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+--- Thread: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed (/showthread.php?tid=3719)
Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Purplecomputer - 06-11-2012
Okay,
So Im pretty much making my car worse by trying to make it better.
I was trying to polish the chrome arches found on the rear of the doors and on the passenger side I guess I polished too hard ( I was using a buff pad that goes on a power drill)
and now there's a line going down it which looks like I peeled away the chrome plating. Now before I started the chrome was very "cloudy" and it is noticeably shinier but not where I want it to be.
how can I fix this?
![[Image: 20120611_192758.jpg]](http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/links156/20120611_192758.jpg)
EDIT: If the piece is removable, does someone want to sell me another one?
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Simpler=Better - 06-12-2012
As I understand, the W123's don't have chrome trim-it's just aluminum with clearcoat. Looks like you let the polishing compound dried up and started to rub through the top layer. Get some more compound on there and hit it again-what's the worst that can happen?
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Purplecomputer - 06-12-2012
(06-12-2012, 09:34 AM)Simpler=Better As I understand, the W123's don't have chrome trim-it's just aluminum with clearcoat. Looks like you let the polishing compound dried up and started to rub through the top layer. Get some more compound on there and hit it again-what's the worst that can happen?
so that would make sense as to why the chrome polish i have been using never works! Also I bought this "polishing" set from harbor frieght and it had two bars in it. One white and the other is red. I used the white one because the packaging said it was for chrome.
So from what I gather your saying I removed the clearcoat? If I keep polishing long enough will i just expose the aluminum and make that bad boy shiny?
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Simpler=Better - 06-12-2012
You need to get a nice fuzzy polishing tool, HF has them cheap.
Then you need to get your hands on some Mother's Aluminum Polish-it's in a tub and kinda like a thick jelly. The HF polishing kit is for rough metal to a shiny finish.
I've also heard good things about " Nev'r Dull " polish. If you use chrome polish on aluminum, or vice versa, it's going to take 10 years and might not look that great. The mothers will impress you, believe me.
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Purplecomputer - 06-12-2012
(06-12-2012, 11:48 AM)Simpler=Better You need to get a nice fuzzy polishing tool, HF has them cheap.
Then you need to get your hands on some Mother's Aluminum Polish-it's in a tub and kinda like a thick jelly. The HF polishing kit is for rough metal to a shiny finish.
I've also heard good things about " Nev'r Dull " polish. If you use chrome polish on aluminum, or vice versa, it's going to take 10 years and might not look that great. The mothers will impress you, believe me.
Thanks on the input, I thought it was chrome and I was going about it the wrong way.
I was reading up on other forums that some people remove the clear coat by wet sanding or using chemicals should I try this or use this as a last resort?,
also Can I find this stuff at most auto parts stores?
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Simpler=Better - 06-12-2012
Mother's is sold at all car parts stores, Walmart, most hardware stores, and probably HF.
Acetone will strip the clearcoat in no time, just make sure you don't get ANY on the paint. Or your skin. Or your lungs.
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Purplecomputer - 06-12-2012
(06-12-2012, 03:04 PM)Simpler=Better Mother's is sold at all car parts stores, Walmart, most hardware stores, and probably HF.
Acetone will strip the clearcoat in no time, just make sure you don't get ANY on the paint. Or your skin. Or your lungs.
Thanks for taking the time to help me out with something so stupid.
But just to clarify, should I strip the clear coat or leave it alone?
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - Simpler=Better - 06-12-2012
Can't really polish the metal if it has a layer of clearcoat on it now can you :p
I was the polishing guru at school-I could get polycarbonate clear as glass, and make 1018 (cheap steel) shine like chrome. Now I don't have the same amount of free time :p
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - lpumb3 - 10-26-2012
hi there is the molding on the 126's the same situation? i just put chrome wheels on mine and the dull trim looks dookey :-( so now i gotta make it shine . should i just remove it sand it polish it and hit it with clear again ? it seems like you have a grasp on it Simpler, its almost black in some areas like it has the aluminum corrosion thing happening
thanks all
RE: Messed up the door chrome arches, advice needed - 300td - 12-01-2012
(06-11-2012, 06:40 PM)Purplecomputer Okay,
So Im pretty much making my car worse by trying to make it better.
I was trying to polish the chrome arches found on the rear of the doors and on the passenger side I guess I polished too hard ( I was using a buff pad that goes on a power drill)
and now there's a line going down it which looks like I peeled away the chrome plating. Now before I started the chrome was very "cloudy" and it is noticeably shinier but not where I want it to be.
how can I fix this?
EDIT: If the piece is removable, does someone want to sell me another one?
ive got the same problem, idk what ill do, im thinking i might repaint all of it silver cause my w123 is blue and silver and blue looks awsome