Scratched chrome

D

Domas

New member
Hi,



My Volvo chome door handles are lighlty scratched, what polish do you recommend to take the scratches out?



The handles are not metal, they are made from plastic, but covered with chrome. I believe it's not chrome paint but real chrome coating, because it feels cold when touched.

Maybe you are familiar with Volvo door handles? I'm talking about these:



003.jpg
 
I've never seen anyone remove chrome scratches. Chrome is very thin and hard .. Anything strong enough to remove the scratch would probably remove all the chrome
 
Well, I would like at least to reduce the scratches. (they are very light, like swirl marks).



A few months ago, I did a test with broken Volvo chrome grill (which is plastic covered with chrome like these handles). I tried dry sanding the chrome with 800 grit sandpaper - even pushing hard and sanding for a while didn't take the chrome out, it seems it's quite hard and thick. Single handle costs approx $250 at the Volvo dealer, so I suppose it's not very cheaply made...



I'm willing to give it a try, but I'm a newbie, so asking for advice what is effective chrome polish?
 
F.Y.I.

Real chrome is made by dipping the part in to a vat of mealted metal(3 dips on 3 different metals)so Iam sure it's not real chrome on plastic
 
F.Y.I.



The plastic can also be plated. The plastic is processed with acid, then covered with copper solution, then plated with chrome during electrolysis.

(I know the plastic sometimes is covered with chrome paint, like "Killer Chrome", but then it's sprayed with clearcoat, while my handles have no clearcoat and are cold like metal, I'm sure it is some kind of thin metal coating).



Ok, I will correct my question - anybody has to recommend any good "real chrome" polish?



Thanks ;)
 
You can try a fine metal polish..won't hurt I suppose. Chrome polish should really be called chrome cleaner..they seem more about chemicals wiith enough abrasives to clean the stuck on stuff



I also wonder if a paint polish made for the hard clearcoats such as 106FF would work better than a metal polish.



Or..would going the filling route work..something like Klasse SG



just thinking out loud here..
 
Domas said:
F.Y.I.



The plastic can also be plated. The plastic is processed with acid, then covered with copper solution, then plated with chrome during electrolysis.

(I know the plastic sometimes is covered with chrome paint, like "Killer Chrome", but then it's sprayed with clearcoat, while my handles have no clearcoat and are cold like metal, I'm sure it is some kind of thin metal coating).



Ok, I will correct my question - anybody has to recommend any good "real chrome" polish?



Thanks ;)
Click to expand...



Correct



WikiAnswers - Can Chrome plated plastic that is peeling be repaired The chrome is peeling from the interior door handles of my car how can I fix this
 
sspeer said:
You can try a fine metal polish..won't hurt I suppose. Chrome polish should really be called chrome cleaner..they seem more about chemicals wiith enough abrasives to clean the stuck on stuff



I also wonder if a paint polish made for the hard clearcoats such as 106FF would work better than a metal polish.



Or..would going the filling route work..something like Klasse SG



just thinking out loud here..
Click to expand...

Yes, I've noticed the "Chrome polishes" are mostly cleaners only, with no abrasives... I don't know, maybe it's just me, but last time I cleaned chrome, the glass polish worked better to me than chrome polish...



Well, I'll try to order some kind of metal polish from ebay.
 
Any thoughts about this metal polish kit?:

Pro Polish Plus



It consists of three different aggressiveness polishes, it says that the strongest one scratches the surface, so it needs to be followed with less aggressive one. Anyone tried that kit?
 
BigJimZ28 said:
sorry to me "real chrome" = Hot dipped



but thanks for the info on vacuum metalizing
Click to expand...

Who cares "real" it is or not... The only diffrence is coating processes, whie the last layer is chrome.
 
Just got back from garage... Tried polishing with Presta Ultra Cutting Creme - nothing, also tried Würth steel abrasive polish - nothing. The chrome coating seems to be very hard, but very thin... In some areas of heavy polishing, now the yelowish metal is visible :hairpull. I guess it's the nickel layer to which the chrome was plated. So I quit polishing them, not to make things worse. what do you think, maybe wax will slightly fill the scratches?



Btw, I've heard about the trick with food foil and cola - is this thing safe and could it cover the spots where nickel is visible?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top