Chrome questions

[atcavage]

Is there a cheap/easy way to restore the chrome pieces on my truck, without buying new stuff?

I'm talking about something a reasonable body/paint shop could do in a few days, like blast off the paint from the bumpers (what part of "Don't paint the bumpers" is hard to understand?), and clean up the various chrome trim pieces?

Aside from the painted bumpers, the chrome is rust-free, but it is a little tarnished.

Any suggestions?

[mcw1]

If your talking about making the chrome trim shine, you can use 0000 steel wool to shine it up, but make sure its 0000 (so that you don't get any scratches.) Another idea is to use polishing compound, but you have to use alot of elbow grease with it!

[Green Machine]

I had pretty good luck using mothers mag and aluminum polish first and followed up with turtle wax chrome polish.

[Americanrider]

Mothers.... it will even take the blue off of chrome headers.

[glock35ipsc]

0000 steel wool and a small amount of oil. I use 0000 steel wool and gun oil to clean rust off of the old WWII long guns and other rifles I restore. Makes the blueing nice and pretty and shiney.

[incoma]

I didn't have the patience to repolish my chrome so I had it rechromed. I didn't have any dents or dings to fix so mine was reasonably priced. I think if you compared rechrome with new it was 60% of the cost of new parts to get my stuff rechromed.

[Mordachai]

Originally Posted by atcavage

Is there a cheap/easy way to restore the chrome pieces on my truck, without buying new stuff?

I'm talking about something a reasonable body/paint shop could do in a few days, like blast off the paint from the bumpers (what part of "Don't paint the bumpers" is hard to understand?), and clean up the various chrome trim pieces?

Aside from the painted bumpers, the chrome is rust-free, but it is a little tarnished.

Any suggestions?

are you trying make bunpers that were painted over chrome, back to chrome? I'd sugg. rechroming them if that's what you mean,

|M|

[ChevLoRay]

The bumpers and door handles are chrome, but the trim is all aluminum, with an anodized finish. Using the 0000 Steel wool will effectively remove the anodizing. There are places that will restore the anodizing, but using the steel wool and then polishing the trim, will make it look better than new, except for any dings/dents that may be missed.

One possibility may be cobalt plating, compared to chrome plating. Cobalt plating can be used on plastics, for instance, and is much more environmentally friendly than the old skool plating process. It's just a suggestion, although my preference is to just pull it off, and fill in the holes.