Scratches On Chrome Lip....

What is the best way to get rid of these scratches ?? Any help appreciated tried all my tricks here thX!!!
:duh:

 

Number 1, I don't see any scratches in your pic. It really does not matter though. Chrome, when scratched, can be damned near impossible to fix. It's not like leveling paint. You can use a light compound on a mf and try your luck there. Truthfully, your best bet will probably be to use a product that will fill the scratch somewhat and hide it that way. I have used strong chrome cleaners like Autosol and even compound and while it cleans it very well, it doesn't remove the scratches. Good luck.

 

Try Megs 105 or UC on a yellow foam pad or microfiber and work it into the chrome until the scratches are removed. This works very well after a fellow detailer told me about it as I needed to remove swirls on my chrome exhaust tip and it did the job very well.

 

Normally i would just try whatever is suggested but this particualr case it is on my own wheels, I dont want to marr it anymore and am heartbroken. what would be the best product to fill it so to speak i tried but 50/50 paste + jet Seal 109 did hide it enough though

 

the scratches are on the left side of the lip

 

I thought the same as well when it was first suggested. "How can a heavy cut compound NOT marr chrome finish?" were my thoughts, but I just tried it anyway and there are absolutely zero swirls and zero marring on my chrome exhaust tip. The key is to work it in very well and to use less and less pressure the longer you work the polish. Chrome is extremely hard and resilient, I will go and see if I can get a before and after on mine right now with UC.

 

105 is more aggressive than UC...did you use UC or 105? I have new deep dish rims with a couple scratches and don't want to ruin the finish, but do want to get those scratches out. TYIA.

 

I used 105 the first time round (got a sample a few months ago) and it worked great with not marring and cleared the majority of the swirls. I have found that 105 takes less time to remove defects where-as UC takes multiple hits to lessen them. Here are some pictures I literally just took featuring how Megs UC will remove or at least lessen swirls on my chrome exhaust tip:


Before:





The amount of UC used per application on a german pad:





One hit:




Two hits:




Third and final hit (IPA wipedown was done):






I really aggressively polished the first few hits for about 30 seconds each and eased up my pressure for the last 10 seconds or so (my arm was dying lol). The third hit I polished lightly for 30 seconds or until UC started turning clear which is when I removed it and did an Isopropyl alcohol wipedown to remove any fillers left over to get a true idea for the finish left. I could have done a few more passes to remove 100% of the swirls but my arm was killing me from the awkward angle so I said good enough. It worked great, no marring and the results are pretty vivid in the pictures. Hope this helps!

 

is the chrome process for wheels the same as for say exhaust tips? i ask only b/c i have never seen a wheel tarnish the way a chrome exhaust tip will?

 

Chrome is no different whether it is chrome on an exhaust, chrome in the engine bay, chrome wheels, chrome interior trim, etc etc. The plating process is the same as is the chromium plating itself, the only difference in chrome tarnishing is the type of environment it is exposed to which would be high heat for exhausts and corrosive brake dust on wheels for instance. Keeping it clean and in good condition is no different however regardless of where it may be.

 

Christian...I have used lighter compounds to clean up chrome but never something as strong as 105 to try to get scratches out..I learned something today..thanks!!

 

thank you very much for all the ideas and support i am not 100% on what the UC you are refering to is>? And this was done with M105 and yellow Compounding pad?

 

My apologies, UC = Meguiar's Ultimate Compound which can be bought at any Autozone/Pepboys/Krager/Napa store. You can pretty much use any foam pad as you will not marr chrome because it is just so darn hard. I really worked the polish in those pictures and I didn't even fully correct them after 4 hits!

I used Megs Ultimate Compound and the yellow side of a German polishing pad. You can use any white spot buffing pad from your buffer pads to work it in by hand, or those regular yellow wax foam applicators but they might take a number of hits to fully correct but I think you will have an easier time because your defects are not nearly as deep as mine were.

Good luck, post up some pictures if you decide to give it a shot!

 

Oh i see thank you for the clarity i will do this and see how it goes i would post some pics but i only have my 5.0 mega pixel cell phone camera ( hard to caputre defects)
I tried a small section with 3M Rubbing comp. applied with MF, since i dont have UC Or M105 would it marr it more if used a foma pad with some 3m or would i be better off just getting some UC ... i guess i need some anyways. i just got pretty comfortablle using my 3m on my cars..but i wouldnt mind trying it. Also i see your in NB , enjoy the nice weather today its nice here in orange to!!!

 

A local I see (Orange = close enough), it is unbelievable here especially after just moving from Greenwich CT in the middle of winter. I still say to people everyday "It is a gorgeous day" and they always kind of shrug because to locals, they are used to it being like this pretty much every day.

I hope everything works out for your rims!