Chrome restoration

[Mr Livered]

All the chrome bits and bobs on my Minx are pretty knackered cosmetically; they're dull and pitted etc.

 

Having spent time and effort on stuff like paint I don't want the chrome to let the rest down. Can anything be done to improve their appearance before they go back on the car?

[Junkman]

Yes, you can get them re-chromed. Which is either expensive, or will look like shit.

[Mr Livered]

Thanks. Anyone know a decent place to go to who can rechrome bits of trim, door handles, etc without spending £OMGLOADS?

[TagoraSX]

My Hunter's rear bumper is just back from ACF Howell in Walsall. Excellent work and not too extortionate. 

[Junkman]

Thanks. Anyone know a decent place to go to who can rechrome bits of trim, door handles, etc without spending £OMGLOADS?

 

Whereabouts are you located?

I can probably get you in contact with the company that does the chroming for Rolls Royce, no less.

And they aren't even expensive* (by getting stuff chromed standards, at least).

[Mr Livered]

Cheers... I'm in Devon.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Re-chroming ? What is this place ? The Bentley owners club forum ?

 

£5 worth of chrome-effect rattle can from Wilko's is all you need !

[TagoraSX]

You could try the chrome effect vinyl wrap .

[vulgalour]

Supposedly you can use wire wool to refresh brightwork.  I've never made it work but I've seen other people manage it.

[Parky]

We used to chrome plate stuff at school. Not sure if it was Chemistry, Design and Tech or Geography class but it involved a bucket of watery chemical, batteries, terminals and other shiz. If it was metallic and not nailed down it got chromed!

 

Can't be hard to recreate at home, that way you get to fuck up your stuff for free!

[Sigmund Fraud]

Supposedly you can use wire wool to refresh brightwork.  I've never made it work but I've seen other people manage it.

 

Keep in mind that all brightwork is not the same. Quality brightwork is made of stainless steel, so an abrasive will remove the scruffy top layer revealing a nice, shiny surface.

 

Unfortunately, most brightwork is chrome, which is a few micrometers of shiny chromium over crappy mild steel. Attacking this with abrasives will  usually result in complete removal of whatever is left of the thin, shiny layer.

 

Proper shite, like my DAFs, have none of the above : the brightwork is mild steel covered with a chrome-effect plastic film that cracks and peels off with age. Spraying those with the above-mentioned Wilko rattle can would actually be an improvement.

[Richard]

I've heard of people soaking chrome bike parts in a solution of oxalic acid http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=244778 Tinfoil is another one you hear about a lot on bike forums. It all depends how bad your chrome is and how good you want it.

[mercrocker]

Actual pitting and dull-ness is not really going to come up whatever you use.   However, speckly brown rusty shit I have managed to stave off with Jenolite which is bugger all use on any other metal but seems to deal with chrome speckling.    Loads of Solvol after a good wash off will keep it good for a while.  As it happens I had to put Mrs Merc's vintage pram back on the road for a recent grand-child arrival and didn't want to put anything as toxic as Jenolite near it so I just emery clothed all the chrome before the Solvol - it came up pretty good.   As my Cowley is a povo-spec car I am just going for blasting and powder coating in aluminium finish for its bumpers - I have never had any luck with chrome-platers and would  rather spend the money at a coaters that I know.

[Bren]

Autosol, scouring pads are your friend.

 

As for pits, rub a bit of tin foil over them to fill imperfections. I think this is how the japanese chromed their motorcycle bits on the 70's.

[Squire_Dawson]

Here's another vote for Autosol. The results are pretty good on tarnished and dull brightwork, as long as you put your back into it. I'd personally avoid harsh abrasives unless a last resort. Fine grade wet or dry should work for stubborn stains.

[saucedoctor]

Supposedly you can use wire wool to refresh brightwork.  I've never made it work but I've seen other people manage it.

This. 00 grade wood refinishing wire wool. I've used it on those shitty motor factors exhaust tailpipe trims to GR8 effect.

[Angrydicky]

I have also used 00 grade wire wool and autosol to good effect when rescuing tired chromework. It's good for getting rust spots and tarnish off, but if the chrome's already down to the brass it's obviously not going to do anything. If there's like a green tinged tarnish on the chrome, it'll probably clean up pretty well.

 

I've never had anything rechromed as my cars, despite most having lots of chrome are all in fairly shite condition so having gleaming chrome is a bit pointless really. Therefore, I can't really comment on that.