Thread: 55.2-59 Cleaning vintage chrome?
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Old 03-21-2019, 12:27 AM   #8
DransportGarage
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Re: Cleaning vintage chrome?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena View Post
0000 steel wool.

What I've always wonders about and never tested is if it's really old and dull, would a serious attempt at re-polishing under a buffer with rouge help or make it worse? This of course assuming the plating isn't flaking or pitted badly just faded.
WARNING: The steel wool helps for a while on damaged chrome, but will put micro-scratches in the chrome, so don't use it on good chrome.

Rouge is a mild abrasive. If the chrome is in good shape, without pits, I wouldn't use it. If the surface is already damaged, use whatever you'd like to try. It's shot anyway, and maybe it'll look better for a while.

For chrome that is intact, I'd clean it with mild soap and water and then use a product made for polishing chrome. A lot of people use Mother's, but I've never been impressed with it. I have a 1000 gram (2.2 lb.) can of Simichrome that cost me a fortune 20 years ago. Amazon still has it, along with other sizes:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=simichrom...nb_sb_ss_i_3_4

A tube lasts longer than you would think. Simichrome is also a mild abrasive, but it's made for chrome. It can be sued with a buffing wheel or ball. Just don't get carried away.

I don't mean for this to sound like an ad for Simichrome. It's just what I've used. There are other great products out there. I've tried several but come back to S...
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Last edited by DransportGarage; 03-21-2019 at 12:34 AM.
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