Re: Chrome polish

Posted by fred kanter On 2011/5/11 15:39:37

Polishing requires an abrasive to remove deposits and oxidation. Semichrome has a fine abrasive and steel wool itself is an abrasive. The more you use abrasives the more you scratch, however finely, the surface and the more you degrade the chrome plating.

LIght compound is a good substitute for SemiChrome if you're out of it, and much less expensive. Cheap toothpaste, the $1 a tube kind works great too

If chrome has a dark film on it the best thing to use is a chemical remover, phosphoric acid. This is available at body suppply shops and is sold under the brands Metal-Etch and Dual Etch. Dilute 50% with water, wear gloves, use eye protection apply with a toothbrush and let it sit 3 minutes. Use toothbrush and presto the dark coating comes off. Neutralize with baking soda/water soluiton, rinse well with clear water. Jst about as good is Coca Cola as it contains phosphoric acid, no need to dilute. Absolute magic on wire wheels. When finished wax with carnauba wax.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WITH CHROME IS TO WAX IT AFTER CLEANING. PUT ON A CARNAUBA WAX, NOT A COMBINATION CLEANER/WAX. THEN JUST A BUFFING WITH A SOFT CLOTH WILL RETURN MAXIMUM LUSTER