How To Restore Chrome (The Cheapest & Easiest Way)
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- Опубликовано: 1 апр 2014
- This is the best way to restore and polish rusty or oxidized chrome! Remove rust from chrome and don't waste your money getting it re-plated!
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Here is the metal polish I used: amzn.to/2slYcZB
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Due to factors beyond the control of Midwest Garage, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Midwest Garage assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Midwest Garage recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Midwest Garage, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Midwest Garage.
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Here is the polish I used: amzn.to/2slYcZB
Here is the Steel Wool I used: amzn.to/2qPGWva
For the critics saying this is not a restore process I guess that's true. If your chrome is worn off this won't help. I thought the chrome was worn off the edges of my side steps because they were so dull but in reality they were just oxidized badly with minor scratches. I would guess this is true for most people watching this video since chrome plating is pretty strong as long as its not rusted through. So in my case I would say the process restored my steps to their original condition and no polish I had ever used by itself before was able to do that. No it will not put new chrome on your parts but if they are pitted or oxidized only it will leave them looking new again (restored). Thanks again for the video.
I also want to say thank you. I recently was given a 1966 Buick Wildcat. The chrome looked, well, worse that the video's chrome. I bought the polish (Mother's Mag and Aluminium) and steel wool and remember thinking "No way, I am being a fool again." Well, I apologize, I did one piece of trim over the drivers back wheel that I had off for bodywork and the 4 chrome trim pieces around the headlights. The headlight pieces look new and the trim would if it hadn't been rippled already at the back. Still, it came out great. I plan to do the whole car trim with this method. You have saved me the cost of re-chroming my car. Let's here it for honest videos.
Thanks for the comment bud, and kind words! Much appreciated!
I've used aluminum foil instead of steal wool once. Worked really good with hot water
Next time could you please do this during daylight savings time? A glow stick or lightning bug would be an improvement.
I have tried multiple polishes (Turtle wax all metal, Simichrome, etc.) (including Blue Magic that you used) on my 2010 Dodge Ram to remove the oxidation on the chrome side steps that are oxidized on the edges pretty bad and had almost thought about replacing the steps since the edges just wouldn't clean up (Dull appearance). The Blue Magic combined with "0000" steel wool using the method in your video really did the trick. The steps almost look like new again and I saved myself lots of money replacing them. I wouldn't use Steel wool on chrome clad wheels but this combination worked great on Mopar real chrome side steps. Thanks for your video! FYI Blue Magic by itself makes a good wheel cleaner.
Matt Averill Thanks for the comment man, I'm glad this worked for you! A lot of people swear it will ruin the chrome but I've done this over and over and haven't had any negative effects.
We used to do this "clean our chrome" 35 years ago in the bike shop with water & S.O.S. pads.
Hey dude, I've been using your method of restoring all day. First I want to say thank you. It worked perfectly. My Sportster has been sitting under a cover for 5 years. It was oxidized, pitted, and dirty AF. The chrome is now a mirror. Thanks again!!!
Awesome, glad it worked out for you. Some people swear by the coke and tinfoil method but I think this works much better. Thanks for the comment!
I thought pitting meant the rust had gone through the entire layer of chrome. I can flatten the pitted areas but the plating is gone. Am I missing something?
MegaGzusTube why did it sit for so long? they fun as hell to ride
Hey nice video bro. I made the mistake of storing my rims for the winter without cleaning them in my basement. I found that the moisture made the chrome on my 20's Pitt. Before I watched your video I assumed only sanding and polishing would Mayb work. I'm going to try your technique.
Thanks for the comment, I hope it works for ya man! If they're really bad just remember you might have to do this process a few times to buff everything out.
Would this work on my 63 chevy nova CHEVROLET CHROME FRONT TRIM ON THE FRONT OF MY HOOD ? Its peeling and pitted really big when I bought it ..tks love your show 💕
Thanks for a hint!! Does this last or it would be a good idea to apply some anti-oxidation coating to protect it? On a side note, how did you get the dent fixed that you spotted at the end? I need to fix a dent in a chrome bumper and I dont want to make it worse.. Thanks again!
Whats the songs/song used in the back-round Thanks these are helpful tips
Could you do the piece on the cover of the video I'd like to see that when you're done.
Hi my friend. My way is cover inside with bed liner paint and polish outside after and dure for ever almost. Good video
Bed liner on the inside is a great idea, I didn't even think of that. Thanks!
Rust comes from the steel under the chrome. You cant possibly repair chrome thats pitted, porous and flaking
True, but you can remove the stains and stuff showing through and make it presentable. Then you can preserve it by polishing with your fav household CRC/WD40/similar product.
