Jeweler's rouge on chrome? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

V2monster · 10-15-2008, 11:48 PM

Sorry if repost... has anyone had luck w/ jeweler's rouge to remove swirl marks and scratches on chrome?

V2monster · 10-15-2008, 11:50 PM

Sorry mods... please move to tech

steveusmc · 10-17-2008, 05:52 PM

I sure don't have a problem with it being posted in here. "Motorcycle Care Products" includes items other than advertised fancy stuff. I don't know about the jeweler's rouge but would sure give it a try if someone in here says it works good on chrome. I do know the stuff cleans the heck out of gold rings. I polish my '72 class ring with it once in awhile and it makes it look like new.

kustom_flames · 10-17-2008, 07:30 PM

You can actually use 3000 grit sandpaper to help with scratches...

I have a DA sander that I put a 3000 grit trizact pad on, and it does wonder to polish stainless and it has even helped the chrome bumpers on my 65 chevy...

Sorry, have not tried the rouge...but interested in hearing if someone has...

Karsten · 10-19-2008, 08:22 PM

I would 1st try the jeweler's rouge in a spot you can't see by hand and be sure you have a very fine polish. While the stuff works great on Gold and other metal understand they are solid and not plate like chrome.

I bought one of those Simoniz Fix It Kits to fix a 1/4 inch scratch on my tank (no it doesn't work as advertized) but the little battery op sponge buff works great with Mothers Metal Polish and fine polishing compounds. Cleaned my forks, alloy cases and what not up great compared to what they looked like.

The Fix It Polish will put a great finish on the paint, alloy and chrome but don't count on repairing any damage as shown on TV.

I did use a fine to very Jewelers Rouge to take the rock chip damage off the lower forks that are Cast Alloy then did a lot of wet sanding, Jewelers Rouge again with a soft buffer wheel in a 1/4 inch drill then finished with polished compound and Mother's.

Karsten

Tech23 · 10-20-2008, 06:24 AM

I'm not affiliated with this in any way, just trying to help here. This stuff is what the street rodders use. The red cleaner/polish works great by itself but the blue polish works great as a finishing polish or second step. I went to the street rod nationals in York PA and a vendor was demostating the stuff. He took a quarter from me and polished it, the difference was amazing. You could feel the difference between the polished quarter and all the other (non polished) quarters in your pocket.

http://www.wenol-polish.com/

rickr01 · 10-22-2008, 11:38 AM

I have never witnessed anything that can remove scratches from chrome? I've seen many people try and all they end up with is a scuffed and hazy area with a scratch still in the middle. That looks worse then just allowing a few inevitable age marks to just be. If you polish the heck out of chrome with some Mothers or other good polish, It will look just fine without the magnifying glass. When parts do age to the point where they look scratched and scuffed all to hell, even from a distance, then it may be time to send it to the chromer for a refurb. I look at a bike from a few feet away as a sum of all the parts. Hows the bike look as a whole? Clean, nice paint well detailed and cared for. Nobody looks at a tiny scratch or scuff that's on the back side of your primary. Thats just my $.02. Believe me, I speak from anal experience. I've learned!

Gulfstream · 10-23-2008, 02:52 AM

I gotta agree with Rick on this one, I've never seen anything get scratches out of chrome either...not saying it can't be done, just that I've never seen it.

mstngjoe · 11-24-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickr01

....polish the heck out of chrome with some Mothers........

I've used "Mother's" products for years with great success and satisfaction on all types of chrome.

However, having said that.....I will tell you I used the "Mother's Chrome Polish" on a new set of Rush mufflers with very poor results.

I ended up with some very fine hazing/scratches on the chrome.

I assure you, my applicator and polishing cloth were not responsible. Both were clean.

I'm awaiting a reply from Mothers regarding the abrasive contents of the product.

Epiflex (the maker/distributor of Rush mufflers) wasn't too sympathetic to the situation. Suggested I try some 0000 steel wool.

I certainly don't expect to use a quality product on chrome and end up having hazing/scratching to live with.

I may try some jewelers rouge and see. Nothing to loose at this point.

mstngjoe · 12-13-2008, 11:46 AM

Well, I tried some white polishing clay/compound (version of jewelers rouge) and didn't help.

Replaced the Rush with Khrome Werks.

TRAYLORTRASH · 12-13-2008, 11:55 AM

Maguiars chrome polish works pretty good. It may not remove the scratches, but if you get a scratch removing compound, and then use the chrome polish it does a good job.

Photo John · 12-18-2008, 09:42 PM

4 ot steel wool. Any hard compound will scratch chrome even more. I know by experience.

ProFvnv · 12-19-2008, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech23

I'm not affiliated with this in any way, just trying to help here. This stuff is what the street rodders use. The red cleaner/polish works great by itself but the blue polish works great as a finishing polish or second step. I went to the street rod nationals in York PA and a vendor was demostating the stuff. He took a quarter from me and polished it, the difference was amazing. You could feel the difference between the polished quarter and all the other (non polished) quarters in your pocket.

http://www.wenol-polish.com/

+1!
I've not found anything better than Wenol. If Wenol won't polish it, I don't think anything will.

Electric Head · 08-15-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickr01

I have never witnessed anything that can remove scratches from chrome? I've seen many people try and all they end up with is a scuffed and hazy area with a scratch still in the middle. That looks worse then just allowing a few inevitable age marks to just be. If you polish the heck out of chrome with some Mothers or other good polish, It will look just fine without the magnifying glass. When parts do age to the point where they look scratched and scuffed all to hell, even from a distance, then it may be time to send it to the chromer for a refurb. I look at a bike from a few feet away as a sum of all the parts. Hows the bike look as a whole? Clean, nice paint well detailed and cared for. Nobody looks at a tiny scratch or scuff that's on the back side of your primary. Thats just my $.02. Believe me, I speak from anal experience. I've learned!

I just came across this thread after cleaning my bike and ending up with Chrome that looks ok, unless direct light hits it, then it's a scratchy horror. I'm going to take up Rick's view on things! I'm not sure if it's the metal dust from work (laser cutting), or the powder-coaters through the fence where we park, but my chome, mainly the hot parts, and mostly on the hottest parts, heat shields, are always rough with dots of stuff stuck to them. I'm not sure whether it is the amount of polishing required to clean it off or perhaps dirty polish (with all the bits I polished off in it) but my heat shields are looking dodgy.

I'm thinking of re-chroming the shields in a couple of years, along with the headlight trim ring, which has a bad chrome job on it, not very chrome like on about 1/3 of it.

OH yeh - would it be a good idea for me to wipe down my heat shields with a wet rag or tissue before I leave work to stop powder / metal baking in? I think it's worth a try.