DownBoy

I am starting my slow but steady cleanup of my 69 delta 88 royale. The front and rear bumpers are straight and without rust, but they are dirty and a bit pitted. Whats a low cost way (I have elbow grease available) to clean them up ?

oldcutlass

I use 00 fine steel wool and soap and water. Then a hand wax.

Nufo

An SOS pad and warm water work wonders...


Nufo(Fred)

RetroRanger

x2 on the SOS pad w water...after that I use a metal polish like simichrome and then wax to keep it looking fine

aliensatemybuick

All good answers. Important thing is to use soap with the steel wool (impregnated into the pad or not) to limit scratching of the chrome.

DownBoy

thank you all, will snap some before and after pics once i get started. Off to buy some SOS pads.

Sampson

Never Dull is great stuff for both Chrome and stainless

Lady72nRob71

If it is just residues or stuff that you can scrape loose with your fingernails, try Brasso (if you can find some). Best cleaner I have found for chrome. It will not help with scratches or the pits though.

Sampson

If you have badly pitted or rusted areas try rubbing with aluminum foil dipped in vinegar or coke. Sounds crazy but it works.

5998DownUnder

00-00 Super fine steel wool and the PURPLE polish.


For the job in the photo and some dirtier stainless and chrome I used:
the steel wool with thinners. Just the cheap thinners to get the grime off.


Then the steel wool again with the PURPLE polish.


Then PURPLE with an open weave cloth to finish. Usually I only needed to wipe with a clean open weave cloth.






This replaces my old process:
Buffing wheel with 3 grades of buffing polish. Fine/Med/Course.
Brasso, because its stronger than silvo.


Saved hours in time.


Happy days.

rr69ho

Never dull, can't beat it!!!

Don R.

For regular chrome plated items I have always used heavy duty rubbing compound, the orange stuff in the flat can. Turtle wax makes it and probably others. It takes a lot of elbow grease but it works very well and doesn't scratch. Don't use anything with steel wool unless the compound won't cut it.

5998DownUnder

I would not use just any old steel wool from the local store either.


The steel wool I use is for professional body work finish from a body work supply store, specialised.
I wouldn't, but some people use it on painted surfaces to get stains off.

The super fine feels like horse hair it is that fine.

Less work than a cutting compound which I found scratched the metal hence why I went the 00-00 steel wool. It glides.


I found this the best by trial and error trying different gear.


The wool is dirt cheap, so why not buy some rubbing compound try that. Then try the wool, see which suits you.


Each to their own.

DownBoy

I bought never dull, hit the front fender, hit some rust spots and this stuff works good. Reminds me of a Mothers product I used as a teen in the 80's that came in a yellow can, same smell too. Lots of work ahead....

TripDeuces

Sampson you have to be ex military? Never Dull and aluminum foil, hehe. Classic!

I second the Never Dull and Brasso. Depending on how bad the chrome is you might want to wear gloves too. Those little pits and nicks can terrorize your hands. Clean the surface well afterward and cover with a good wax and you're golden.

Sampson

[QUOTE=TripDeuces;728850]Sampson you have to be ex military? Never Dull and aluminum foil, hehe. Classic!

I think the can of Never Dull I have in the garage is the same can I brought with me from Clovis AFB New Mexico when I got out in 1979! I used some the other day and it still worked great.

DownBoy

When I was 17-18 I could wax/polish/rub/clean/detail all night long at a self service carwash, and often did while living in Scottsdale, Az. Back then it was a 67 bug, later a 84 Toyota truck. Those two vehicles got a lot of my attention back then.

Nowadays I get excited to get out in the garage and get it on.....and then after an hour or so....done !

I want so badly to get on that bumper and will....its just gonna take a little longer that's all......

lazy394

Have you tried to polish the aluminium grill ?

marxjunk

first i use CLR and some 000 steel whool...i take a rag..soak it, then lay on the part..20 minutes move...

rinse well

then i use warm water, dawn dish soap and an SOS pad...it will look new..unless its pitted...if pitted and wont come out well...

i use spray bomb alum..let it dry...the steel wool it....it hides the pits really well..

5998DownUnder

IMG_1121.jpgIMG_1120.jpg

Yes, but how time consuming and boring. Took it inside and watched telly while I did it. Dosn't look real flash in the photos but shines in the sunlight. Could only get a small piece of wool in there with the tip of a finger at a time.

IMG_1121.jpg

72cutlassdog

I bought some turtle wax premium all metal polish. It's strictly for metal, chrome, wheels, and trim. I bought it for my rims because they have a little rust. I did one rim and it seems to work great. Has anyone here ever used meguiar's non acid wheel & tire cleaner? I remember using acid back in early 90's on some chrome rims, you talk about shinny. Am thinking about buying the meguiar's non acid to see how well it works.

rroth01

Check out a Product caller Bar Keepers Friend..It comes in a Liquid .I buy it at Home Depot.It isnt harsh.It is a Mild Cleanser that contains Citric Acid.You have to rinse it with cold Water..It works.

smash72

Take a shower with it. Your wife won't think your crazy I promise. Unless your naked then that's a problem.

DownBoy

So I took apart the front grill pieces on my 69 delta. Two headlight bezels and two piece grill. Bought steel wool kit with fine, coarse and full strength. Worked on my two grill pieces for about three hours, started with never dull, wipe, coarse, wipe added a bit of water with it, then back to never dull, then wipe. Unbelievable results. Filled in the 1mm black stripe along all lines of grill with believe it or not, a black permanent sharpie. Works great, looks better. Bezels I hit with the fine wool bad the never dull and filled in some of the rubbed off black background rectangles with a painters pen. Wow. Putting it all back together tonight. Also sprayed the plastic pieces that fill in the spot between the grill and the bumper with aluminum paint. Bumpers next. ......

Don R.

Something else to try - Quick-Glo. Silly name, but this is an old product from 1957 brought back by a guy as a family business. I saw it on Jay Leno's website and bought some. It works very well and both cleans and waxes the part in one step. Comes in two grades and is made in the US. Here is the website:


http://quick-glo.com/

johnnyjaws

I use turtle wax chrome polish works for me .

orange442

X1000 I have used this for close to 30 years and it still works great today!