Hello all
How do I clean the plastic chrome trim strips? They appear cloudy with water type marks. Oxidisation?
Cheers.
Gary
Brightwork Renovating
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Lancia 2000
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2025 1:52 pm
- Location: Hampshire
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MikkiJayne
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2023 6:26 pm
Re: Brightwork Renovating
Its not plastic or chrome - its bright anodised aluminium. It can be restored with coarse polishing compound and a couple of coats of wax.
I use a mini polisher with a microfibre pad and Meguiars boat polish, but any coarse compound will work. Be warned, it takes a long time. Even with a machine, the long trim over the doors and rear quarter takes an hour per side. Make sure to mask off the paintwork! Compond like this will take paint down to bare metal very quickly
Liquid metal polishes don't work. Paste like Autosol does, but its extremely expensive in tubes. Boat polish is a lot cheaper by weight!
The polisher will recover trim which is milky but still smooth to the touch. If the surface feels rough like sandpaper it is done and needs replacing. Once you've got as far as you can with the machine, a few coats of wax will bring out the lustre and keep it nice for a while. I've pondered whether ceramic coatings will have the same effect but last longer but I've never had an opportunity to try it.
I use a mini polisher with a microfibre pad and Meguiars boat polish, but any coarse compound will work. Be warned, it takes a long time. Even with a machine, the long trim over the doors and rear quarter takes an hour per side. Make sure to mask off the paintwork! Compond like this will take paint down to bare metal very quickly
Liquid metal polishes don't work. Paste like Autosol does, but its extremely expensive in tubes. Boat polish is a lot cheaper by weight!
The polisher will recover trim which is milky but still smooth to the touch. If the surface feels rough like sandpaper it is done and needs replacing. Once you've got as far as you can with the machine, a few coats of wax will bring out the lustre and keep it nice for a while. I've pondered whether ceramic coatings will have the same effect but last longer but I've never had an opportunity to try it.
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