Hey guys I tried using 0000 fine steel wool on my chrome rims but it didn’t remove this rust. Any recommendations? Thanks
Have you tried chrome cleaner? Works pretty good. If that doesn't take care of it... Soak them in a container of citric acid dissolved in water. Overnight, a day, two days, whatever it takes. It'll remove every molecule of rust and it won't hurt the Chrome at all.
A fine 'toothbrush' wire brush with some chrome polish will work. The rust will come back, a heavy coating of wax will slow the process. I've also had decent results by lightly spraying some gloss aluminum paint over the area after getting as much rust off as possible with the wire brush, then using a cleaner wax to remove the excess paint, leaving just the paint-filled pits. It can be time-consuming... Pretty typical of Cragar SS wheels, or any chrome steel wheel with a welded-in center. The problem is these aren't triple plated, these are nickel/chrome, lacking the copper 'sealer coat'. This is done because the copper will contaminate the welds.
I know this doesn’t help your situation. But I had a set of new American racing chrome smoothies sitting in a shed maybe 3 years that went rusty before I even got to use them. Frustrated I got them stripped and powder coated.
Soak with Gibbs oil let sit for a day or so then wipe with a soft rag, maybe do Gibbs 2 or 3 times then use Turtle Chrome cleaner, then a good wax. Dan
Heard many mention using tin foil and soapy water, ball of the foil and scrub. Also heard not to use steel wire brushes or steel wool as steel rusts. Personally I’d leave as-is, because I recall you are using aged tires. Once the tires are off do as @Rickybop said, put the wheels in CA mix. I posted up results of doing the CA mix on old chrome backing plates, still look good, took two treatments, as the light rust that was left came back, but after second soaking, still good. I’ll see if I can find my thread. Edit: Here it is with 8x10 color, glossy photographs, but no writing on each one; https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/citric-acid-mix-on-chrome-it-works.1332821/
My daughters OT PU has factory chrome wheels and are rusted in the same spot as the OP's. You can clean off the rust but it will return fairly fast. I plan to clean them again, and paint that area with a contrasting paint that matches the stripes on her truck. Likely a grey metallic. I think it will look good and far less than refinishing them. I don't know how that would look on cragars though.
Scrunch up some aluminum foil into a ball. Then use a solution of water and vinegar (10-25%) Scrub away until there is a bit of heat from friction. The foil is soft enough not to scratch, and the vinegar (acid) and friction creates a galvanic reaction and "plates* aluminum into any pitting. Try it ....... it works
after a while you'll get used to the rust, and you won't notice it. Nothing will put the chrome back on, so don't worry about it too much. They're old wheels. Enjoy them for what they are.
I have used the aluminum foil trick, but used Coke (the black one) and it took the rust off and left a dull grey coating. This, and oil stain removal on concrete is what I do with the black poison.
It's the loosened rust that scratches the good chrome. The foil (or steel wool), will pick it up and hold it...and scratch the chrome. Using acid to remove the rust first will help with that.
In some of the heavy areas it looks like the chrome has flaked off. This happens just like when rust makes bubbles in paint. Don't use steel wool on chrome. Little pieces of steel embed themselves in the chrome and cause rust. Get some Bronze Wool - the finest you can find. Then use that and Brasso to clean them up. For rusty areas that have lost their plating you can touch them up with some silver or chrome paint. It hides it pretty well for the casual observer.
The nemesis of the safety bead rim. Even new ones today. Wipe at least once a week and heavy on the paste wax..
I used tinfoil to clean aquarium glass, doesn't scratch glass. I used the same tinfoil with coca cola to clean the stainless on my 50 coupe, worked great!
Evaporust would do it, the trouble with it would be the tire would have to be off an tub big enough for the rim to lay in is needed . I would try the aluminum foil/vinegar mix
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