My turn to ask folk,
what product/s are people using to polish and preserve chrome, alloy and stainless.
I have over many, many years used just about everything on the retail market. Some soon find their way out again as gifts to enthused onlookers.
Others have stayed, and been replenished..
I am fast getting to the point that I am fed up with products which do not perform.......
As much as I love Meguiar's - the two avenues which I do not believe they are running true are metal (chrome, alloy, stainless and aluminium) and tyre coating - their early tyre coating was like chewing gum...... I don't know how many rags I used to get rid of it..
I know tradespeople can bring up metal better by hand than I can - so what's the angle......?
I have polished stainless with different buffs and compounds - with varying results.
I have polished alloy by cutting the heck out of it with wet and dry then working up through various "cutters" and finally putting it to the buff.
Chrome, I have always been very reluctant to touch other than to remove any oxidisation and restore a protective barrier of wax/sealant.
Tradies will not disclose what they use - and there is such a array and plethora of polishing products out there - you may as well take up the profession with the quantities the trades suppliers demand you purchase.....
Maybe it's just me - but I put in a lot of effort on my old bus and feel we are being let down by the companies we support......
There ARE products out there which most of us cannot access.... and I'm fast getting fed up with wasting time and effort using what retail outlets are duping us into purchasing.....
Guess old Rosco has cracked a bit of the "sads" at present with this aspect of our passion......
So, who's using what on metals..... please......
I do NOT wish to start a bun fight on what vs what nor provide a platform for chest beating.
I'm just a bit fed up with retail outlets and their suppliers when I know there's stuff out there we "enthusiasts" can't access.......
and - they have absolutely no intention of having us "break" tradition because they rely on our custom.....
frats,
Rosco
chrome/stainless/alloy polish
I used to use Blue Magic, but I haven't been able to find it for years.
At the moment for cleaning/polishing we have a tub of Meguiars gear (smells nice too) and some other stuff that I got from a local Abrasives Supplier that is supposed to be trade stuff.
For any proper polishing I run everything up on the bench grinder polishing wheel with compound.
BTW I have a piece of stainless I did on a bench polisher about 20yrs ago that is as reflective as chrome, never had to retouch it.
I have had a chrome plater recommend using Mr Sheen to clean chrome, which works but being designed for indoor use I am not sure if it offers any protection when outdoors.
At the moment for cleaning/polishing we have a tub of Meguiars gear (smells nice too) and some other stuff that I got from a local Abrasives Supplier that is supposed to be trade stuff.
For any proper polishing I run everything up on the bench grinder polishing wheel with compound.
BTW I have a piece of stainless I did on a bench polisher about 20yrs ago that is as reflective as chrome, never had to retouch it.
I have had a chrome plater recommend using Mr Sheen to clean chrome, which works but being designed for indoor use I am not sure if it offers any protection when outdoors.
Paint it if you want to save time Rosco.
If not then you're like the rest of us .. you get what you give..
Ill be wacthing this I know their got secrets like just about everything else the treade don't want you to know - so have we got treade people willing to help out here..?
Stinky - yes thats something I saw once - some blue stuff but just cant remember where exactly it was and what it was.. bloke was doing good wiht it too - too stupid to take any notice back then..
I know it wasn't out of a bute lookin flash lableed tube or can though..
Dee
If not then you're like the rest of us .. you get what you give..
Ill be wacthing this I know their got secrets like just about everything else the treade don't want you to know - so have we got treade people willing to help out here..?
Stinky - yes thats something I saw once - some blue stuff but just cant remember where exactly it was and what it was.. bloke was doing good wiht it too - too stupid to take any notice back then..
I know it wasn't out of a bute lookin flash lableed tube or can though..
Dee
-
mrs ratbox
I hear what your saying rosco, but i recken you can get your hands on anything the trades use these days, its just a matter what they use ?
Its a bit like all the crap they try to sell you down the chemical isle in the supermarket for cleaning the house, when a bit of bi carb soda/vinegar and elbo grease does the same thing
From memory there was a pritty good tech article on polishing stainless in street machine 2-3 years back someone might have a link or copy ?
Its a bit like all the crap they try to sell you down the chemical isle in the supermarket for cleaning the house, when a bit of bi carb soda/vinegar and elbo grease does the same thing
From memory there was a pritty good tech article on polishing stainless in street machine 2-3 years back someone might have a link or copy ?
Hey, while you're mentioning Meguiar's... can anyone tell me where abouts can I buy some? The telephone restoration people recommended it for polishing my bakelite, but when I tried to search for it I could only find US suppliers.....
