Remove the grime and grease from nickel auto parts by using household ammonia mixed with water. A good mixture would be 25-percent ammonia and 75-percent water. Soak for 30 minutes and check if the grime is coming off. If not, add more ammonia and re-soak. You may need to brush gently with a soft cleansing brush. Rinse the nickel part and dry completely. Buff with a soft cloth to polish This too Nickel is often used under the hood of older vehicles too. When grimey it responds incredibly well to Coca Cola! Once rinsed and dried, to remove the grime, wipe it over with the Curator's Blend, a little bit of work rubbing it in and WOW! Nickel has something a little different to chrome - when polished properly the yellow tint of nickel makes it blaze in the sun!
Originally, they were silver. Chrome and nickle will do give a good light pattern. Thats from an old platter back home. He did mine back in the early 60s before all the repo stuff came along. Iceman
I dont know if you can effectively clean reflectors once they become tarnished. I had the reflectors on my chevy redone by a company called uvinex or something and they work great. They werent replated but had some kind of reflective coating sprayed on electrically and then sealed with a glass like substance so they never dull. NOW for my 36 Ford, I bought some reflectors from a company who I wont name but they were chrome plated and they sucked. The light looked like it was black if you can visualize that. I in turn bought the halogen kit from Drake and what a difference that was. I believe Drakes are either nickle plated or coated with the same process as the ones on my 36 Chevy.I know this might be more info than what you needed but I thought it might be usefull. Mike.
The reflectors are original Ford. I sell both Simichrome and Neverdull. I have no idea why I didn't think about Neverdull. I was afraid that Simichrome would be to abrasive. I tried the Neverdull and they look new again. Dan Marvin, Owner Exeter Auto Supply
Mitch, The company you are trying to remember is probably UVIRA (541) 474-5050. Currently you need to have yours nickel plated first. A little more expensive than off the shelf reproductions but that is where my next set is going. While you are at it if you are 12 volts check out the "brite" bulbs from Ron Francis wire works (wire-works.com, (800) 292-1940). Charlie Stephens
That's right, I am very happy with there work. Its been about 20 years since I've had them done and they still look and work great. Mike
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