I think this video should be ranked in the top 10 RU-vid videos that really made a change in people's life! Tons of money spent by tons people worldwide in polish creams and pastes, sanding papers, rotating tools etc...and plus, so many chemicals produced and wasted in the environment, when the absolute best and fastest and cheapest way is in everyone's house and works better than any other! My motorcycle never looked so shiny in just one morning easy work! Thanks Thanks Thousand Thanks!
Finally, something I'm willing to pull up a stool and spend a lot of time cleaning my springer front end and VW engine chrome on my 1974 VW trike. You beat the band.
Like wise. I tried everything possible and in the end found 0000 super fine steelwool is the best. I washed heavy soiled parts first then used the steel wool. You do go through a fair bit of wool, but you cannot beat it.
Been using this method for at least 30 years, can't beat it. If you have chrome that is also greasy, you can use S.O.S. pads too, the wool is coarser but the soap acts as a lubricant so no scratches, make sure you use plenty of water to flush away the gunk.
What about the aluminum? They are just as bad! I bought a ‘12 and the guys all sentimental, but let it rust and looks like crap. I detail big boats, but I figured my little bike would be a challenge. Also, have to get around my husband.
@@Annieswaney , Depends if the aluminum is polished or "natural". The unpolished lower legs on my Harley forks are a pain in the ass to keep clean, bug guts stain them very easy.
Thank you. I'll try this. I also use used (aluminium) foil with water. It works because the foil is softer than the chrome, so it doesn't scratch, just removes little bits of rust.
Great job. What i do is use 0000 steel wool then i blast the areas with high pressure compressor air. Then, an i put on an all in one chrome cleaner and polish so it gives a protective coating.
Cleaned my Schwinn Stingray when I was a kid with steel wool. Use whatever paste wax the old man had in the garage with it to minimize scratches and add little protection.
Looks great. What I'm concerned about is if microscopic iron bits break off and bed themselves in the chrome, they will rust and leave rust streaks. I think that is why polishes use ceramics, as they won't rust. I am certainly not an expert though.
Its better but makes the life of the steel wool a lot shorter. I tend to use steel wool dry and use bronze wool afterward as its softer and doesnt rust
If you are willing to follow-up with a polishing compound, use that 0000….soaked in 409. Certain AP cleaners with friction turn into absolute beasts of cleaners. I actually use 000 to get the job done faster and with less residuals flying around. I have a ton of experience using this method, and it will absolutely clean the surface. BUT- it is not a polish. Think of it as a huge wool pad on a rotary for new paint. It does ‘a’ great job, but you have to follow-up with a compound. If anyone wants to shoot-down the process, realize at some point a mirror shine takes work. And you WILL want to finish it off with a sealant of some kind. I recommend Collinite or Finish Kare 1000P, as they hold-up better than any traditional wax.
Be careful with the wool y'all. It's great and a god send for spot rust and oxidation! But over a very long period and used as a main stay it will eventually actually dull the chrome no matter it's quality. Matter fact, it will over time dull down pretty extremely high dollar show chrome! Just wanted to throw that in after 51 years of riding and 40 of trucking. Be careful out there troops...later.
Exactly. Steel wool, any fineness, even 0000 DOES SCRATCH CHROME. If you don't believe it, use some on some brand new chrome. You will be able to see the difference between the untouched new chrome, & the chrome that has been rubbed with steel wool. Get one of those high power loupes that jewelers & rock hounds use. You'll be able to see the little scratches, then.
any chrome expert will tell you thats a very bad idea, because ur making very small scratches in the chrome. They will only be visible under a microscope, but ur def damaging the chrome. And if you do that more than once it will eventually become a dull surface. My advice here would always be Autosol metal polish. Thats better than anything else.
He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Do not do that. Mixing metal polish with steel wool will scratch your chrome and you will not be able to remove those scratches. Terrible advice.
Ummmm ... and me too. All I wuz hearin' was Never Use Steel Wool! I don't get why this has not been more popularly known. Well, must be me, but I'm going to give it a shot on one of my '84's.
