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cleaning chrome

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 52lomofo, Mar 6, 2012.

  1. 52lomofo
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 788

    52lomofo

    anyone have any good products what do you use??
     
  2. burnout2614
    Joined: Sep 21, 2009
    Posts: 612

    burnout2614
    Member

    Double-00 steel wool. Eagle one wire wheel cleaner, Mothers chrome cleaner. peace
     
  3. bowtiemyk
    Joined: Feb 3, 2005
    Posts: 175

    bowtiemyk
    Member

    I've heard coca-cola and aluminum foil works
     
  4. chaos10meter
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 2,191

    chaos10meter
    Member
    from PA.

    I like "Flitz" metal cleaner.
     

  5. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    Whatever is in a plastic bottle or metal can or whatever that says "polish" on it.

    The condition of the chrome has a lot more to do with it, than what snake oil you use to clean it with.
     
  6. BOP-Nut
    Joined: Oct 20, 2008
    Posts: 746

    BOP-Nut
    Member

    Double Zero (00) is too harsh-- use Quad Zero (0000)

    I've always used Mother's polish, or eagle one. They both work great.
     
  7. outlaw256
    Joined: Jun 26, 2008
    Posts: 2,022

    outlaw256
    Member

    well here at the shop i use mothers and my sons elbow grease.great combo!lol
     
  8. Da' Bomb
    Joined: Apr 8, 2005
    Posts: 438

    Da' Bomb
    Member

    Liquid detergent poured over a hand sized wad of aluminum foil to remove tar and rust...
     
  9. If it is real dirty I use S.O.S. pads, they have polish in them so the water beads when you are done.

    I found an example the first light was part of this pair and dirty as hell (patina?) the second pair of lights is after nothing than S.O.S. pad and water, those brown lines are not rist or scratches, the chrome is crazed and that is the copper showing though. I dearly love old chrome.
     

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    Last edited: Mar 6, 2012
  10. 31HotRodLincoln
    Joined: Mar 21, 2007
    Posts: 167

    31HotRodLincoln
    Member

    Ditto- rusty chrome use SOS pads. be careful not to scratch
     
  11. dick lyons
    Joined: Feb 29, 2012
    Posts: 2

    dick lyons
    Member

    goo begone. its great.
     
  12. Dane
    Joined: May 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,351

    Dane
    Member
    from Soquel, CA

    0000 steel wool and Kroil.
     
  13. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
    Member

    I have used CLR on a soft cloth on chrome that is starting to "go".
    Steel wool in any grade removes the very thin chrome layer exposing just the nickel underneath, or copper under that.
    I remove old bumper stickers parking permits, reflector tape, etc. with just a "sharpened" tongue depressor or popsicle stick.
     
  14. Never tried a tongue depressor for bumper stickers. Thanks Doc.
     
  15. dullchrome
    Joined: Jan 15, 2009
    Posts: 987

    dullchrome
    Member
    from SoCal

    Barkeepers friend
     
  16. stuckonda101
    Joined: Dec 28, 2011
    Posts: 90

    stuckonda101
    Member
    from SFV, CA

    I was just gonna say barkeepers friend, with a 0000 steel wool, and then polish out any swirls with chrome polish.
     
  17. gmc1941
    Joined: Jul 8, 2006
    Posts: 74

    gmc1941
    Member

    I've used tooth "paste" not gel, works pretty good and smells clean.........
     
  18. big M
    Joined: Mar 22, 2010
    Posts: 709

    big M
    Member

    Another cheap product that works well is the GOJO hand cleaner with pumice. Residue washes off nicely too.

    ---John
     
  19. dullchrome
    Joined: Jan 15, 2009
    Posts: 987

    dullchrome
    Member
    from SoCal

    HA...beat ya to it ! ! !
     
  20. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,390

    Squablow
    Member

    I'm with DrJ in that steel wool wears the chrome thin exposing the nickel underneath, metal on metal contact should be avoided (although if you've got a bumper that's totally brown with rust or something that's really trashed, go for it, it'll look better for a while at least)

    I like to use buffing compound, the same stuff I'd use to buff out a wetsanded paint job. A tongue depressor to scrape heavy crust off first sounds like a good idea too, I'll try that.
     
  21. Jimmy2s83
    Joined: Apr 25, 2010
    Posts: 100

    Jimmy2s83
    Member
    from Indiana

    If your looking at cleaning newer chrome then cleaners like windex and then a soft wax or cleaner wax. Nothing thats a polish and certainly not any kind of steel wool. Anything even slightly abrasive can leave swirls and scratches in nice chrome.
    Older chrome thats already scratched is best to avoid abrasives as well so that the chrome isn't further removed. The chrome plating is extremely thin. Most of the thickness of plating is the Nickel. Very fine 0000 steel wool is handy when its really gummed up but it should be used carefully.
     
  22. funk 49
    Joined: Nov 14, 2010
    Posts: 242

    funk 49
    Member

    I have been more than happy with the results of semi-chrome for almost 30 years.
     
  23. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
    Member

    I use toothpaste (Colgate is the most aggressive) to polish/finish-sand Alabaster stone sculptures.
    It will definitely "sand" the chrome off!
    Anything called "polish" you should consider "liquid sandpaper" and use it only on things you want to remove a layer of material from.
    You know, like the old lacquer paint job that's been "polished" right down to the primer?
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2012
  24. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Wash off dirt and grease first. Steel wool is too harsh, I use a copper scrubby pad (3 for a $1 buck at the dollar store) with some Pledge or spray furniture wax. This gets off rust and crud. Wipe clean Then polish up with Flitz, Simichrome or your favorite chrome polish.
     
  25. Tripple G
    Joined: Oct 21, 2010
    Posts: 367

    Tripple G
    Member

    Kroil is an amazing product, (better than PB Blaster, WD-40, etc.) but I've been unable to find any locally. I use to get it from a contractor friend, but have lost touch with him.....any ideas for a source?
     
  26. william.ali.kay
    Joined: Nov 20, 2009
    Posts: 824

    william.ali.kay
    Member
    from Milwaukee

    If you google kanolaboratories their site will come up and you can order direct.
     
  27. comet and 000 steel wool.
     
  28. damagedduck
    Joined: Jun 16, 2011
    Posts: 2,341

    damagedduck
    Member
    from Greeley Co

    i use brass wool & car wax,cleans the rust off & protects too,----2 birds-1 stone thing, it won't remove pits or major scratches {'cause it softer than steel/chrome}it's pretty good at removing 'fly sh*t' rust specks,
    wear gloves 'cause that sh*t will stain the hell out of your hands almost as bad as polishing aluminum,
     

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