How do you guys prep that plastic "fake chrome" grill/trim material

[House of Wax]

I'm going to be doing paint correction and a sealant on my wife's car this weekend. I'm wondering what you guys do to polish up that fake chrome material that is used on grills and trim. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know there isn't really any "correcting" you can do with that material right? I just want to get it looking as best it can before I put a sealant on it.

 

[Bill D]

I'd say you are correct. You can't polish chrome plastic because polish can cut right through the chrome, best to just top it with a LSP like you plan.

 

[Accumulator]

Right. I clean it with an AIO (a relatively nonabrasive one like KAIO if I have reason to be extra careful) and then top with LSP. OR just clean it and coat it with something like OptiCoat.

 

[House of Wax]

I'll give the KAIO a shot. I've got some of that already. Going to be going over everything with HD Nitro Seal

 

[brownbob06]

Ive never had a problem using never dull on it. I basically use the never dull as a cleaner and it takes bugs and stuff right off.

 

[Bunky]

I just use a cleaner wax.

 

[Swanicyouth]

I just replaced a grill because I ruined it trying to polish plastic chrome. I would just use an AIO by hand. If it has defects, you will have to replace it.

 

[Accumulator]

Ive never had a problem using never dull on it. I basically use the never dull as a cleaner and it takes bugs and stuff right off.

I'm leery of the Nevr Dull (never liked those cutesy spellings ) as I've marred metal with it and I worry that the "chromed plastic" might be too fragile. IF it's not too fragile, no worries; if it is too fragile you might not know until it's too late.

I just replaced a grill because I ruined it trying to polish plastic chrome. I would just use an AIO by hand. If it has defects, you will have to replace it.

I have some rock-damaged places on the XJS's upper grilled where the chrome-like finish is actually peeling off Trying to keep that car as original as possible (hey, it only has 18K miles) I applied many (and I don't mean just six or eight ) coats of KSG and it's still OK years later. OK, that car basically doesn't get driven, but still... I sure have to be oh-so-careful cleaning it, but it hasn't gotten worse the way I'd expected. Doing the same thing with OptiCoat would've probably worked even better and I'll probably try that the next time I do that car.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

I'm leery of the Nevr Dull (never liked those cutesy spellings ) as I've marred metal with it and I worry that the "chromed plastic" might be too fragile. IF it's not too fragile, no worries; if it is too fragile you might not know until it's too late.

I've never had that issue if I use a very light touch (as opposed to scrubbing with it like you would to remove oxidation from metal). As a chemical cleaner it's great stuff.

 

[brownbob06]

Ill second this. It seems.to require almost no hard.scrubbing to pull bugs off. As long as im using a piece that's fully saturated.

 

[Accumulator]

Glad to hear others aren't having issues with the Nevr Dull. Heh heh, see why I use the term "Accumulator-proof" :chuckle:

 

[Junebug]

Just learned by accident that Meg's Plastix works great on a lot of stuff like those chrome like grills and even textured black plastic. Use a dab on a damp towel and rub easy.

 

[brownbob06]

I used to use PlastX on windows very lightly (no pressure.) It wiped off fairly easily and left no streaks lol.