Guest Blues_Boy Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Well its official .... after 2 terms of basic Chemistry .... Chemistry is not my cup of tea sigh ---- I find it interesting and it certainly is key in life processes but as a pure science .. it just ain't speaking to me I've returned to school at the ripe age of 49 - moving from hi-tek hell (R+D) to Allied Health care studies. I'm a science junkie and I've always chewed up math - physics - earth sciences - electronics, but chem is chewing me up right now. So I'll be adjusting my major to less chem focused area. This is a real surprize - I thought I'd be chewing through chem and struggling with Biology and Anatomy and Physiology - but just the opposite is true. I'm ace'ing the bio classes and busting my butt just to make a B in chem. Argh But enough about me My question is about chrome and more importantly chrome care - with regards to my chrome infested Harley. From one group I hear just says keep it clean and use windex to touch up --- the other group says keep it clean but use the special chrome polishes --- and some even say the ammonia in windex will react with the chrome. Two things are for sure - any debris left on chrome long enough - especailly reactive things like salt water will eventually begin the oxidation process and then the chrome surface will etch and bubble up. The second thing is I'm lazy and looking for the best way to keep my chrome clean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glider Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 On my Harley I use polymer sealants (e.g. dynaglaze diamond seal or auto glym) on all chrome except the pipes. This stuff forms a very effective barrier against water and other junk you don't want building up (you can watch water just bead up and run off it). On the pipes I just use a chrome cleaner. It doesn't leave any residue to burn and discolour. For burned on stuff (happens occasionally, as you know), I use solvo autosol. It's very mildly abrasive which helps in removing the crud, but nowhere near abrasive enough to mark the chrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenSon Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 This is going to sound weird, but on Mythbusters they tested a leading brand of chrome cleaner against coke. Coke absolutely killed the chrome cleaner. What they did was pour coke all over a chrome bumper bar and scrub it with Aluminium foil... it worked really well!!! don't believe me? give it a try... ~Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coquina Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 An old trick to maintain chrome on boats situated in salt water is to rub a rag saturated in WD40 over it after you have washed it down. If you have road salts left from snow in your area, this might help too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glider Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 I use Waxoyl in the winter. A wipe down with a rag soaked in waxoyl is enough. The stuff goes hard (like wax) and usually lasts all winter. What they did was pour coke all over a chrome bumper bar and scrub it with Aluminium foil... it worked really well!!! Not sure I'd want to scrub my chrome with ally foil. I'd like to see it done on someone else's chrome first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdurg Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 The coca-cola had absolutely nothing to do with the polishing ability. You could take some warm water with sodium bicarbonate or table salt in it and it would accomplish the same thing. How do I know this? The fact that they used aluminum foil. All they did was a VERY simple electrochemical reaction. It's the same thing as putting tarnished silver in a solution of baking soda and hot water on aluminum foil. The coca-cola was just providing the electrolyte. (Since it has a good amount of phosphoric acid in it which allows current the flow). The bad thing is that you would then have a bunch of sugar syrup all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenSon Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 Not sure I'd want to scrub my chrome with ally foil. I'd like to see it done on someone else's chrome first Google mythbusters maybe they'll have a movie of it. The coca-cola had absolutely nothing to do with the polishing ability. You could take some warm water with sodium bicarbonate or table salt in it and it would accomplish the same thing. How do I know this? The fact that they used aluminum foil. All they did was a VERY simple electrochemical reaction. It's the same thing as putting tarnished silver in a solution of baking soda and hot water on aluminum foil. The coca-cola was just providing the electrolyte. (Since it has a good amount of phosphoric acid in it which allows current the flow). The bad thing is that you would then have a bunch of sugar syrup all over the place. Yeah maybe it would be better to use something not full of sugar, btu either may it does work. ~Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdurg Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 Perhaps a diet cola? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenSon Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 lol...I found their website if you haven't seen the show before then this will give you an idea of the kind of stuff they do. http://www.tvtome.com/MythBusters/guide.html ~Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now