Pitted chrome
September 27th, 2019, 05:18 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 174
Pitted chrome
What are the causes of chrome pitting? My 72 CS has many items that the chrome is pitting on. Like power window switches, dome light escutcheons, door handles, radio *****, seat belt clasps. Bumpers are ok as are outside door handles. Is it mainly age or could it be that the car was once a flood car or spent much of its time in a very humid climate? Just curious. Also can the pitting be polished or buffed out. THOUGHTS anyone?
September 27th, 2019, 07:16 PM
#2
Administrator
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 41,053
Its could be age, moisture, corrosion, salt air, all the above, etc... Wax is the only real prevention and sometimes it doesn't work depending on the environment. 0000 steel wool and soapy water will smooth it out, rinse well, then some carnauba wax for heavily chrome plated items.
September 27th, 2019, 07:21 PM
#3
Running On Empty
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Earth
Posts: 20,119
Most likely lived in a humid environment. In particular, if it resided near a salt water body such as where I reside along the Atlantic Ocean, it's a constant maintenance task. My preferred compound is Collinite:
https://www.collinite.com/marine-wax/metal-wax/
https://www.collinite.com/marine-wax/metal-wax/
September 28th, 2019, 06:12 AM
#4
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 48,229
If you are talking about pitting in pot metal that is chrome plated, the problem is the crappy zinc used as the base metal. There's nothing you can really do about it. Even NOS parts kept in the box in a controlled environment will pit.
September 28th, 2019, 06:54 AM
#5
Gary
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Gillespie County Texas
Posts: 2,220
There are three causes, which must all be present:
Bumpers usually have copper plating over the steel, although sometimes it is too thin to do a perfect job.
For pot metal parts, that copper plate step is often skipped, which makes the parts very susceptible to pitting-type corrosion.
- A corrodable base metal.
- Porosity of the plating metal(s).
- Moisture or humidity and some form of mild acid or salt--sometimes that comes in with just dust or fingerprints on the surface.
Bumpers usually have copper plating over the steel, although sometimes it is too thin to do a perfect job.
For pot metal parts, that copper plate step is often skipped, which makes the parts very susceptible to pitting-type corrosion.
September 28th, 2019, 07:20 AM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Ranch Ca.
Posts: 7,743
It's mostly the crappy zinc that want's to corrode(.oxidize) under the chrome.... Tedd
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