But yeah, if it's gotten too bad, no hope.
@@1revhead What is CRC? Preserve it by using wd-40?
Steel wool is an amazing thing, i used it many times to polish (with polisher) my yellowish headlights in less than 3 minutes with great result, but when you use the steel wool for chrome parts, the rust will come back again in my hands on experience.
Thanks I'll do this on my bumpers on my 63 chevy nova all original rust and all 🌝
any update ?
I would suggest buying a shop light instead of working in the dark.
There is a product called NeverDull. It is a coarse cotton wadding with solvent and metal polish soaked into it.
This is a little less abrasive than the steel wool and works very well.
We used to use a Brillo pad on chrome, but, after a summer or two it eventually takes the chrome off.
This method here would be ok for one or two times. And I would use 0000 steel wool.
+MrDrunion Yeah I've heard of a product like that, it sounds really good! This process is for the initial restoration of the chrome...it wouldn't be used repeatedly to clean the chrome once it is restored. If the pitting was minimal I'd use 0000 also.
Have you tried out NeverDull yet? We used to use that shit to clean old the bronze and restore it to its former shine on our Naval ship back when I was in the service. After using it I purchased some to polish the chrome on my 68 mustang, gets you a very good shine without much hassle.
MrDrunion I remember that stuff from my time in the military
Tried that. This works better for heavy oxidation and didn't harm good chrome plating.
What brand polish did you use?
Blue Magic brand metal/aluminum polish.
Right on...just so happens i have all that shit here to do that. Thanks bro...good lookin out.
I imagine undercoating would be a good thing to spray the inside of the fender with.
Definitely. Any undercoating or even one guy mentioned pickup bed liner would be really good for the inside. The POR that I used is highly durable as well though. Thanks for the comment!
will the steel wool not scratch the chrome? getting ready to clean a 97 Heritage Softail classic that has been on a lift for 1 1/2 years and the chrome is all pitted and some rust...
If you use the 0000 steel wool it won't scratch the chrome. If you're uncomfortable using the steel wool though, a scouring pad would be about the same thing just different material. Thanks for the comment!
What kind of Metal Polish did you use? I'm trying to restore a 1920's barber chair and am hoping this technique will work to buff out the bad spots.
Melissa DUGAS Any kind works well, but I found that Blue Magic Metal Polish Cream works the best. It comes in a blue container and its specifically for chrome, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. Hope this helps!
Melissa DUGAS try my chrome and gold cleaner it takes the elbow grease out of the equation facebook.com/elchivoswirewheelcleaner
thanks i ordered the parts and i will update my result
What’s the result?
@@garryferragu2794 garbage
Chrome faucet burned by muriatic acid? Anyway to restore that chrome shine on the plumbing fixture? Will it buff out with any products?
I have the same issue 😢
How did you mange to repair it?
@@KhalGT I never found an answer. Just left it.
@@Susan70003 thank you for replying señorita
soak it in simple green. It will remove the rust. you will have to soak it for awhile. This stuff works great!!
That's a good idea, I'll check that out next time!
Soak it in watered down muriatic acid for half a day.
Strip all the old chrome, nickel , and copper off it. Blast it and fix all repairs. Polish it out to a mirror finish and then put new copper, nickel, and chrome back on it. 😎.
That will definitely get the job done properly. Not exactly a DIY operation though. Well, maybe for something tiny... but I'd hate to try replating my car's bumpers in my garage. Of course, I hate the thought of paying someone else to do it too.
wouldn't it be a lot easier to use rust converter (phosphoric acid) on the underside?
Yeah, that's definitely one option. It's faster to just use some elbow grease and get the job done rather than wait for a chemical reaction to take place though in my opinion.
99% of women when asked "what product do you use in the shower?" Replied "How the fuck did you get in here?!?"
😂
If you don't intend to do a complete restoration of chrome damaged during this process, set the good chrome surface on a soft clean surface such as towel at minimum. The process shown here creates scratches on the outside chrome surace.
nice
That coppery color under the chrome is nickel. Then coo
Copper sticks to bear metal. Nickel sticks to copper and chrome sticks to nickel.
Most cheap chrome now days don't have copper in it.
Nickel doesn't stick well with bear metal and that is what causes flaking, peeling,
and with the elements outside and no maintenance is what causes pitting. .
Electrolysis not electroplating can remove rust,all rust, without abrasion. it can done at home with a 12volt battery plastic tub and a vinegar solution. It doesn't restore chrome either, but leaves more intact within an hour. no steel wool needed.
For smaller parts that is a really cool idea, I'll definitely have to try that out!
How do you keep the rust from coming back?