For chrome/metal I go for the Autosol as well. I was astounded by the results the first time I used it and ended up polishing everything in the house as well!!
........ and Brasso is good for your lucite handbags......
For chrome/metal I go for the Autosol as well. I was astounded by the results the first time I used it and ended up polishing everything in the house as well!!
........ and Brasso is good for your lucite handbags......
I'm listening to what people are saying, but have done all of the above..
A bloke told me kids chalk mixed into turps was good for chrome once - tired that too.. don't bother - didn't last..
I used to like autosol - it comes in three different grades - tried em ell.
Stuff I saw was blue paste and I saw it bein put on with a white cotten rag - I was a bit younger then and was sutpid not to get some off him. It was put on somethin dull right in front of me and only after a min was almost mirror.. still had some scratches cause it was just a bit of old somethin stainless on the bench but the shine was mirrer deep..
Rosco - they don't seem to want us to know so it must be good..
and yeah - you got money, someone wants you to spend it to them..
Ratbox - can ya remember where you got the powder from..?
anyone else?
Megiars to me Mothers is good too.. spose you have to pay ya money and take ya chances..
Should be able to get it at repco, atuorbarn and I think I've seen it at kmart too..
It has a yellow megiars on every one of the producs.
I like most of what I used, but its not for everyone..
Dee
A bloke told me kids chalk mixed into turps was good for chrome once - tired that too.. don't bother - didn't last..
I used to like autosol - it comes in three different grades - tried em ell.
Stuff I saw was blue paste and I saw it bein put on with a white cotten rag - I was a bit younger then and was sutpid not to get some off him. It was put on somethin dull right in front of me and only after a min was almost mirror.. still had some scratches cause it was just a bit of old somethin stainless on the bench but the shine was mirrer deep..
Rosco - they don't seem to want us to know so it must be good..
and yeah - you got money, someone wants you to spend it to them..
Ratbox - can ya remember where you got the powder from..?
anyone else?
Megiars to me Mothers is good too.. spose you have to pay ya money and take ya chances..
Should be able to get it at repco, atuorbarn and I think I've seen it at kmart too..
It has a yellow megiars on every one of the producs.
I like most of what I used, but its not for everyone..
Dee
Dee,
you seem to be quite knowlegeable on the metal polishing topic, so I was hoping to ask you a few questions.
Firstly, do you have any tips on how to polish an FB side flash while it is on the car?
Secondly, do you think it could come out as good as a bench grinder job if done on the car with a drill?
I do have a bench grinder, however I never want to have to remove side mouldings again in my life so was wondering if it was possible to get them blinggin while still on there.
Rgds
Andrew
you seem to be quite knowlegeable on the metal polishing topic, so I was hoping to ask you a few questions.
Firstly, do you have any tips on how to polish an FB side flash while it is on the car?
Secondly, do you think it could come out as good as a bench grinder job if done on the car with a drill?
I do have a bench grinder, however I never want to have to remove side mouldings again in my life so was wondering if it was possible to get them blinggin while still on there.
Rgds
Andrew
Craig wrote: Andrew you have a red so I wouldn't race it
Thankyou,
to all who have replied - all thoughts and experiences duly noted.
I am interested in the talcum powder too, Mick - hope you can remember.
I'm nearly over this. Next to what others will shortly post - I may have to look outside and actually part with some of my hard earned coupons...... I don't want to - but then again, I didn't want to bash out the rear arches either.
I have tried autosol and yes, it does come in three grades that I know of - gold, silver and another called "shine" - that one I found in the supermarket.....
I have used brite shine - great stuff, that wadding is excellent on alloy, but it won't flatten it down - only buff it up. I think there's something in the oil/solvent which does the trick.
My experiences with Meguiar's have been less than satisfactory - I have used POR artisan and it has probably been the best "market product" I have found yet.... I think I threw something up on that some time back.
I do remember the trade stuff being blue - it seems that there must be something "blue" in whatever makes it work - I am starting to believe it is alumina...... anyone know?
There is something else in another which I have used on the buff..... Josco SSX compound bar for dressing and polishing stainless.
But, there is a hand applied something the trades have which is blue and this is what I am seeking.......
Andrew - I'm going to jump ahead of Dee here..... hope both don't mind? just want to get to you before you destroy some of that great looking paint.....
I would be very, very careful to use anything but manual polishing whilst brite-ware is fastened to paintwork - or indeed with anything in close proximity......
