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Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:09 am
by Pjackb
The Neck wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2020 6:00 pm
I love this thread.
I'm waiting for some axle parts and in the mean time felt like taking a stab at refinishing my tail lights.
After reading, I'm seeing a few different concoctions that are having some good results. I'm disassembling the lights currently, have two sheets of 1/16" rubber on its way for the gaskets, and I'm going to be working on the chrome in the meantime. I have a decent amount of pitting, and bumps throughout, and was wondering what the more tried and true plan of attack is with this.
I was thinking about soaking the rings in vinegar over night, then going at it with the diet coke and tin foil in the morning. Then once theey are looking nice and clean, hit them with some wax.
Does that sound like a good approach?
Here's a couple pics of the worst parts
https://imgur.com/gallery/PMlzlCO
Mike
I’m not sure what your expectations are but this will not buff out , there is way too much pitting and rust , The best you can expect is to stop the rust but it will just turn black and dull .
You could look at wrapping but again it takes a deft touch and even the very experienced wrappers shy away from rounded surfaces .
If you’re not planning to replace (cheaper then re chrome) and just want them to look better I would recommend painting them with a bright silver paint (VW Reflex silver, Miata Sunshine Silver)
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:31 am
by C.Costine
Mine were not as bad as yours, but had some rust and some dings. I bought new gaskets and had started to clean them up. I was watching on ebay for some decent ones and then a set of four new ones came up at a good price, so I jumped on them and sold the gaskets. I have bought a lot of parts off ebay over five years. Just repeatedly looking for what I wanted and putting in offers.
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:42 am
by The Neck
I think I wanted to get a realistic expectation of how this COULD turn out and the consensus is to replace the parts. I did have a member reach out about having a set of tail lights that I'm going to be picking up instead or attempting to refinish these. The pics shown are of the two worst ones, I'm not sure the others are nearly as rusted, but I wanted to have a good understanding of the hardest ones.
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:57 pm
by The Neck
Here's a pic of the other lights. There are two that are in pretty rough shape, the other two and all of the rings are like this. I'm gonna run to an auto parts store and see what I can come up with.
https://imgur.com/gallery/jqRbrWC
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:51 pm
by Pjackb
The Neck wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:57 pm
Here's a pic of the other lights. There are two that are in pretty rough shape, the other two and all of the rings are like this. I'm gonna run to an auto parts store and see what I can come up with.
Pick up some P21S it will tone down the pitting and shine it up enough to be usable
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 10:22 pm
by The Neck
Pjackb wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:51 pm
The Neck wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:57 pm
Here's a pic of the other lights. There are two that are in pretty rough shape, the other two and all of the rings are like this. I'm gonna run to an auto parts store and see what I can come up with.
Pick up some P21S it will tone down the pitting and shine it up enough to be usable
Is that the wheel cleaner they have specifically?
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:10 am
by Solex68
Git yourself some of this and you will be amazed on the outcome. Nothing is going to help the one you photo'd here but if you use it on the ones I sold you. They will look amazing. Soak for 24 hrs, rinse as assess and maybe do another 24 hrs. Don't soak it to long as they will yellow a bit if soaked too long.
..
evaporust.png
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:43 am
by Pjackb
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:00 am
by C.Costine
Pjackb wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:51 pm
The Neck wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:57 pm
Here's a pic of the other lights. There are two that are in pretty rough shape, the other two and all of the rings are like this. I'm gonna run to an auto parts store and see what I can come up with.
Pick up some P21S it will tone down the pitting and shine it up enough to be usable
TheP21S claims appear suspect to me. First they call it unique because it is water based. All polishes that I have ever used appear to be water based. Second, they claim no black on your fingers. Every metal polish that I have ever used cleans oxide from the surface resulting in getting black on my fingers.
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:21 am
by Pjackb
C.Costine wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:00 am
TheP21S claims appear suspect to me. First they call it unique because it is water based. All polishes that I have ever used appear to be water based. Second, they claim no black on your fingers. Every metal polish that I have ever used cleans oxide from the surface resulting in getting black on my fingers.
I’ve been using it for years it’s far from miraculous but really does a good job
I originally bought it for exhaust tips where it excels but I’ve found countless other use for it
21BBC811-ACE4-4165-A20F-27FC290249A9.jpeg
F918002B-2B29-4D61-B6D3-A2513C6677EE.jpeg
446DA06F-51DB-4C6B-ACBC-52FD6EB78288.jpeg
2F5A8AA1-9DA6-4B96-95F2-F5B72ED97492.jpeg
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Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:42 pm
by The Neck
Solex68 wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:10 am
Git yourself some of this and you will be amazed on the outcome. Nothing is going to help the one you photo'd here but if you use it on the ones I sold you. They will look amazing. Soak for 24 hrs, rinse as assess and maybe do another 24 hrs. Don't soak it to long as they will yellow a bit if soaked too long.
..
evaporust.png
Perfect! I'll order some now. Thanks again!
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:50 pm
by notoptoy
+1 I am a huge fan and supporter of Evap-o-rust!! GREAT stuff
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:58 pm
by Gregs672000
I always enjoyed trying different such products on the same task to compare how they work. We have a topic here on Products that Work. I always encourage posting reviews.
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:23 pm
by The Neck
Gregs672000 wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:58 pm
I always enjoyed trying different such products on the same task to compare how they work. We have a topic here on Products that Work. I always encourage posting reviews.
This is a pretty good idea, I'm currently browsing Amazon for a couple different options. Since I'm going to be cleaning up all the chrome on the car it's a great time to test a couple products out and go from there since we all have "older chrome" to some extent.
So far I have:
Evaporust - to soak in, I'm not sure what the after care idea is with this yet
Mothers Chrome Polish - obvious polish, maybe after it's been soaked or cleaned
P21s Polishing soap - same as the Mothers
Re: polishing chrome on these cars
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:57 pm
by C.Costine
I checked a little further into the P21S and found that it is acid based which will of course enable it to chemically dissolve rust as well as various other oxides. It appears to be not recommended for highly polished aluminum because it would dull it somewhat.