Albin Ekström Its difficult to keep rust off chrome, but one way is to keep it clean and keep a coat of sealant or wax on it. I've also seen people clear coat their chrome and that works for a while, but then it always starts to come off and look like crap.
hey man, you can make an aluminium paste and use that to help prevent the rust from returning. The recipe is pretty easy and it will make your chrome look great too.
Once you break through the chrome (blue) moisture can reach the base metal, that's why you don't use sos pads or steel wool etc. to clean chrome, once your through the chrome into the porous nickel plating (yellow) you'll get rust. Custom or quality chrome plating will have copper under the nickel, copper gives that show chrome depth and can be block sanded and used like a high build primer to help cover your lead or other repairs on pot metal and steel. I think of it like body work, copper is like the primer, buffed to a high shine, then painted / nickel plated, then clear coat / sealer...Chrome. I been working for a plating shop for 20 years,...or clean it the best you can then metal prep it and spray a 2 part clear coat on it.
What polish compound did you use and how fine was your sleep wool?
I tried autosol with very fine steel wool and it dulled the chrome. Now I am trying to turn it into mirror like again.
I used Blue Magic metal/aluminum polish...but you can use whichever you like. I'm not partial to that brand necessarily. I used 0000 steel wool. The finest you can get.
BRIGHTEN UP YOUR SHOP SO WE CAN SEE THE PROCESS AND PROGRESS BETTER.
Steel wool is tougher than chrome, never use it or it will destroy your plating. It may look nice and shiney the first time you do it but it won't last, eventually it will turn a coppery colour, this will be the under coating of metal showing through where the chrome has worn away. The method used in this vid is usually done by bodge artists and con men trying to clean up a rusty old piece of shit to make it shine for a sucker to buy. Use Solvol Autosol and an old toothbrush with lots of elbow grease, then buff with an old cotton T-shirt. DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL EVER!!!!!
Martin OConnor I've been using steel wool with no polish on my rims for the past 2 years, I've had no problem yet
Martin OConnor would agree with you on regular steel wool but they make different grades... if you goto the hardware store you can get 0000 very fine steelwool grade... which I ha e used to polish glass... without scratching clear glass so it should be very safe on chrome with is tougher then glass.
People use 0000 steel wool to clean off overspray on glass windows.. I'm sure it'll be fine on chrome, just as long as you stick with 0000 and not anything courser than that.
what did he paint the inside with? P-O-R??
Yup I just used POR 15 on the inside of that fender after removing all the scale and dirt.
This isnt restoring, this is polishing...
Use vinegar inside fenders, will make them look great, just let it set a day or 2
I couldn't hear what you said for the polishing creme. I heard 'metal cleaner' or whatever you have but specifically what kind of polish?
I used Blue Magic metal/aluminum polish. You can use any brand you like though obviously. I'm not necessarily swearing by that brand.
this was a waist for me as it rusts right back up quickly! how to keep it from rusting back?
You could use a clear coat or a sealant over the chrome to protect the finish after polishing it. Maybe that would help? That's why I hate chrome though...it's always so hard to keep clean and hard to keep it looking good.
Better to polish your bell end in the dark then polish your fender in the light
use white paper to check your chrome . it will look a bit brown . if missing chrome, you are cleaning the nickel under the chrome top . I worked in a chrome repair shop . its easier to use a battery charger and chrome cleaner . against bare metal is copper , to fill in any pit marks. after the copper is smooth. chemical clean. you apply nickel. lots of polishing . once nickel is good you put chrome on to keep the nickel from rusting. back in the old days shiny was nickel, till someone came up with chrome to protect it . I not trying to cause stress. I just pass on what I know. when I left the chrome shop boss was trying to figure out formula for black chrome. I wish I could of had one of his old spot chrome repair machines.
I would've used a black rust-o-lium paint on the under side after getting the rust off. Power tools with steel brush should make prepping the underside faster. And an electric buffer should work on the chrome part.
C6Roadster - the por15 product he used is what rust oleum wishes it could be. It's probably the best rust converting paint out there, and as with many things, it costs like it performs.
Aluminum foil
Thanks but more light next time.
Good brushing and then... "Ospho rust treatment has been killing rust in the Marine, Industrial and Automotive fields since 1947.
Car undercoat to protect from salt in winter etc.
If your using steel wool you don't need the polish. You will get the same result without it.
Nice result. But I couldn't really see what you were doing as it was too dark!! You need better workshop lighting: and a camera lamp or something to shine INSIDE your bike parts!!
Thanks for the feedback. This video is pretty old, rookie mistake. My camera and editing skills have come a long way since then I promise haha.