I haven't used a buffing wheel on a drill, Andrew - my experience and current beliefs are that small wheels will not develop the speed required to generate enough heat ..... I suppose it depends on the compound you intend to use.. I am extremely hesitant to suggest you threaten a great paint job with a "cutting device"....... I feel you must understand that the temptation will be there to bring it as close as possible to where the paint meets the trim...........
I have used my little "dremel" with a very hard pad to dress up some intricate stainless and remember the poor little thing suffering under my demands....... twenty minutes of that compared to about ten seconds on the buffing wheel fixed to my bench grinder......... and still stuffed up the surrounding paint with the dremel........ to a very lesser degree than I would have with a drill....... to my mind, a drill is designed to work as a boring device in a vertical plane.... not a rotary device in a horizontal one.......
And (there's more)....... the heat generated in stainless......
I remember when I buffed my grille - after removing it and pulling it apart - I burned my fingers quite a few times - even with leather "riggers" gloves on - I just got so determined to lean into it - it seemed to bring out the depth the harder and hotter I worked it........ I also did this with my door scuff plates - the first one I actually warped and had to "work" the underside to get it back into shape..... think you get my message.... I'd be pulling them off to avoid any temptation to get that little bit more.......
Thanks folk...... still watching this thread - hoping someone hasn't found it yet........
frats,
Rosco
to all who have replied - all thoughts and experiences duly noted.
I am interested in the talcum powder too, Mick - hope you can remember.
I'm nearly over this. Next to what others will shortly post - I may have to look outside and actually part with some of my hard earned coupons...... I don't want to - but then again, I didn't want to bash out the rear arches either.
I have tried autosol and yes, it does come in three grades that I know of - gold, silver and another called "shine" - that one I found in the supermarket.....
I have used brite shine - great stuff, that wadding is excellent on alloy, but it won't flatten it down - only buff it up. I think there's something in the oil/solvent which does the trick.
My experiences with Meguiar's have been less than satisfactory - I have used POR artisan and it has probably been the best "market product" I have found yet.... I think I threw something up on that some time back.
I do remember the trade stuff being blue - it seems that there must be something "blue" in whatever makes it work - I am starting to believe it is alumina...... anyone know?
There is something else in another which I have used on the buff..... Josco SSX compound bar for dressing and polishing stainless.
But, there is a hand applied something the trades have which is blue and this is what I am seeking.......
Andrew - I'm going to jump ahead of Dee here..... hope both don't mind? just want to get to you before you destroy some of that great looking paint.....
I would be very, very careful to use anything but manual polishing whilst brite-ware is fastened to paintwork - or indeed with anything in close proximity......
I haven't used a buffing wheel on a drill, Andrew - my experience and current beliefs are that small wheels will not develop the speed required to generate enough heat ..... I suppose it depends on the compound you intend to use.. I am extremely hesitant to suggest you threaten a great paint job with a "cutting device"....... I feel you must understand that the temptation will be there to bring it as close as possible to where the paint meets the trim...........
I have used my little "dremel" with a very hard pad to dress up some intricate stainless and remember the poor little thing suffering under my demands....... twenty minutes of that compared to about ten seconds on the buffing wheel fixed to my bench grinder......... and still stuffed up the surrounding paint with the dremel........ to a very lesser degree than I would have with a drill....... to my mind, a drill is designed to work as a boring device in a vertical plane.... not a rotary device in a horizontal one.......
And (there's more)....... the heat generated in stainless......
I remember when I buffed my grille - after removing it and pulling it apart - I burned my fingers quite a few times - even with leather "riggers" gloves on - I just got so determined to lean into it - it seemed to bring out the depth the harder and hotter I worked it........ I also did this with my door scuff plates - the first one I actually warped and had to "work" the underside to get it back into shape..... think you get my message.... I'd be pulling them off to avoid any temptation to get that little bit more.......
Thanks folk...... still watching this thread - hoping someone hasn't found it yet........
frats,
Rosco
Last edited by rosco on Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Cheers for the reply Rosco. Dee, your off the hook 
I too have had good results with bright shine wadding, and am currently using a mothers product on my wheels with good results. As for the stainless, I think I will have to give it a go by hand... I don't require a mirror shine, just to give a good clean. It has some silicon on it I wish to remove and a few other oily things.
I too have had good results with bright shine wadding, and am currently using a mothers product on my wheels with good results. As for the stainless, I think I will have to give it a go by hand... I don't require a mirror shine, just to give a good clean. It has some silicon on it I wish to remove and a few other oily things.
