(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best chrome & metal polishes

Chemical guys is decent, I have heard great things about Angelwax however never tried because of the expansive shipping. There are a couple of products you can try. I wouldn’t adventure to recommend something I haven’t use but Adams Polishes is a good brand and sells this detailer Adams Matte Detailer and they sell it by the gallon too. There is good info here. How to care Matte paint finish . Good luck!

I like Flitz polish. It works great for so much.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001447VB2/

Also https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H6MNRU and/or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TV6DLU

Combine with a drill and you should be able to get that sparkling.

However, another potential option would be the tried and true when something needs some tough love: http://brillo.com/products-2014.asp

If you want a pro to sharpen the knife that makes the Takamura an even better choice. Few knives I've used can go as long between sharpenings.

Many guided systems would handle the Takamura alright. If you're using the diamond Lansky or even a Sharpmaker, I think you'll be okay. Higher end jigs like an Edge Pro or Wicked Edge can manage it no problem.

I would definitely supplement with a diamond loaded balsa strop to compliment the knife, though. DMT makes some low cost diamond compounds. Here's a link to a three micron paste that would work fairly well. Making the strop is as easy as buying a piece of balsa with about the dimensions of a sharpening stone from a hardware or craft store and wiping a few drops of the compound into one face of the wood. Here's a video on loading and using a strop; the techniques discussed in that video are not limited to the equipment he's using and can be used with most liquid stropping compounds.

I have had pretty good luck with Blue-Job, works on blueing and burnt on garbage. Dont bother using it by hand, get a 1/4 sheet sander and put the cloth right in there.

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Job-bluejob-Chrome-Polish-Kit/dp/B0006BFR2O

You want wet/dry sandpaper - when you use it you do so with a little water.

HD Heavy Cut Compound is a compound product - http://www.amazon.com/High-Definition-Car-Care-430OZ16/dp/B00CS8DYTG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417662932&sr=8-2&keywords=hd+heavy+cut+compound

M205 is a polishing product produced by Meguiars - it can be found on Amazon and many other online stores.

For the compound and polishing compound he used an orange lake country pad on a random DA machine - something you can also find on amazon. But if you're only doing head lights you can get away with a hand held pad such as: http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-BUFX_201-Hex-Logic-Applicator/dp/B00BUFWL0Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417663041&sr=8-2&keywords=hex+logic+orange

This process will work on tail lights - however, you must be sure to go slowly as tail lights are not as strong as head lights. Basically just check often while compounding to ensure that you don't do any more than necessary.

When you do this either make sure to tape around the tail light to avoid any accidentally contact with the paint OR take the tail light off of the car - which I would recommend as it makes things a lot easier.

Prussian blue is used to check your mating surface to make sure you have even contact all the way around. Bench grinding is done to remove any carbon build up from the face and stem of the valves, when rebuilding with used parts is, the cleaner the better. I’ll find a video I saw a long time ago of a forum members diy of his hg replacement that I agree with and it’s all relatively easy and cheap/free just takes time.

Peek 33001 Metal Polish, 50ml Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TRQFGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jDASDbDWF5P1S

This is the stuff I used. I used nitrile gloves to rub it on all over the bowl and then used the scrubby side of a sponge to clean it. Did it twice and it came out nice and clean!

Use this, mirror like finish. Its great , easy to use, and you cant mess it up.

Simichrome is great stuff, and is good for cleaning paint too. I use it so much I finally decided to buy it by the can.

I’ve used Flitz for surface rust and it worked great and knife was like new.
https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Fiberglass-Polish-1-76-Ounce-Blister/dp/B079PPQD9L

If you can find it, liquid glass. It’s an old school hot rodder’s secret, and the company has all but disappeared. I’m convinced it’s a primitive ceramic coating. It lasts for YEARS, goes on like wax, produces an excellent shine, and is hard as a rock. The paint feels exactly like the name describes: like glass.

