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Polishing chrome bumpers

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Polishing chrome bumpers
#1
  This topic is about my 1969 MG MGB MkII
rutt Richard U
Orleans, MA, USA   USA
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I've scored a pair of original bumpers to replace my current after market reproductions.
They are in pretty good condition, with the exception of light swirl marks from improper polishing. (See the attached image - worse in the picture than in real life) ).
Has anyone had any luck polishing scratches like this?


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IMG_20170222_170019883.jpg

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#2
rntanner Avatar
rntanner Roger N. Tanner (Disabled)
Oxnard, CA, USA   USA
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1970 MG MGB
1977 MG MGB
Put these words in to Google:

"polishing chrome plated bumpers"

There are many choices.

If you want your MGB to look like a brand new bumper, the chrome has to be stripped off, plated with copper, polished and then new chrome plating.

What they sell for new bumpers are not as good as original parts; but, they are cheaper than the stripping the chrome and starting over.

Yes, I have worked in a chrome plating shop . . .


Roger N. Tanner
Professional Engineer, Retired

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#3
donski71mgb Avatar
donski71mgb Don Suleski
Mooresville nc, USA   USA
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1971 MG MGB "Rooster"
Meguiars Chrome Polish, nice stuff.

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#4
turner16 Mike Turner
Ajax, ON, Canada   CAN
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1967 MG MGB MkI "OMG"
Polish just like paint. Heavy Cutting compound, Light compound, polish, sealer or wax. they will come out great.

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#5
dawvid Avatar
dawvid David B
Sharon, MA, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB GT
Not to sound like a pessimist, but I doubt you will be able to clean these up if they are scratches in the chrome.

If you think it's some sort of surface covering, try some extra fine steel wool (000000).

David


74 Damask Red BGT
Davesmg@outlook.com

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#6
bencii Silver Member Ben Colpitts
Eden Prairie, MN, USA   USA
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1966 MG MGB
1973 MG MGB
Not to aggressive with any product. Chrome is extremely hard and if it is scratched into the chrome layer you will not be able to remove. You can cut right through the chrome to the nickel layer if too aggressive. A good polish may make it look better. I have used white rouge with a buffing wheel to polish and brighten.

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#7
little G Avatar
little G Charlie T
queensland, QLD, Australia   AUS
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2024 MG MGB "Little G"
Off to the chromers....scratches in chrome ..as they are...will always be dull and show up ...depends on the depth also ...you will be effectively filling the scratches when you polish it and it will still show ...then it comes out anyway ...which it will ...I have two originals the same as that here that I replaced with newly chromed genuines

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#8
dcdci Avatar
dcdci Gold Member Dave Loechel
Kings Park, NY, USA   USA
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1966 MG MGB
I'll tell ya', from my point of view they don't look too bad at all. Seem to be nice and shiny, no rust patches and no dents and you say they look worse in the photo than in real life. So they've got some swirls ... they're 50 years old.

They are OE bumpers and will fit the car so much better than the repros they will be replacing. That will, by far, be the biggest improvement in overall appearance. I say just polish them as you usually would and go for a drive.


Dave Loechel
66/67 roadster


"How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?" - Jacques Plante

"I always shot at the goalie and let my inaccuracy score for me." - Mike Bossy

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  tedjr thanked dcdci for this post
Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#9
BillzB Avatar
BillzB William M
Tucson, AZ, USA   USA
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1969 MG MGB MkII
1974 MG MGB MkIII
I agree with Dave. They don't look bad at all (especially for originals). They are much better than mine. I have the early stages of pitting but I just keep them polished and waxed. The wax will fill in any imperfections and the get you the shiny surface you want. Chrome plating is too expensive to consider at this stage.

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#10
HiPowerShooter Avatar
HiPowerShooter James Booker
Lake Winneconne, WI, USA   USA
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1973 MG MGB
Those scratches aren't going to buff out. Looks like they're into the chrome plate itself. You can possibly mask them with headlight sealant...it'll "fill" the micro abrasions but won't be a permanent fix. For future reference...aluminum foil and Windex is all you need to remove even pretty nasty surface pitting/rust.


"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...

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Re: Polishing chrome bumpers
#11
MGB567 Avatar
MGB567 Barrie Braxton
Ninderry, KabiKabi country, Queensland, Australia   AUS
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1966 MG MGB MkI "Money Guzzler"
1979 MG MGB GT V8 Conversion "Darkside"
I had cause to look up WD40 for something else - see the 3rd use - what have you got to lose?


Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

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