need help with chrome
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
need help with chrome
i think i screwed my self big time here.
about a week ago i was polishing up my bumpers using the normal method, chrome polish and 000 steel wool, ive done this for the last couple years now and have had great results.
i used a different polish this time, green rouge metal polish, instead of my cheap turtle wax metal polish.
well, now ive got a bumper filled with a million little scratches, and the chrome looks hazed.
ive tried everything i can think of to clear it up. broke out the buffer and used the metal polish on that and went to town on it, no go. stripped off all the wax (soap and water werent cutting it, neither was orange 409, so i used vinegar, that helped quite abit) then i tried the old tinfoil trick, that didnt do anything either.
except for using a real buffing compound, i really have no idea what to do.
about a week ago i was polishing up my bumpers using the normal method, chrome polish and 000 steel wool, ive done this for the last couple years now and have had great results.
i used a different polish this time, green rouge metal polish, instead of my cheap turtle wax metal polish.
well, now ive got a bumper filled with a million little scratches, and the chrome looks hazed.
ive tried everything i can think of to clear it up. broke out the buffer and used the metal polish on that and went to town on it, no go. stripped off all the wax (soap and water werent cutting it, neither was orange 409, so i used vinegar, that helped quite abit) then i tried the old tinfoil trick, that didnt do anything either.
except for using a real buffing compound, i really have no idea what to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
I made the mistake of scrubbing my bike pipes (mc exhaust) down once with a green scotchbrite pad and WD40 instead of 0000 or 00000 steel wool. 40 is minimum. 000 is too coarse. The green scrub pad was too course and scratched the chrome. I have tools so was able to correct it fairly easy. I bought white jewelers rouge and a buffing wheel for my pneumatic die grinder. It was some work, but it made the chrome look new.
Best wishes, and always start overly soft working your way up in correction. Starting rough, gives you no place to go. 00000 steel wool and WD40. If that doesn't work, then try a polish. If still not working, then move to 0000 and WD40, etc...
Best wishes, and always start overly soft working your way up in correction. Starting rough, gives you no place to go. 00000 steel wool and WD40. If that doesn't work, then try a polish. If still not working, then move to 0000 and WD40, etc...
Acct Suspended by request 25 MAY 2026
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,570
Likes: 0
From: Goodyear, AZ
Cruise-In II Veteran
I found that regular chrome polish has enough abravise in it by itself if you keep up with maintenance during regular protection of the paint.
It sounds like you permanently scratched the surface of the chrome with the 000# steel wool.
It sounds like you permanently scratched the surface of the chrome with the 000# steel wool.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Once you scratch up chrome bumpers it's almost impossible to do anything but try and lessen the blow a bit. Try some over the counter Dupont #7. I have used it for years on my chrome bumper cars, especially when they are not quite like new and have some fine scratches. It has a mild abrasive. Apply by hand, allow it to dry to a haze and buff it off by hand. It won't rid you of all of it but it will minimize the scratched look and give you a nice shine. Good luck 
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 14,104
Likes: 244
From: South Florida
http://www.caswellplating.com/index.html
they offer an assortment of buffing heads and techniques to help with metal polishing including chrome. I suggest a visit.
they offer an assortment of buffing heads and techniques to help with metal polishing including chrome. I suggest a visit.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,370
Likes: 5,246
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
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2015 C3 of Year Finalist
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: W MI
I have a container of No. 7 at home, if you want it Lance, it's yours. I don't know if it changed when the Volatile Organic Compounds Act happened, but this stuff is from the early 1980s and after just doing a spot test on my Honda 90, appears to be still good.