Chrome Polish & Buffers
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
Chrome Polish & Buffers
What products do you guys find works the best for polishing your chrome? Any tips on a good orbital buffer purchase? I'm starting to accumulate a lot of the shiney stuff on my new Wide Glide, and I want to make sure to keep it that way.
Thanks for any info,
Jim
Thanks for any info,
Jim
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
RE: Chrome Polish & Buffers
Ditto. There aren't enough large flat areas on a bike to justify a buffer. Too many nooks and crannies. I've been using a Germanpolish called "Semichrome" for about 30 years. Have yet to find anything better. It works especially well on aluminum but is an excellent chrome cleaner/polish as well. As far as your painted surfaces, use a good quality wax that's clearcoat safe. For black engine surfaces, I use S-100 spray cleaner. Not cheap but it works.
[IMG]local://upfiles/17815/D426388A11EE4D889AB76D409B11366F.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/17815/D426388A11EE4D889AB76D409B11366F.jpg[/IMG]
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Chrome Polish & Buffers
It is a total waste of time to "polish" chrome. It will not get any shinier by rubbing on it. As soft as the chrome is these days, the only thing your are likely to do is scratch it. Chrome only needs to be kept clean. You can do that by regularly washing your bike. After a good wash, use some good glass cleaner to get the water spots off of the chrome if you need to.
Somebody is gonna say it........."wax your chrome".....That is a waste of time also. Wax won't stop rust. Don't believe me? Take a piece of take-off chrome and wax half with your favorite wax half of itand lay it out in the weather. You will likely see bothsides rusting equally.
Chrome is meant to be a durable, hard protecting finish, not something that you have to baby and worry about. Think about the old cars from decades ago with chrome all over them. They sat out in the weather, got road salt on them, and still only minimal care to keep them from rusting. The fact is chrome today isn't what it used to be. Some blame that on the EPA.
Somebody is gonna say it........."wax your chrome".....That is a waste of time also. Wax won't stop rust. Don't believe me? Take a piece of take-off chrome and wax half with your favorite wax half of itand lay it out in the weather. You will likely see bothsides rusting equally.
Chrome is meant to be a durable, hard protecting finish, not something that you have to baby and worry about. Think about the old cars from decades ago with chrome all over them. They sat out in the weather, got road salt on them, and still only minimal care to keep them from rusting. The fact is chrome today isn't what it used to be. Some blame that on the EPA.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Chrome Polish & Buffers
Today's chrome may not be as good as yesterday's but I think a lot of the polishing products work well on chrome that has some spots or light pitting. A lot of those products do to chrome what clear coat does to paint. Or what waxing does to paint. New chrome on a new bike may shine just fine with some windex, but a good/light polish product seems to add extra luster and depth to chrome that's had a chance to share electrons with rain, salt, sun, bug matter, etc.
One way to avoid the spots when you wash is to rinse with a gallon or two of distilled water then wipe.
One way to avoid the spots when you wash is to rinse with a gallon or two of distilled water then wipe.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 0
From: Top of Texas
RE: Chrome Polish & Buffers
ORIGINAL: CobraSnake
stay away from buffer ive seen people not experienced with a buffer ruin paint jobs always hand polish you tins unless you want swirl marks.
stay away from buffer ive seen people not experienced with a buffer ruin paint jobs always hand polish you tins unless you want swirl marks.
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