Restoring chrome and alloy

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
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RodWatts
Posts: 74
Joined: 28 Apr 2011, 9:36pm
Location: Hampton, Middlesex

Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by RodWatts »

I'm getting keen on restoring old bikes and obviously the components are visually not in the best condition at times..
The easiest way of course is to buy NOS which can turn out pricey.
So can anyone recommend tried and tested rejuvenating methods and any cleaning/polishing products that actually work.
Thanks
Rod
I'm not lost, I'm just exploring!
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[XAP]Bob
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Joined: 26 Sep 2008, 4:12pm

Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by [XAP]Bob »

Apparently aluminium foil can be used effectively on chrome...
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simonineaston
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Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by simonineaston »

RodWatts wrote:So can anyone recommend tried and tested rejuvenating methods and any cleaning/polishing products that actually work.
Thanks
Rod
I always used to use a product called Autosol, which is a polish sold in small tubes.
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cl ... polish-75g
Combined with half a ton of elbow grease, it is capable of bringing a show shine to tired old parts, however in my experience, where rust has broken through the finish of a plated part, Solvol won't restore the original finish.
But for bringing a shine to ally parts, it works wonders.
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
greyingbeard
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Joined: 24 Mar 2015, 10:41pm

Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by greyingbeard »

all polishes contain abrasives, getting a sjine involves cuttin g away te grime and old surface of the matel, it follows that one cant replace chrome thata no longer there, except by rechroming of course, which gets very pricey
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Vetus Ossa
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Location: Plymouth

Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by Vetus Ossa »

Mothers is about the best I have used.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mothers-Mag-Alu ... ds=mothers
Beauty will save the world.
Colin Stanley
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Joined: 12 May 2007, 7:05pm
Location: Somewhere in Kent

Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by Colin Stanley »

I don't know about restoring chrome, but for aluminium alloy like MAFAC brakes etc, I use Maas metal polish creme in the tube.
It is very good and reduces oxidisation so the parts stay brighter for longer.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=maas+metal+polish
old_windbag
Posts: 1869
Joined: 19 Feb 2015, 3:55pm

Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by old_windbag »

I've used Solvol Autosol as poster above, it was many years ago and it worked well on chrome bumpers etc. When renovating alloy parts on wheels and groupset last year I used T-cut metal polish. The link below is amazon but I got it at asda in the car section for £3( march 2015 ). They may or may not still stock it as asda chop and change products all the time. Anyway it worked well and didn't take much to bring up a decent finish to dull parts.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/T-Cut-TMP100-Metal-Polish-100g/dp/B004SND34K?tag=duc08-21

Also used to use brasso for various knocker polishing activities.
RodWatts
Posts: 74
Joined: 28 Apr 2011, 9:36pm
Location: Hampton, Middlesex

Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by RodWatts »

It looks like it's the good old favourites of Solvol, Brasso and elbow grease then!

What else is there left to do now that one is retired with lots of time on ones hands than to polish ones front derailleur.. :oops:
Rod
I'm not lost, I'm just exploring!
Jezrant
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Joined: 14 Dec 2007, 8:11pm

Re: Restoring chrome and alloy

Post by Jezrant »

I've had some success with aluminium foil on chrome. I've also found Peek less abrasive than Autosol. Ray Dobbins has messed up a few restorations but there are some tips here:
http://www.raydobbins.com/polishing/
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