Advice needed on how to clean/polish old ugly chrome bumpers

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black954

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I’m in the process of putting my 69’ Dart back together and I’m at the point of installing the original front bumper. I’d like to clean and get it shining the best I can, but I’m a little nervous cause I don’t want to damage it worse than it already is. What do you guys do to freshen up old chrome bumpers? I was thinking of trying Eagle One chrome wheel cleaner and a scrub brush or maybe Comet powdered bathroom cleaner and a red scotchbrite pad, but im nervous that the scotchbrite will scratch the chrome. Here’s a pic of what the bumpers look like. The paint is pretty bad as well but that will be addressed latter.

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I’m in the process of putting my 69’ Dart back together and I’m at the point of installing the original front bumper. I’d like to clean and get it shining the best I can, but I’m a little nervous cause I don’t want to damage it worse than it already is. What do you guys do to freshen up old chrome bumpers? I was thinking of trying Eagle One chrome wheel cleaner and a scrub brush or maybe Comet powdered bathroom cleaner and a red scotchbrite pad, but im nervous that the scotchbrite will scratch the chrome. Here’s a pic of what the bumpers look like. The paint is pretty bad as well but that will be addressed latter.

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I have had good results with this.

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As in post 2 , but I saw aluminum foil and coke instead of water. But Doc's looks great. I'm going to have to try this. :thumbsup::rofl:
 
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So just a ball of foil and water with some elbow grease and they came out like that?!?!

Yes sir! I used a mother's chrome polish on my redlines but they still weren't as shiny. A guy at the auto store said try tinfoil and water and boy did it work! Doesn't take that long and didnt have to really even apply that much pressure.
 
I’m in the process of putting my 69’ Dart back together and I’m at the point of installing the original front bumper. I’d like to clean and get it shining the best I can, but I’m a little nervous cause I don’t want to damage it worse than it already is. What do you guys do to freshen up old chrome bumpers? I was thinking of trying Eagle One chrome wheel cleaner and a scrub brush or maybe Comet powdered bathroom cleaner and a red scotchbrite pad, but im nervous that the scotchbrite will scratch the chrome. Here’s a pic of what the bumpers look like. The paint is pretty bad as well but that will be addressed latter.

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Hell no. Don't use scotchbrite. 00 steel wool, navel jelly and elbow grease. Follow up with some paste wax. That should minimize the rust pits.
 
If your chrome is pitted or already flaking, DO NOT use aluminum foil and water/Coke. It will make it worse.

I haven't tried **** on a bumper but there was a certain trunk lid back in the day ..... but that's a story for another time. :D
 
SOS pads. Whatever the "soap" is that they're impregnated with dissolves rust pretty easily.

No matter what you end up using, give your chrome a good coating of wax to protect it.
 
I used foil and coke to get rid of some light rust pitting on a barracuda bumper and it did a decent job. To make it shine I buff it out the same way I'd buff paint with a couple different compounds starting with aggressive and ending with something that polishes it out nicely. You can only make an old bumper look so good. Then at that point you have to decide if you can live with it or if you need to get it rechromed or buy a new one.
 
Used it many times, excellent stuff.
Made my directional arm completely covered in rust shine like new.

Latest, Hurst, not paint, wouldn't come off with paint remover, wire wheel would not make a dent. I even took a razor blade to it.
I really thought it was paint at first.

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I appreciate all the input. I wound up using 0000 steel wool with chrome polish. It’s not perfect, but I’m very pleased with the results. The bumper and grill on my car are pretty beat up so I couldn’t expect too much.

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I use OOO, and OOOO steel wool on chrome. You can also use a lite oil, or something like WD-40 with the wool. It works good for me. It wont remove pits, or scratches. It takes a little elbow grees, and time.
I've even used it on chrome plated plastic on newer vehicles, but you have to take it easy.
Been doing it for years.
Black, your bumper looks a lot better.
Dave
 
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