How to look after chrome

[craigjm]

I am having the bumpers rechromed on my Jaguar XJ coupe as I restore it, already done the grille. Once it has been done what is the best way to keep it looking great as long as possible and avoid it pitting? Is there some kind of coating you get for them these days?

[alolympic]

I have never had mine rechromed, and mine were pitted underneath, so chose to paint the underside of mine in a couple of coats of zinc rich primer (built hamber electrox for me) to prevent rust taking hold. On the chromed side, just a coating and polish with bilt hamber auto balm every once in a while. Best not to over polish as you have just paid for the chrome plating, which is only so thick....

[anonymous-user]

A coating of grease on the inside helps and avoid polishing with Solvol Autosol.

[droopsnoot]

When I had my door handles chromed, the platers just said to wax them along with the rest of the car, or do nothing at all and just keep them clean.

As above, don't use Autosol or any other abrasive product, such as compound, T-Cut or whatever. That's OK if you've got tarnished chrome that you want to revive, but it does it by removing a tiny (or not so tiny, depending on the cutting characteristics of whatever you use) layer off the top surface.

[duka]

Raygun said:

A coating of grease on the inside helps and avoid polishing with Solvol Autosol.

is Autosol too abrasive?

[droopsnoot]

Yes. Autosol is basically a compound, and mainly works by taking a thin layer off the top. OK to try to restore the finish on old chrome, but not really for use on new chrome - better to protect with a wax so it doesn't go off in the first place.

[craigjm]

droopsnoot said:

Better to protect with a wax so it doesn't go off in the first place.

That's what I was wondering. Thanks!

[lowdrag]

droopsnoot said:

Yes. Autosol is basically a compound, and mainly works by taking a thin layer off the top. OK to try to restore the finish on old chrome, but not really for use on new chrome - better to protect with a wax so it doesn't go off in the first place.

Compared to toothpaste it is expensive too. If you need to remove microscratches then I would recommend Finesse It by 3M. Great for visors or perspex screens. My chrome was good after 30 years and was just washed and dried, but in an unheated garage I sprayed with WD40 when I put the car away for the winter.

[dbdb]

I just wax the chrome parts on my old Jag and they are still in perfect completely untarnished condition at 25 years old now. I put Dinitrol wax on the underside some years ago and they were not corroding through from the inside either, last time I looked.