Alright here's one for you - scratches in chrome.

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imported_Picus

New member
Hey everyone - been awhile since I had to start a thread but search came up relatively empty on this one. As some of you may know I've spent a lot of time restoring the paint on my car, and overall I am very happy with the results. One area that's left me frustrated, however, is my chrome trim and chrome door handles. The trim is in ok shape, only has a few scratches, but the door handles are a mess. I've tried lightly polishing them with some SSR1 and some cheap metal polish, but before I buy a chrome polish I wanted to get some opinions on products and methods.



Thanks in advance!
 
English Custom Polish makes some really good metal polishes. They have one specifically for chrome, but you may need their Metal Restorer polish. One Grand also makes a good chrome polish.
 
But there's not much you can do when you actually scratch the top layer of chrome plating. At least I've never been able to get the scratches out of the chrome on my Jag :(
 
Accumulator said:
But there's not much you can do when you actually scratch the top layer of chrome plating. At least I've never been able to get the scratches out of the chrome on my Jag :(
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Very true. It's basically like a cleasrcoat on a car, if it's scratched into the plating it will be next to impossible to completely get the scratch out.
 
OK, so I assume, like paint, the chrome has a clear over it, and if it's scratched I can essentially polish it like I polish the clear on my paint, but with a metal polish? Or do I have it wrong still.



The chrome handles are really a mess, but none of the scratches looks particularly deep, there are just a lot of them.
 
Ok, so how does polishing chrome work then - if a scratch is in the plating it won't come out, so there must be something over the plating, no?
 
Chrome is a plating. It is very thin, and is usually on top of a layer of copper and nickel. Chrome is actually the thinnist layer. It is not clear coated. It is, however, pretty hard. Give the chrome polish a try and see what happens.
 
papi_jay said:
Clear coat does not adhere to chrome .
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Yes it will. As will paint. My buddy painted his chrome grille on his Acura and its still bonding well after almost 2 years.





However, I have never been able to remove scratches. Try using Flitz or Collonite Metal Polish with a terry applicator. If that doesn't take them out, use a heavy paste wax to fill them in a minor manner and/or just deal with em :(. Sorry.
 
You think your buddies Acura grill is really chrome GSR ?

Paint nor clear will adhere to METAL chrome plating at all ever .
 
Excellent work Ben - ok thanks for all the information folks. I am going to give some Flitz a try since I can get it locally. If that doesn't cut it maybe I'll try some ssr2.5 or opt compound.
 
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