This will do nothing, like zero for stopping the rust. Electrolysis would do that but once you've got rust under the chrome? You're screwed anyway.
get a round wire brush on a drill for the inside. then spaper. need a mask.
Why do people point their camera at the only light source then block it with their body's, get the light behind you,
The light was behind me, that's why my body was blocking it! :)
But in all seriousness, I do take advice like yours and make my videos better because of them, so I do appreciate the feedback!
Never use steel wool on chrome
untrue
Andrew Castleberry you Will make scratch I know fore sure
@@oleogjanni sorry but no. If you use a fine grade steel wool it's good
Never use steel wool on chrome! It's too soft and you will damage it.
no, it won't damage the chrome, i've tried it many times on the tip of my chrome tail pipe, but the rust will come back again.
Steel wool does dull the chrome. Steel wool is harder than chrome and leaves scratches in it and that's a fact! Use aluminum foil or NeverDull.
If you have pits you have to use steal wool. Aluminum will do nothing. Thinning the chrome is just unfortunately a product of cleaning when it's in that poor of a condition, same as silver plating. If it comes off with aluminum it wasn't really pitting.
"0000" did not damage my Mopar side steps. Just make sure its quality chrome and its fine. I would agree not to use steel wool on imitation chrome (i.e. Chrome Clad wheels) .
I tested a hidden spot first to make sure it would hold up :) Good Chrome plating shouldn't be an issue.
Were we supposed to actually see the rust? Too much back light there young man!
Haha I hear that a lot...thanks for the advice though, seriously, nothing wrong with a little criticism! My newer videos are much better, I've learned my lesson!
Nova Scotia Hobo
Chrome don't get you home
More lights would have been nice, but thanks.
Yeah this is a pretty old video of mine, apologies. Thanks though!
Just soak it in hot water and crystal drano done. All that will be left is clean steal and chrome.
That's a good idea. I wonder if the drano is hard on the chrome?
this is cleaning, not restoring
Restore rəˈstôr/ verb. To return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position.
I believe I returned the chrome to it's former condition by cleaning it. AKA, I restored it.
Thanks for the comment!
Midwest Garage savage.lol
Charlieswag9000 s
Corey Williams - your savage.lol site does not come up?
Love the channel but have to disagree here, I clean my car most weekends that doesn't mean that I'm restoring my car most weekends
This is just cleaning not RESTORING...
who else thought of Roman Atwood because of the music in the beginning lol
Then the rust just comes back.... what's the point!
If you keep up on it and clean the chrome properly it shouldn't come back.
Seriously? Thats what you classify as "restored"? Maybe for A rat rod.
J7
Chrome in a can,the cap doesn't lie,or does it?
Your vid is very dark. Need better lighting. You might want to work outside on your next vid so people can see what you're doing and what's happening to the material you're working on, in this case the fender.
Thanks for the feedback! This video is actually very old, my newer ones are much better. Thanks again!
I just ride mine until they rust to pieces. I rarely have time to ride let alone clean it. I've had my '79 Goldwing for about 6 years and never washed it. I'd rather be riding than cleaning or tinkering.
So pitted. Lmfao
Video should be called cleaning and polishing a Turd NOT Restoration!
Never film with a bright background. Can’t see anything what you are showing but nice try!
Rookie mistake, my videos have gotten a lot better since then I promise haha.
Best way is
Use another browser 😂😂
Shit chrome is shit chrome. It's not "restorable". You can improve its appearance but a bit of weather and you're back to square one
Nothing new. Low light, low volume, fender value increased $1.00 after time, materials.
I hope you realize this video is many years old now. My videos have improved a lot since then haha. Thank you for the comment though, it’s critiques like that that helped me get better!
invest in some lighting... cause it sucked
Thanks for the feedback... this video is 6 or 7 years old, so yes the lighting is much better in my new videos.
this polishing...not restoring...what a time waster
Restore rəˈstôr/ verb. To return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position.
I believe I returned the chrome to it's former condition by polishing it. AKA, I restored it.
Yeah I saw that reply of yours before. Fair enough. But bringing to it's former condition is not done by taking material off. it's done by adding what is missing back to it
Hmm...this is a really good point actually...but then how would chrome be restored at all if not going through the expensive re-chroming process?
yes, restoration would only be an expensive re-chroming process. That's why so many got all bent out of shape when they saw your video on how to do it 'cheap and easy'
Michael Paradigm. Cleaning and polishing IS a form of restoration. Most folks want to keep as much of The original finishes as possible.
poor camera qualitye
Well the videos 7 years old so...
Your videos to dark
I apologize, I promise my newer videos are much better. This is 5 or 6 years old now.
Yawn!
Thanks dude!