Best chrome buffer and polish?

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:11 am

What's the best non abrasive method of removing old grime and discoloration from chrome without damaging the finish? The chrome on my bumpers looks pretty good (I'd give them a B+) so I'd rather not risk that if I can help it, but around the mounts and stuff is this tenacious blackish grime and a tad of rust on one of the mount stud thingies (dammit I can't remember what you call a featureless rounded bolt end like that - I know there's a name for it).

Anyway, you get the idea.

ajcpaperboy · Post by **ajcpaperboy** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:26 pm

I'm not sure about a good polish but you forgot carriage bolt. In this case I think bumper bolt covers it. I to am needing to shine up my stainless window trim.

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:33 pm

I think "lag bolt" is the term you were grasping for.

ajcpaperboy · Post by **ajcpaperboy** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:06 am

aerodynamic wrote:I think "lag bolt" is the term you were grasping for.

I do not want to start anything but here are pictures of lag and carriage bolts

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:12 am

I guess that's the trouble with trying to know everything, lol.

ajcpaperboy · Post by **ajcpaperboy** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:09 pm

I did not know for sure,found the pictures at bolts.com. Now back to the original question about chrome and stainless polish. What is the best?

dartomotive · Post by **dartomotive** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:40 am

I'll take a stab at the polish question. I use the old school stuff still, Turtle wax Chrome Polish. It comes in a white plastic container. It is kind of a thin off white liquid wax. You have to do sections at time, and goes on and off like liquid wax. Do do it in the sun on a hot bumper, drys too fast and can get real hard. The results are good, crud may take a second application with a real soft worn out tooth brush.
You'll see your face in get clearer, as it mirrors up. Dartomotive (Mike)

Post by **bruce** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:24 am

Polishing chrome and stainless is DIFFERENT. While you polish chrome, you BUFF stainless. And obviously the stainless should be OFF the car to be buffed properly. Anybody wanting to learn how to do their own stainless buffing, Eastwood has a good introductory video and kit. But the most important component (other than patience) is a GOOD motor to power your buffing wheel. You need one that generates plenty of TORQUE.

FWIW, stainless restoration and buffing is my specialty in my 2nd job at US Car Tool.

ajcpaperboy · Post by **ajcpaperboy** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:23 am

Bruce, Can you send me contact info for US Car Tool. Thanks Douglas

mopar71 · Post by **mopar71** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:26 am

Bruce, What should the motor(buffer) RPM be?I have many motors at work and was thinking of making my own buffer.

Post by **bruce** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:02 pm

Find US Car Tool on the web at www.uscartool.com

The phone # is: 919-855-8200

John's email: john@uscartool.com

I use a 3600 rpm 3/4 hp motor at US Car Tool. You want to also purchase the right-sized buffs for your motor's rpm--meaning different rpm motors use different diameter buffs.

Believe me, Eastwood's information makes it easy for a novice to learn--it's how I learned! But the BIGGEST thing in stainless restoration is PATIENCE. It's LOTS of steps, lots of trial-and-error, and lots of redoing to get it looking GOOD.

I'm still learning and experimenting on how to get BETTER. But I'm not ashamed to put my stainless on Car Tool's restorations. I think unless you're comparing my work to one of the BIG name shops it will hold it's own on the show field. I just want to get even BETTER at it.

FWIW, getting dents and dings out and straightening the stainless so it looks like new will be your biggest challenge. You end up having to form all kinds of specialized tools to get the stainless back into shape, sometimes working from the back and sometimes from the front...

mopar71 · Post by **mopar71** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:30 pm

I just purchased a book about working with stainless,you probably have a small anvil to work on right?

Post by **bruce** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:55 pm

Actually have a couple, but also have made male and female tools that fit the opposite sides of a particular piece of stainless in order to work out a dent and reshape the part--mount one in a vise while holding and hammering with the other. Ingenuity is important when working dents out! So is learning the right "touch". It's easy to make your own NEW dents and create more work when hammering if you're not careful.

And DON'T use a screwdriver on the backside of the stainless to pop out a ding. That's unless you like working out more dents put in the piece by the sharp edges of the screwdriver blade...

BTW, you want to make your tools out of something other than STEEL most likely, like the hard plastic I've made mine from. That way it'll MOVE the stainless while working dents, but won't put MORE dents or marks in the metal...

dartomotive · Post by **dartomotive** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:51 pm

Good info on the SS. There are lots of those parts, but aren't Bumpers Chromed. So leave that mechanical machine is the garage. It's time for a gentle hand, some patience, and TLC. And look for your smiling face in it as it get's shinny.

Dartomotive. (Mike)

landon1 · Post by **landon1** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:14 pm

turtle wax chrome polish is good stuff...not sure on bumpers, but on my side pipes, they get to lookin white and rusty if you don't clean em a lot, and all it takes is rubbin the wax on, letting it sit for a couple minutes and wiping it off... look like NEW everytime (granted, we're not talking about a 40 year old bumper....maybe try some steel wool...i have some eagle one wadding for aluminum and chrome that works pretty good too

Road Runner Nest

Best chrome buffer and polish?

Best chrome buffer and polish?

Best Chrome Buffer and Polish?

Best Chrome buffer and Polish?