How To Polish The Chrome Plating Of Vintage Cars - WD-40 Africa

Before explaining how to polish chrome plating, it’s important to understand that up until the 1960s, cars and vintage cars had different body parts that were enriched and finished with chrome surfaces. Bumpers, rear-view mirror supports, but also the end parts of mufflers, some handles, rims and several other aesthetic and decorative inserts were typically chrome plated. Even if done absolutely perfectly, chrome plating tends to oxidise and lose shine. In addition, atmospheric agents and abrasion caused by gravel turn chrome plating opaque. In the most serious cases, the surface becomes pitted by the emergence of many small oxidation zones. The salt in the air in seaside environments causes this damage particularly quickly. Careful maintenance of the chrome parts is therefore necessary, which in normal situations requires cleaning and polishing the chrome plating, while if it has been significantly oxidised the galvanic application of new chrome plating must be carried out at a specialised centre.

What you’ll need 

• WD-40 Specialist Universal Cleaner
• Sponge
• Wool glove
• WD-40 Specialist Wax & Polish
• Microfibre cloth
• Roto-orbital sander

STEP 1: Washing 

The chrome plated part to be polished must first be washed thoroughly in order to remove any element (mud, tar, grease, etc.) from the surface that could interfere with the subsequent steps. It’s best to wash the areas with WD-40 Specialist Motorbike Universal Cleaner: first you wet the chrome surfaces with water, then spray the product, allowing it to act for at least 3-5 minutes. This multi-purpose cleaner is specially formulated to quickly remove dirt and various kinds of deposits from the road. Pass it over the chrome part using the sponge and wool glove. Never rub heavily or with abrasive materials to avoid scratching the chrome surface. Then rinse the part treated with the cleaner using running water.

STEP 2: Apply wax & polish 

Use WD-40 Specialist Motorbike Wax & Polish to polish the chrome plating. The product has been formulated to add shine to car and motorcycle bodies, including chrome parts. Its chemical composition contains Carnauba wax, one of the purest and most resistant natural waxes, with the addition of beeswax. Together, these components provide an extremely bright finish without leaving a trace. The product also has a protective action and is water-repellent, facilitating the slippage of water droplets during rain and stopping any deposits of mud. The product is not at all abrasive. Spray the Wax & Polish on the chrome plating, moving it regularly, keeping the can at a distance of 10-20 cm.

STEP 3: Final polish

When the applied solution has completely absorbed, polish the surface with a clean microfibre cloth with regular hand movements. As you work the chrome part will shine more and more, then remain so for a long time. The Wax & Polish does not leave halos on chrome plating. If the shape of the chrome plated surface allows and its extension requires it, it can also be polished with a low speed lambswool bonnet pad driven by a drill or polisher. With this system it will shine even more.

To follow all the news of WD-40 Africa, follow us on Facebook and Instagram !