How to look after chrome?

[Papa Bear]

I have a very nice set of rims to put on my next Harley but might be a year or two before I get that bike so I would like to know the best way to store them so they dont go bad on me. I am going to polish them up all nice and then what?? stick them in the shed with a sheet over them?? spray CRC all over them then cover?? do nothing and stop being so paranoid?? :confused:

[98tls]

Id just give em a good polish steal a set of the Mrs winter sheets wrap them up and hide them under the bed or somewhere nice and dry.

[tri boy]

What 98 said. And maybe grab a few of those moisture pack thingies that are packed with electronic gear. (can't remember what the crystal is called)

[Big Dave]

Autosol polish once a month.

[Storm]

I'd second that-Autosol was recommended to me and its been everything its promised- I cant speak highly enough of it

[Papa Bear]

Thanks for the input.. I am giving them the Autosol treatment at the moment.. it sure is a great product.. been using it for years.. I guess if I give them a big polish up now then a monthly one wouldnt take long.

[dino3310]

what tri boy said but with a wardrobe size hippo moisture absorber from the supermarket

[Big Dave]

Thanks for the input.. I am giving them the Autosol treatment at the moment.. it sure is a great product.. been using it for years.. I guess if I give them a big polish up now then a monthly one wouldnt take long.

Dremel tool and #615 (i think) polishing pads charged with autosol.
Takes an hour or two - Brings even bright steel/alloy up like chrome.

[Bonez]

Lint free cloth, autosol and a wipe over by hand should be enough for chrome in good condition.

Just remember it is a mild abrasive.

[duckonin]

Give them a good rubbing down with baby oil

[SilverGrin]

Give them a good rubbing down with baby oil

Also, play soft background chamber music for them, they'll love you for it.

[rudolph]

Tec tol, not even god himself could make them go rusty then

[98tls]

Thanks for the input.. I am giving them the Autosol treatment at the moment.. it sure is a great product.. been using it for years.. I guess if I give them a big polish up now then a monthly one wouldnt take long. End of the day mate if they truly are good quality then after a good polish and left somewhere dry they will be fine untouched for ages.

[Griffin]

Also, play soft background chamber music for them, they'll love you for it.

:first: Now THATS good advice

[Rockbuddy]

dont know about the chamber music so much, my chrome prefers some handel or a bit of bach, maybee at a pinch some mozart. also i use a product call "formula one bike clean" not only for chrome but keeps the whole bike nice and shiny

[Biggles2000]

I would clean them and give them a squirt of WD40 which is a fish oil based product. Store them in the loft where it is warm and dry and not in the basement.

[Papa Bear]

Emm baby oil with the smell of WD40 & Autosol but might have to change the music to Pink Flyod.... I love my life. Still giving them the big polish up so will keep reading before I put them away but seems like wrap them up with the boss's sheets, chuck in a tampon and should be all good. Thanks everyone.:headbang:

[Conquiztador]

There should be no need to use Autosol on brand new chrome. It is an abrasive and will make old chrome shine. But you will be able to see the scratches from the Autosol if you look closely.

Even new crome has microscopic holes in it. That is where the rust starts. Any chroming I get done I use Turtle Wax on. It will fill the small holes and leave a coating on that dampness won't penetrate. It does not scratch the new chrome.

Then store in dry place.

[Papa Bear]

The rims are not new but in saying that I dont think they have done many Km's.. still in really great condition. Next time I uncover them I will give them a once over with turtle wax. Thanks heaps. Would love to hear about other cleaning tips on how to keep my noble steed all sparkly. :wait:

[98tls]

The rims are not new but in saying that I dont think they have done many Km's.. still in really great condition. Next time I uncover them I will give them a once over with turtle wax. Thanks heaps. Would love to hear about other cleaning tips on how to keep my noble steed all sparkly. :wait:
Ive a mate with a panelbeating/spraypainting business one day we gathered a few different polishes and spent some time comparing results on a late model Falcon with really nice paint that had been fucked up by some brainless vandels,Meguiars Tech wax came out on top by miles,another product i find very good is CRC 808 Silicone spray and use it all the time,after cleaning my bike i spray the stuff everywere not only is the finish awsome it helps stop shit sticking to the bike.

