The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop chrome cleaner

As you can see from my pictures i have set of chrome wheels. In the winter the rust appears from the pits etc I clean them up but when they get wet the rust spots reapear, Do any of you know any good tricks to say coat the area?? I thought I could use something like clear coat or some kind of clear substance but i think they tend to yellow over time Any other products you can think of Thanks Peter

I tried clear coating a set of Crager S/S wheels for the same reason.BIG mistake,rust spots still appeared and now I couldn't get the clear coat off.Buy some Duraglit wadding polish and keep at it my friend.I got a set of painted wheels for winter

yeah a good automotive paste wax can work too, if ya keep at it

Bill

Petmil
Try this site

http://www.heavymetalpolish.com/Products/Polishes/

Most of my chrome cleaning is done on my 2003 Harley Road King. Unfortunately, even though HD is doing well their chrome sucks, especially here on the east coast of Florida. I have had most of my chrome replated (triple plated, which is bs if you read the tech tip Chrome Basics . Now, that being said the replated pieces require less care and feeding than the OEM junk.

At almost every bike meet, rally, what have you, there are a plethora of snake oil salesmen ready to take your money in exchange for the latest and greatest chrome polish, protectent, restorer, etc. After trying them all I still end up back with the old Turtle Wax Chrome polish and put a good coat of caranuba wax on top of that. The factory chrome still starts showing rust after a week, but the re-chromed stuff last much longer without extensive elbow grease.

I've had several different auto restoration "experts" tell me that they would never send stuff to so and so for refurbishment and will only use so and so holty-dolty chrome guy somewhere out of state at a premium price. Now, after reading Bobby Baker's Chrome Basics and Chrome Q & A's I believe there may be something more to this than meets my failing eyesite. Even if I ask my local guy how long he leaves the part in the nickel tank how am I to know? Am I going to stand there and time it and so what if I do? I have no idea what's in the tank anyway. Word of mouth, recommendations, such as you get on this wonderful forum, and trial and error are the only way to really tell "who's the best."

If you do find out who is the best are you willing to pay the rate and freight? As anyone who follows the price of precious metals today, they know that the price of nickel has gone up in the last several years, as has the price of copper; not to the levels manipulated by the Hunt Brothers ($50 per oz.), but high enough to increase the cost of the most basic of replating projects.

Take a look at Bobby's Q & A Tech Tips and decide how much elbow work you are willing to expend compared to how many dollars you are willing to part with for what will hopefully be a truly "hard chromed" part.

Finally, what I can't really understand is how my new automobiles can sit outside, on the beach, hit with sulfur water (for keeping the grass green for god sakes) and still doesn't pit. What's up wid dat?

Don

petmil - was wondering about some kind of polish myself. i did find some good stuff at "the rust store" that was real good in getting the rust off my chrome wheels. the rust store can be found in the links section. i got the little spray bottle kit. you can smell the acid in it but it does work well. i used it and very fine steel wool and was very satisfied with the results.

try some naval jelly and fine steel wool. the posforic acid in the jelly will remove the rust and convert the existing rust to some sort of iron oxide that risists rust. should extend your periods between cleaning.

a good paste was will help keep the water out too after you get them clean.

of course aluminum rims don't rust

click
Steel wool or other abrasives heavier than jewelers rouge or chrome polish are not recommended on chrome.

Don,
the NEW CARS are prob. plated plastic...the salt doesnt get a chemical reaction .
just my thoughts

Zoopseal will truly prevent anything from getting through.

find the forum/post here on the Bolt that is going on right now about GIBBS which its said even HD guys swear by. It may help???? I think its in the General truck forum.