I don't know, but if ya'll anything like me I don't have much $$$ but I like chrome. However age and weather take it's toll, usually leaving it rusty and pitted. Well here is my little tech to brighten it up a bit... I first started out with the fender extensions on my 56, because they were the worst rusted chrome on the car. **Example pic of a fender extension which are located at the lower front of either front fender, just above the bumper** As you can see in this pic, they are not pretty (neither is the rest of the car). Haha, I guarenteed the guy with the 57 that if I park buy him, he'll score higher in the points at the car show What I did is: 1)Use a dremel tool with a small wire brush wheel to clean the surface rust off. I didn't have any problem with it scratching the chrome (you may want to try a spot first). 2) I used a product called Blue Magic Metal Polish, which I purchased at AutoZone (have also seen it at Walmart). Any rust that the wheel didn't get, this stuff did. Just follow the directions on the jar and it will turn out great. Now granted you will still have pitted chrome, but it'll shine. It pretty much lasted the 1/2 of a season (the pic above was taken in April). With a rust bucket like mine, I didn't wash it much. Now I need to do it again, but if you do this (say once a month) I don't think you'll have a problem. Here is what it looked like afterwards... 2 months later... Right now the rust is comming back, but we've had a little snow/salt mix too. My plan is to clean it up and put some POR-15 chrome clearcoat on it, but in the mean time, this works great! Oh yeah, my first Tech post
I'll be picking some of that stuff up. My chrome is pretty good, so if it did that for yours mine will be blingin' like crazy.
Try bronze wool, it works great. removes the rust without scratching the chrome. It's available at marine or boating stores.
right on, man. i've got some rust issues on some of my pontiac parts pile items, i'll snap some of that up when the time comes. cool post, man.
Cool. I like what you are doing with the car. That first pic had me worried the first time I saw it a while back.... (gotta admit it looks bad) But hell. There is nothing wrong with DRIVING a car. You're taking care of business! Rock on man. JT.
A DREMEL with a wire brush!!! chrome is normally around 20 millionths of an inch thick. that is nothing short of butchery!! your chrome is gone, that much I'll guarrantee. What you're showing off is nickel. Granted, it does look a lot better, but a good quality polish would have been much kinder.
It's a soft wire brush, very flexable. But not enough, I don't think, to cause damage. Only used to get the big rust areas off. They also make a brass brush too. The real power house, was the Blue Magic though, awesome stuff. Edit... This is the brush I used. #428 Carbon Steel Brush DESCRIPTION A wheel-shaped brush with carbon steel wire bristles. USES Ideal for cleaning and removing rust and corrosion from items made of brass, copper or other soft ferrous metalssuch as tools, door knobs, automobile parts and electrical contacts. You can also use wire brushes to create an artistic effect on coarse-grained wood. Its shape makes it well suited for cleaning flat surfaces and getting into hard-to-reach places like slots I also bought one of these, but didn't use it... #535 Brass Brush DESCRIPTION A wheel-shaped brush with brass wire bristles. USES Ideal for cleaning and surface-finishing items made from gold, bronze, copper or brass. You can use a brass brush to create a soft, satin or matte finish. It is very effective on flat surfaces and in hard-to-reach areas like slots. (Brass wire is non-sparking and softer than steel.)
No...No... No wire ever touches chrome, aluminum, brass or stainless in my shop. Those little dremel bits will still leave a swirl, and they will lift off loose chrome fast. I use them for removing crud and grime in tricky unseen places, but never any where exposed. Blue magic is forbidden. If you want to pay the shipping I've got two tubs of it I'll give you. I've seen it do too much damage to metals. I will admit it's good on the old hex chrome, but the modern trivalent chrome comes right off with blue magic. you haven't lived if you haven't tried liquid polishes. They are much easier to apply and remove.
It worked for me and no swirls or damage. I haven't seen any damage from Blue Magic either. It's an ammonia/silicone based product. I just did a search and I haven't seen any bad things about it. SO what did it do? I have noticed that it is used on aluminum skined aircraft too.
Polisher, are there any home remedies that you could recommend to us poor schmucks who have*****py chrome and no bux? The whole front end on my shoebox is*****e.