Craig wrote: Andrew you have a red so I wouldn't race it
Yes, Andrew - I amended my post above.... you may wish to take another peek......
If you aren't after mirror - most of what I have used will probably do the trick for you..... I just get a bit umm...... I think you know - part of my determination to succeed......
Wadding will certainly do it - and very quickly - stainless is so great ..... just look at our old buses..... and those which people find in the scrub....... years and years of neglect - the only rust which ever appears is a carry over to how it is fixed or what has been lying on it........ a few really good hits with some abrasive and it's a totally different piece...... but I want more - guess it is becoming a bit obsessive........?
another amendment - sorry......
Mother's - the mag and aluminuim polish I found to be far superior to Meguiar's...... and I didn't want to start a prod v prod thread......
Eagle Mag polish was also good - but I found the lustre fell over pretty quickly......
AutoGlym didn't do anything for me except extract a pile of coupons..... it soon found its way to a new home......
I have tried 2K cutting compounds with some success - probably due to the very hard but fine cutting grits.......
This post would probably run to a novel if I keep going with the retail products I have used...... I think it unfair to suggest I have tried them all...... but have hit on anything which catches my attention.......
Brasso and Silvo were early attempts back in the '70's ....... we used some very harsh products back then...... especially with paint "polishes".... some of the blasted stuff was almost liquid emery.......... and one of them is still on the market today still marketed as a soft furry animal.......... no names, no pack drill.......
As for the marine specimen......no thanks - been there, done that.......
I'm a hypocrite - prod vs prod...... you make up your own minds, folk and stick with what works for you..... I'm almost sorry I started this thread - what have I done to your sanity......?
frats,
Rosco
If you aren't after mirror - most of what I have used will probably do the trick for you..... I just get a bit umm...... I think you know - part of my determination to succeed......
Wadding will certainly do it - and very quickly - stainless is so great ..... just look at our old buses..... and those which people find in the scrub....... years and years of neglect - the only rust which ever appears is a carry over to how it is fixed or what has been lying on it........ a few really good hits with some abrasive and it's a totally different piece...... but I want more - guess it is becoming a bit obsessive........?
another amendment - sorry......
Mother's - the mag and aluminuim polish I found to be far superior to Meguiar's...... and I didn't want to start a prod v prod thread......
Eagle Mag polish was also good - but I found the lustre fell over pretty quickly......
AutoGlym didn't do anything for me except extract a pile of coupons..... it soon found its way to a new home......
I have tried 2K cutting compounds with some success - probably due to the very hard but fine cutting grits.......
This post would probably run to a novel if I keep going with the retail products I have used...... I think it unfair to suggest I have tried them all...... but have hit on anything which catches my attention.......
Brasso and Silvo were early attempts back in the '70's ....... we used some very harsh products back then...... especially with paint "polishes".... some of the blasted stuff was almost liquid emery.......... and one of them is still on the market today still marketed as a soft furry animal.......... no names, no pack drill.......
As for the marine specimen......no thanks - been there, done that.......
I'm a hypocrite - prod vs prod...... you make up your own minds, folk and stick with what works for you..... I'm almost sorry I started this thread - what have I done to your sanity......?
frats,
Rosco
buffing stainless is a pain in the arse, ive spent about 15 hours and got 4 peices done, i have a cutting wheel and a polishing wheel, i start b getting out the dents, then sanding the scratches, then sanding the lot with finer stuff, then the cutting wheel, then the polishing wheel.
its too much too get out deep medium to deep scratches on the car but what i used to do was cover the strips in compound whenever i buffed the car and give them a freshen up with the buff, it takes out the fine scratches and ads a shine and especaily on chrome, car polish will help preserve the chrome, when you polish the car just use something like a megiars applicator pad and polish the lot, inside the doors, dash, all the chrome and all the outside paint, then just go back around the car with a microfibre polishing cloth, or some cheese cloth and wipe it all of, its quick and easy and looks good.
its too much too get out deep medium to deep scratches on the car but what i used to do was cover the strips in compound whenever i buffed the car and give them a freshen up with the buff, it takes out the fine scratches and ads a shine and especaily on chrome, car polish will help preserve the chrome, when you polish the car just use something like a megiars applicator pad and polish the lot, inside the doors, dash, all the chrome and all the outside paint, then just go back around the car with a microfibre polishing cloth, or some cheese cloth and wipe it all of, its quick and easy and looks good.