long term effect of polishing chrome w/ foil?

T

The Big Kahuna

New member
I have a Harley Davidson w/ chrome out the "ying-yang" (professional term).

Over the weekend I used the old school method of taking out surface rust and minor pitting in the chrome with aluminium foil. This works wonders, but I wonder what the long term effect of this is? Anyone out there that has had any adverse problems doing this?????
 
I have a Harley Davidson w/ chrome out the "ying-yang" (professional term).

Over the weekend I used the old school method of taking out surface rust and minor pitting in the chrome with aluminium foil. This works wonders, but I wonder what the long term effect of this is? Anyone out there that has had any adverse problems doing this?????
 
That certainly is interesting. No idea what the long term effects could be. I would suggest you buy a good metal polish. For a task like this, English Custom Polish's Metal Restorer would work great. You can use the Metal Restorer with a terry towel:)
 
That certainly is interesting. No idea what the long term effects could be. I would suggest you buy a good metal polish. For a task like this, English Custom Polish's Metal Restorer would work great. You can use the Metal Restorer with a terry towel:)
 
charlesu said:
Over the weekend I used the old school method of taking out surface rust and minor pitting in the chrome with aluminium foil.
Click to expand...



Do you use any polish or lubricant or do you just use the aluminium foil dry?
 
charlesu said:
Over the weekend I used the old school method of taking out surface rust and minor pitting in the chrome with aluminium foil.
Click to expand...



Do you use any polish or lubricant or do you just use the aluminium foil dry?
 
I have tried both and notice no difference between the two. At first I thought it would scratch w/o lubrication but after experimenting found no difference.

I have tried all types of metal polish in the past and they will remove rust, but not the tiny pits. This removes the pits :bigups Don't ask me why it works......it just does! In addition, it only takes a few swipes of the foil compared to a lot of elbow grease with polish alone.
 
I have tried both and notice no difference between the two. At first I thought it would scratch w/o lubrication but after experimenting found no difference.

I have tried all types of metal polish in the past and they will remove rust, but not the tiny pits. This removes the pits :bigups Don't ask me why it works......it just does! In addition, it only takes a few swipes of the foil compared to a lot of elbow grease with polish alone.
 
charlesu said:
I have tried both and notice no difference between the two. At first I thought it would scratch w/o lubrication but after experimenting found no difference.

I have tried all types of metal polish in the past and they will remove rust, but not the tiny pits. This removes the pits :bigups Don't ask me why it works......it just does! In addition, it only takes a few swipes of the foil compared to a lot of elbow grease with polish alone.
Click to expand...



charlesu, thanks. I bought a fairly old set of chrome wheels last weekend and they have surface rust around the wheel nut holes and a bit of pitting. I spent a lot of time using Autosol Metal Polish and steel wool with poor results. I will give the aluminium foil and go next weekend and report back.



I won't be too concerned about the long term possibility of damage because they are already showing their age.
 
charlesu said:
I have tried both and notice no difference between the two. At first I thought it would scratch w/o lubrication but after experimenting found no difference.

I have tried all types of metal polish in the past and they will remove rust, but not the tiny pits. This removes the pits :bigups Don't ask me why it works......it just does! In addition, it only takes a few swipes of the foil compared to a lot of elbow grease with polish alone.
Click to expand...



charlesu, thanks. I bought a fairly old set of chrome wheels last weekend and they have surface rust around the wheel nut holes and a bit of pitting. I spent a lot of time using Autosol Metal Polish and steel wool with poor results. I will give the aluminium foil and go next weekend and report back.



I won't be too concerned about the long term possibility of damage because they are already showing their age.
 
I've used it for years on end on things like my fork tubes. No problems. This is decades of use btw. Aluminum is soft, it's not going to harm the very hard chromium metal.
 
I've used it for years on end on things like my fork tubes. No problems. This is decades of use btw. Aluminum is soft, it's not going to harm the very hard chromium metal.
 
Be careful on polishing chrome with metal polish on Harleys. Their chrome is very thin and it's easy to polish through the chrome, specially the stock wire spokes.
 
Be careful on polishing chrome with metal polish on Harleys. Their chrome is very thin and it's easy to polish through the chrome, specially the stock wire spokes.
 
buellwinkle said:
Be careful on polishing chrome with metal polish on Harleys. Their chrome is very thin and it's easy to polish through the chrome, specially the stock wire spokes.
Click to expand...



Ah, the old Taiwanese chrome not so good eh? :doh



My old '75 Electraglide has good thick American Chrome. :woohoo:
 
buellwinkle said:
Be careful on polishing chrome with metal polish on Harleys. Their chrome is very thin and it's easy to polish through the chrome, specially the stock wire spokes.
Click to expand...



Ah, the old Taiwanese chrome not so good eh? :doh



My old '75 Electraglide has good thick American Chrome. :woohoo:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top