Probably a dumb question.....but could you wetsand chrome?

N

NorcalZ71

New member
Ok so if this is a stupid idea, i apologize. ive developed some surface defects on my 20" chrome wheels that i am really not sure the company will cover under warranty as it could be "owner neglect". i dont think thats the case, but beside the point.



the defects basically look like snowflakes, if you will, on the surface of the chrome, they seem very shallow and if i remember right chrome is pretty thick? could i theoretically wetsand these marks out, probably going very very very high on the grit to get the finish proper again, and then high speed polish them back to a nice chrome reflection? there are a few tiny spots where some tiny tiny rust pits have formed near the back, but otherwise these defects kind of look like water etching in paint, would this work?



thanks
 
You mite think your question is dumb. But if the chrome is a very good quality. You can use a fine steel wool on it. I have done this for years with very good results. The key here is a fine steel wool and a good chrome. Rub it lightly and it will not scratch it. Here in Idaho every piece of chrome will rust during the winter months. Try a little spot first.To make sure it won't scratch.
 
Eastwood makes some very good polishing kits, if you happen to scratch it you can buff it out again with good results.



Also, chrome might be "thick" by some standards, but not compared to paint. It goes on a few hundred molecules thick, so I'd stay away from sandpaper.
 
I've never been able to remove surface defects from chrome plating, and I've been trying various things on the Jag's chrome since I took delivery back in '85 (and, heh heh, I try the more aggressive approaches on *other* stuff that's chrome plated ;) ). I've worn the chrome plating off of some things, but I've never removed marring from it. In my experience, once the layer of chrome has marring it's there to stay and once the chrome has been compromised (corrosion indicates that stuff has gotten through the layers of plating and down to the underlying metal) it needs to be replated to truly fix the problem.



I won't say "don't use steel wool on glass" but I will point out that auto glass isn't always as hard as it used to be and that the TSBs now say to only use plastic razor blades on it. So be very careful and try an inconspicuous spot first.
 
i will try to see if i can get a picture of the defect maybe that would help a little, but i will give the steel wool a try. do you just use the steel wool dry no lube or anything like with clay? and do you need to follow it up with anything other than a normal polish? i might have to pick up one of the eastwood kits too.
 
+1 for the steel wool. I have used steel wool on chrome wheels with great success. I have used it to remove brake dust that has sat on the wheel when nothing else would take it off. Every time the wheel came out looking brand new with absolutely no scratching. I'm not sure if it will work in your situation though but its definitely worth trying.
 
right on, so im assuming you just get in there like you would with say neverdull, but with some steel wool, and go to town? with 000 grade? and are we talkin just standard steel wool you would pick up at a hardware store, just make sure its the right grit?
 
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