<font color="blue">Another similar Tech on a motorcycle site, with pics...</font> http://www.cyclemaintenance.com/mechicscorner/cb750_cosmetics.htm <font color="blue">Another on clear plastic headlights:</font> Cleaned and resealed my "cloudy" headlights. Used Blue Magic Plastic Cleaner and Scratch Remover followed by Blue Magic Metal Polish (both available at Autozone and Advance Auto). <font color="blue">Banjo board... </font> Nevr-dull might work if the rust is very light, but Blue Magic metal polish creme will do the job for heavier rust. Both are perfectly safe for nickel finishes.
i read the polishers downloadable book the zen of polishing 3 times...and then did this..might not be perfect,but i'm happy with it...he helped me out alot....i'd take his word......i don't know if it's an old wives tale,but i heard ketchup on aluminum foil works for old chrome...sounds crazy to me
Well after looking at 10 pages on Google, I didn't find anything that was similar to what Polisher said. I also seen posts that it used on new chrome as well as aluminum, brass, silver and gold on various sites... with no bad reviews. I'd like to know what happened to his piece and why it was different then my stuff and other's stuff. I'm not trying to take this personally, but dang it worked and it worked good. I'm not saying it's show chrome by no means, just that it made my rusty chrome look 100% better. Look at the motorcyle tech post and judge yourself, it's got better pics then I took.
CLASSY56... Just a comment on the quote about polishing clear plastic lenses on headlights.. "Another on clear plastic headlights: Cleaned and resealed my "cloudy" headlights. Used Blue Magic Plastic Cleaner and Scratch Remover followed by Blue Magic Metal Polish (both available at Autozone and Advance Auto). " Ha Ha Ha ...What the schmuck doesnt realise is he has effectively polished off the clear UV protective film coating which is sprayed on the lens at time of manufacturer. This coating,(which is added to ALL OEM plastic lensed headlamps today) stops the plastic from becoming discoloured,yellow and brittle from the ultra violet rays of the sun. Only ever use a mild soap solution on your driver lamps .
Ya I thought that was odd too, but found similar posts on numerous sites by different people. I can't see how its eating chrome and not plastic...
I have a self full of different wonder metal polishes cause I have one of those highly polished T's that you all love to hate. I'd pack them all up and ship them to someone for the cost of the shipping.... with the exception of the Blue Magic..... love that stuff... I use it on chrome , brass, aluminum, and gold. Great stuff and no damage to any of the metals Ive used it on.
Bought some Lake pipes at a swap meet that had some surface rust. I wet a piece of aluminum foil and wiped all the rust and other oxidation right off!!
I thought people used to use aluminum foil with a little ketchup to clean up rusty chrome? Or did I imagine that?
the acetic acid in the ketchup eats the rust, the aluminum colors the chrome. As for mothers and blue magic. What are their anti- oxidants? Ammonia, sodium hydroxide, ammonia biflouride? All oxidizers. Bit like using gasoline to put out a fire.
To be honest, I haven't found a polish that will bring back old chrome like my metal polish restorer, but you only need to use something like that if it has rusting. The biggest problem with chrome is once it flakes or cracks your in serious trouble. Before that stage though you can do a lot to help it by not polishing it. Chrome will last longest if it is washed in a pure glybcerin soap and toweled dry. Then buff it with a soft cloth. Only polish chrome when is is scratched. If it is old but in fair shape use the finest polish you can to get it into shape and then just wash it.
In 1997 we did a test with mothers and blue magic on an aluminum sheet polished to 1000 grit. hand polished part of it with mothers, another with blue magic, part of it with our Showmans Blend.left the rest naked and left it back of the shop in the open for a year. In june or so of '98 we retrieved it. Showmans blend area was still bright and well reflective but hazy. 1000 grit area was dull, Blue magic area gray and pitted, Mothers area, gray and pitted. What else can I say?
[ QUOTE ] To be honest, I haven't found a polish that will bring back old chrome like my metal polish restorer, but you only need to use something like that if it has rusting. The biggest problem with chrome is once it flakes or cracks your in serious trouble. Before that stage though you can do a lot to help it by not polishing it. Chrome will last longest if it is washed in a pure glybcerin soap and toweled dry. Then buff it with a soft cloth. Only polish chrome when is is scratched. If it is old but in fair shape use the finest polish you can to get it into shape and then just wash it. [/ QUOTE ] My chrome was all rusty and pitted (see the pics above, the baby blue/white 56 is mine which is now flat black). Those fender extensions were so bad that I didn't think they would even shine again, they were solid rust. Now I haven't used your product so I can't judge that. Your product could have very well have done as well or better being less harsh, but I didn't know about your stuff. I basically picked the best sounding one (looking at higher cost ones) and picked one. I am happy with the results as my chrome (or nickle) shines and looks better then rust. That's the same with my paint job... it's a*****py rattle can rushed job which is chipping now, but it looks better then rust. If you want to send me a sample of your stuff I'll do one extension in yours and one in Blue Magic and post the results as they are getting rusty again.
Hey Polisher I looked at your site and I am considering getting your stuff but I was wondering if you had free ketchup pack size trials or wipes or anything like that that I could try out first? Ash
i never ever used any of the polishers products,and i don't know him,but his info helped me out alot...it's a good read if you are doing a polishing project
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