Fuckin legend teaching us a lesson on cleaning chrome in what looks like cheetah print underwear in his garage, that’s how you know it’s a true lesson and not some bs 😂😂
I just went over my 2016 road King again as I did an oil change I put it up on my lift and went over it all one more time. I've had some comments on here about how it leaves micro scratches in the chrome. Super fun steel wool is not doing that to my chrome I can look at the chrome under a bright flashlight and a magnifying glass and they're absolutely no scratches. And track I can see more scratches if you want to call it that from the fine abrasives that are in chrome polish. If you try this method you'll see the more you rub the more dirt and gunk comes off the chrome and it embeds itself inside the steel wool and as you continue to polish and clean it just seems to shine more and more. For me it's working on the hard chromed steel parts as well as the chromed aluminum part. In all seriousness it looks like a mirror finish. No mess to clean up. I've got pictures that are close up and I defy anyone to argue with me that it's leaving scratches. those individuals are paid polishers who make a living at using a bunch of other techniques. In fact I can make recently professionally polished chrome look even better by hitting it with my 4X and 5X steelwool
@@rpmtechtv cool You've got me sold ill pick some up on my way home from work. Im going to let my boss know too. He has a sweet custom 2008 road king that could use some brightening up
your not dealing with rust or pits, your sh!t is mint. I got a sportster from my dad. The damn thing had rust on the chrome. Wizard worked wonders👍and 000 steel wool
@@gregdixon9443 it still looks like his was just dirty. What exactly does the steel wool take off and does the chrome and aluminum have a clear coat or something on them. Does the wool thin that out?
My dad showed me how steel wool would clean and shine those big chrome bumpers on cars we bought and sold in the seventies. Some people say the tiny bits of bits of steel the pad leaves will embed into aluminum, and rust, also very difficult to remove. I never did aluminum, so I dont know about that.
I use #0000 Brass wool. Small crumbs of wool can find their way into nooks & crannies ( is that right), and the brass won't rust and eventually will wash or blow away.
I use metholated spirits on my chrome put on with a micro fibre cloths let it dry then rub over with a second clean micro fibre cloth comes up like new ......... my son is a restorer he uses the finest steel wool he can find to polish up chrome like a mirror great video n thanks
It does scratch so i wouldnt use it on mint chrome but for old chrome that has rust spots on it is fine and will still look as shiny as new but it does leave scratches but im guessing the one you are using is super super fine if its not scratching. I would use it with soapy water to give it less friction and scratching. Then id wax after to protect from the weather elements and further corrosion.
Great!.. Been doing this for years, and someone are saying that they also use a liquid like toilet wash soap (green slimey stuff) together with the steel wool..this Looking great thou!.. 👍...also want to add,.. After using this, I take the bike in a car wash, and spray the wax program on to it.. Kepps the bike shiny all the time.. 👌
Ok I been knowing this trick since I was building low rider bikes when I was 12 years old. Here’s what u need to add. Spray down with WD40 first they do that and wipe down. Your welcome
This works great however, don't do it to any chrome plastic. You can tell the difference by touching it usually. The only part on my bike that has the plasti-chrome is my speakers.
i have used this for years...it works even better if you impregnate it with turtle wax #7 chrome restorer and polish.rub it on vigorously,let it dry,and polish with a clean microfiber.
Yeah, you might be right. I've looked at it pretty close and the sunlight also even with a magnifying glass. I'm not saying there's no scratches there. There's scratches in every surface. If you really get down to the resolution, the question is how it looks to the eyes. But I don't have any neon lights I used to when I was a kid.
All you young fellas that don’t know stuff yet, may want to listen to the old guys. I learned how to polish rusty old chrome wheels on my 69 c10 from my grandpa. He’s like are you gonna clean those wheels up? I was unaware you could remove rust but it works stay tuned to the old guy network for tips in the future
I use mothers with it on bare aluminum and it polishes it up great . But after cleaning it up give it a coat or two of "Rim Job" protectant. It makes the shine last a very long time !!
Couldn't agree more I'm blind as hell. Found out three weeks later I was rubbing scratches into the wrong bike. Roundup painting the entire thing black. After all black bikes matter.
that's awesome! so... how about making water bead up on my chrome pipes?? can i wax my chrome pipes without dulling the finish? is there a special wax for chrome metal that gets super hot like the pipes?
Did you try that on the head/valve covers? I just bought a used harley. Very. Clean. But all the chrome. Especially the head/valve covers look hazy..like they did a half ass polish job.. dont want to scratch anything an make it worse.
I've used it also. In other applications. My question is tho, After years of doing this, are we wearing things thin? I recognize chrome is strong. Good Chrome anyway. But as I said say you do this once a week for 10 years on the same bike or on whatever you're using it for, are you wearing whatever you're shining down at some point?
Technically speaking if you get down to it wiping it with a cloth and some chrome polish would probably wear down some of the Chrome. It might take 10,000 years for it to wear through with repeated use but technically speaking it's wearing the surface. I've been doing this on that bike probably once or twice every year. Chrome still looks like new and the bike is about 8 years old. Some people say it's leaving scratches but I can take one of those large 6-in magnifying lights and I can't see any scratches. Of course there must be some in it the question is how fine are they. my humble opinion is the best benefit of this method is it really leaves no mess. Only some steel wool crumbs and you can blow those off with your air compressor.