I liquid glassed my fiancée’s car back when we were dating. This was probably 3-4 years ago. The fucker gets washed 4-5 times per year max, and never a real deep clean or clay or anything. The damn thing is swirled to hell and back, and still beads water like a duck’s back. It’s mocks me perpetually as I struggle to maintain my perfect paint and coatings on my two cars, because I can’t find another can of it.

Find liquid glass. Go look at the auto parts store with dust on the shelves that’s barely hanging on and buy their entire stock. You’ll make their day and you’ll have enough liquid glass for the rest of your life.

Edit: OP I just searched amazon again for it and didn’t find liquid glass, but I found this. People are saying it’s exactly the same, even that one of the partners took the formula and started this company when the original guy went to jail.


Despite what it says it’s not a polish it’s a sealant. I ordered some, same day shipping for me. I’ll try it out later and let you know if it’s similar or the same. Liquid glass had a distinct smell too it, an old school chemical menthol turpentine smell. Ill know it by smell.

Liqui Tech Finish First Auto Polish (16 oz.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AX9E3OC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YMuvDb0S6Q03Q


Edit 2: this is what the can looked like via a few recent ebay sales. And as you can see, it was THAT good. These used to sell for around $25 in stores.

https://imgur.com/a/guiS4LC

i've had good luck with this

https://www.amazon.com/California-Custom-Products-Purple-deoxidizer/dp/B005WWMP86

Chrome pipes tend to turn blue; this is caused by too rich fuel mixture. Your pipes do not appear to have heat shields; the pipes you're seeing on other bikes have shields over them and are likely EFI, so fuel mixtures are better controlled.

If Blue-ing bothers you much, in one afternoon you can polish it off with Blue Job.

All rust removers do this - including evaporust and electrolysis - some more so than others. The issue is rust removers don't really remove rust. They convert it from Iron Oxide (rust) to Iron Oxide II (aka black oxide or the black residue you are seeing).

The way to prevent this is to babysit it more. The less amount of time you soak it the better off you will be.

Wizards Metal Renew cleans up Iron Oxide II really well.

What do you think of this product? It seems to work really well when I did my dads headlights on his '98 Civic hatch. It started to fog up a bit and when i rubbed some of this into the headlight, it looked like brand new again. I think I may even rub some into my mom's '12 Forester as preventative maintenance.

This is the best stuff I've used. https://www.amazon.com/S100-17075T-Total-Finish-Restorer/dp/B0012TZ2LA/ref=sr_1_15

Just a standard microfibre round pad and this amazing polish Autoglym Super Resin Polish, 1L https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009LHHHZE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_C.H3AbT40P4QN

Ive used this with decent success on a display sword.

Amazon UK has it for like 50 European Pesos

​

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SONAX-SN-1837847-Perfect-Finish/dp/B00I0JEOLE/ref=sr_1_2?crid=TXBLTM6N9IYM&keywords=sonax+perfect+finish&qid=1565813076&s=gateway&sprefix=sona%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-2

I had tried polishing off the first few scratches off my FR 645 using a polishing cloth (I had tried with this one: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0128B5JZ4/)

While the cloth works amazingly well, the scratches were too deep to be completely removed. That said, with time I just got used to seeing them.

cost me 8€

did a self-polish ;) ..using this one:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0128B5JZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Nz4GDb6D2JW39

https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Polish-Simichrome-Grams-8-82/dp/B004F5BDIO/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&qid=1495713873&sr=8-33&keywords=brass+polish

I like this stuff but I have ever only used it on brass.

Get some Prussian blue or anti seize and put a dollop under the handle of their toolbox. A little dab’ll do you because it spreads like wildfire.

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-80038-Prussian-Fitting-Compound/dp/B000HBM86Q

http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0002U268M

http://www.amazon.com/Autosol-Polish-Harley-Davidson-Softail/dp/B00G90PRNA/ref=pd_sim_263_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41pY-JrpUBL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1QK4AMXC017F7KBE7F59

any difference other than price?

If none of the other suggestions here work, this probably will:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006BFR2O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1