[Papa Bear]

True.. Im up for tryn all new ideas.. will give that Meguiars Tech a bash.. A dude told me one a while back, I thought he was mad but in true style I gave it a go..... PLEDGE furnitue polish !!!! I shit you not, it works a treat ! I spray some on a piece of clean rag and just wipe over EVERYTHING.. nothing seems to stick to it either. :scooter:

[98tls]

True.. Im up for tryn all new ideas.. will give that Meguiars Tech a bash.. A dude told me one a while back, I thought he was mad but in true style I gave it a go..... PLEDGE furnitue polish !!!! I shit you not, it works a treat ! I spray some on a piece of clean rag and just wipe over EVERYTHING.. nothing seems to stick to it either. :scooter: Sold cars up north for years and knew a dealer who sold late model secondhand Euros,he used nothing but glass cleaner......i shit u not.

[Papa Bear]

Gotta wonder why we spend so much $$$ on all the fancy polish's sometimes :oi-grr:

[FJRider]

Usually when you buy bits for a bike... you buy the BIKE first...or am I just old fashioned ?????

[Papa Bear]

You are correct FJ but the rims where a deal to good to let it pass and they are for the bike that I already knew that I am going to buy. :niceone:

[Angusdog]

I'm sick of the absolute rubbish chrome on accessories. I had a pair of torpedo mirrors on a car which sat in the driveway for three months - rusted horribly so threw them out. The pack rack on my M50 - rusted and flakey. Came with the bike but must have been all of a year old. A pair of flat bars on my M50 (from local Harley dealer) - rust spots within six months.

Funnily enough, the fake chrome on the plastic parts of my M50 is really really tough. I'm gradually getting rid of it, but at least it doesn't rust.

The chrome on our 40 year of mini is still good, with no protection. And the chrome on the standard parts of the M50 is still very nice, but the quality of chrome of accessory parts (presumably from China, India or Malaysia) is rubbish; unfortunately you don't know until you've had the parts for months.

Rechroming is too expensive - it should have been done properly in the first place. In a lot of cases, powder coating would be more durable although obviously less bling bling.

[phred]

I prefer not to use baby oil as it is too difficult to replace when the baby runs out.

[pete376403]

I'm sick of the absolute rubbish chrome on accessories. I had a pair of torpedo mirrors on a car which sat in the driveway for three months - rusted horribly so threw them out. The pack rack on my M50 - rusted and flakey. Came with the bike but must have been all of a year old. A pair of flat bars on my M50 (from local Harley dealer) - rust spots within six months.

Funnily enough, the fake chrome on the plastic parts of my M50 is really really tough. I'm gradually getting rid of it, but at least it doesn't rust.

The chrome on our 40 year of mini is still good, with no protection. And the chrome on the standard parts of the M50 is still very nice, but the quality of chrome of accessory parts (presumably from China, India or Malaysia) is rubbish; unfortunately you don't know until you've had the parts for months.

Rechroming is too expensive - it should have been done properly in the first place. In a lot of cases, powder coating would be more durable although obviously less bling bling.

As previously mentioned. chrome is porous. Thats why top quality (or even standard 40 year old chroming) is/was done properly - copper plating first, nickle plate second, chrome plate last, ie triple chrome plating. I'd guess the cheap shit is just chrome straight over the top of the base metal. moisture get through the pores, rusts the steel, and the plating peels off soon after

chrome faq here: http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html

[AllanB]

Meguiars Tech Wax is excellent - also K-Mart sells it (in CHCH anyway) and has 25% off for the next few days - worth a trip as it is expensive.

My advise is contrary to some of the previous but given from from experience.

Do not cover them in a sheet - in the winter in your shed it will get damp, the sheet covering them (or your bike for that matter if you cover it) will also get damp (go out and feel a sheet or rag or covering in your shed now). That damp will transfer to the rims.

Polish, spray with silicone or WD40 and hang from the rafters ensuring they are not touching a wall. Take them down every 6-4 months or so and dust them then respray and they will remain as they are today.

I had a set of chrome rims stored in my shed for 23 years in this manner and they were perfect.

[Papa Bear]

Sooooo many good ideas.. currently they are living in the lounge all nice and toasty :whistle:

[gunrunner]

Autosol is good California Customs Purple Polish is the best i have used .
www.calcustom.com.au aust distributor .