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jaybird

jaybird

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Okay. Time to start the tedious work before things sneak up on me and none of it's done. (ya ya, I know, I need to clean Emma's engine bay too) Ooh, okay that brings me to another question as well.

Since the carb is out, can I paint the heater box while it's still in? Because I am NOT pulling that out.

Now, back to the topic. I have a LOT of chrome for Binabox that needs 'restored.' Door handles, mirrors, windshield frame, bumpers, grille ad nauseum.

What is the BEST stuff to use on it to clean and polish. And what implement of destruction (i.e., tool) should I use? Bench grinder, dremel, angle grinder, sandpaper? (KIDDING)

And does anyone want to move in short term and do this for me? Room and board, food and beverage of choice.
 
a buffer wheel on your bench grinder, and a white rouge stick works great on the heavy chromed stuff. A smaller buffer wheel (like dremel sized) and the same rouge stick would work good on the smaller easily bent stainless trim.

I've heard some people paint the windsheild frame with good results. Thought the buffer should work on it too (if it's not painted).
 
I have buffer wheels, soft and firm. And white and red rouge. Dumb question, but how do I use the rouge? I want to try to salvage as much as possible of the original parts rather than buying new repros.
 
Turn on the wheel (bench grinder), and hold the rouge against the spinning buffer wheel, then hold the part against the wheel until it's polished. repeat.

Use gloves, and hold onto the part tight, if the wheel grabs it the part can become a missile.
 
Thanks Kenny. I wasn't sure about the rouge.

I think I'll start with something small and inexpensive to replace before I tackle the chrome bumpers!
 
You basically want to get some rouge onto the buffer, then polish the part...

it actually works pretty quickly, and as long as the part doesn't go flying across the garage, there's no chance of hurting anything with those heavy parts.

If the chrome is pitted though, the polish will make them look a little better, but the pitting will still be there.
 
~nods~

I haven't examined the bumpers closely, or any of the chrome for that matter. It's the pitting I'm most concerned with. 40 year old car, no telling how long it sat before Tony got it and before I got it.
 
Fine steel wool will remove most of the "surface rust" if it has any. Just good old elbow grease and lots of rubbing with steel wool. Rust any deeper than the surface will still be there though.

Do this first if theres rust, then polish with the buffer.
 
May want to hang a couple sheets around the work area. Between the rouge and the bits of polishing wheel flying off, it makes a mess! I had to scrape my floor when I was done.
 
Yes, you can paint the heater box while it's in the car. Might not be concours, but I did mine and it looks OK. Just mask it carefully..along with everything near it...and even cover stuff that's not near it to protect from overspray. I used rattle can Rustoleum heavy duty ("Hard Hat" I think it was called) paint and it's held up well.
 
Thanks. Pulling the heater box is not on my list of 'to do's.' I'll rattlecan it with Hard Hat.

Maybe I'll work outside on the chrome - it's suppose to be 50 tomorrow and Sunday here.
 
"Between the rouge and the bits of polishing wheel flying off, it makes a mess!"

If you work outside, that's not much of a problem...

Then again, not having a garage to work in is sometimes a problem too. [sigh]
 
[ QUOTE ]
Then again, not having a garage to work in is sometimes a problem too.

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif I feel your pain man... I feel your pain...
 
HUH?? I've done this whole car outdoors!

Jaybird: Steel Wool... "Triple Ought"... "#000"!!!
 
Wet right? With any sort of 'cleaner' on the steel wool?
 
no, dry steel wool only. it won't scratch the chrome, and takes off the rust better than anything else i've tried.

Don't use the stuff that has soap built in to the steal wool. just plain steel wool. fine or 00 if you can get it, but any steel wool will do the job.

Also, steel wool on ONLY chrome surfaces, don't use it on stainless steel (which shouldn't have rust on it anyway).
 
I have some superfine steel wool, used it and wet sandpaper when I refinished Emma's original steering wheel.

Grille is metal right, or is it aluminum? Any ideas? Suppose I could go out with a magnet...
 
"fine", or #00 is as coarse as you should go. Anything else WILL leave evidence: very fine scratches in the surface. All of it is abrasive, just that Triple-Ought is making the LEAST VISIBLE scratches. Buffing wheel and white polishing rouge will usually clean that up quickly.
 
An old biker trick is to use a piece of crumpled up aluminum foil on 'less than stellar' chrome. The theory is that the aluminum will work it's way into the pits. I tried it once and it seemed to work .. sortof .. removed some rust and it did look better. Has anyone else tried this?

Cheers,
John
 
Yup, with varying success, depending on the severity of the rust/pits... by the time it gets to the point I'd try it on LBC bits I'd likely think a re-chrome is in order anyhow, IYSWIM.
 
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