Buffing chrome on a wrench?

[ford guy]

Would I be able to buff the scratches from these wrenches? And do you have any recommended buffing compound I should use?
I found these on Craigslist, but I haven't seen them in person to see how bad they really are. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm far from being a "tool polisher", but I'd like to buy these for my son, and I'd like them to be presentable.
Here they are:


What the GJ Braintrust think...is this do-able??

Thanks,
Bob

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

presentable ? like for judging ?

 

[RCP]

Wondering this myself. When i got my first job at a dealer it was detailing, the owner had me use some wool like stuff that was covered in some kinda oil. Came in a tin can. Wish i could remember what it was called.. it buffed chrome really nice

 

[ford guy]

presentable ? like for judging ?

Not military inspection ready! Just "nicer" as if that makes any sense!

Yes, I did a search and didn't find any answers, so I did a Google search & lo & behold....a GJ thread from 2009!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49790&referrerid=2460

BTW, the C-List guy wants $100.00 for the set....is this a decent price?

Bob

 

[GTO]

There used to be a guy on here that like to polish his Snap on tools.
Kind of weird if you ask me.Tools were made to be used not polished like a car.
$100 doesn't sound that far out of line.If you feel there worth it to you,go for it.
Just my .02..

 

[marineengineer]

Never dull is cotton with some oil polish

 

[2oolhound]

To buff chrome remember Red, White & Blue. Red rouge to attack the scratches, White compound to rough polish and Blue compound to finish polish. Be careful, chrome plate is thin.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Wondering this myself. When i got my first job at a dealer it was detailing, the owner had me use some wool like stuff that was covered in some kinda oil. Came in a tin can. Wish i could remember what it was called.. it buffed chrome really nice

Never dull is cotton with some oil polish

this. only thing I can think of.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wondering this myself. When i got my first job at a dealer it was detailing, the owner had me use some wool like stuff that was covered in some kinda oil. Came in a tin can. Wish i could remember what it was called.. it buffed chrome really nice

It's called Nevr-Dull and is still sold. its not just cotton and oil I'm certain it also has a light abrasive like lapping or polishing compound, and yes it does well.

 

[chad99]

Old detailers trick...use the shiny side of aluminum foil,buff it with that it wont damage the finish and shimes chrome up nicely

 

[Outlawmws]

Old detailers trick...use the shiny side of aluminum foil,buff it with that it wont damage the finish and shimes chrome up nicely

I'd never heard of that one, and just tried it on a 3/4" SO Combo with "normal wear" and those light scratches, and all I can say is WOW! That took at least 90% of the light stuff out! It won't do the real gouge type scratches, but for that crappy faint scuffing...



I'll "finish it" with some Nevr-Dull tomorrow and see where that takes it.

 

[G_P]

Old detailers trick...use the shiny side of aluminum foil,buff it with that it wont damage the finish and shimes chrome up nicely

Does this actually remove the scratches from chrome or does it just fill them in with a very thin layer of shiny aluminum?

Will it work on nickel plated brass? I have a shure shot sprayer that could use a little polish and the foil trick sounds sweet.

 

[eddie1278]

Use turtle wax chrome polish don't overthink it these are tools meant to be abused. I have wrenches in all different finishes I don't care what they look like as long as they are made in the USA and no rust on them.

 

[469 runner]

I agree, tools are meant to be used. But I am very **** about my tools too. This is what I would do. 1. Get a Sisal pad on a buffer. Use Emory compound with this; this will remove 85% of those light scratches and leave a dull uniform finish. 2. Change pad to a spiral sewn pad and use stainless compound. 3. Change to a loose pad and finish with white compound.

The wrenches will look almost new. But Chrome is very hard, and does not buff that well.

 

[PAPERMAKER]

Flitz

 

[chad99]

Does this actually remove the scratches from chrome or does it just fill them in with a very thin layer of shiny aluminum?

Will it work on nickel plated brass? I have a shure shot sprayer that could use a little polish and the foil trick sounds sweet.

It removes the scratches...because the aluminum is softer than the chrome surface very fine particles of aluminum oxide are produced that act as a polishing compound, adding a little water helps as well.Ive used this trick for years to remove rust,road tar and generally revitalize chrome bumpers and trim for years.Not sure about the nickel plate,might give it a try.

 

[joe_padavano]

Would I be able to buff the scratches from these wrenches?

Sorry, but my initial reaction was, why do you want to make the wrenches more slippery?

In any case, NevrDull is sold at WalMart now. I missed it at first, as the can is now silver instead of the old blue.

 

[beerdog]

Wondering this myself. When i got my first job at a dealer it was detailing, the owner had me use some wool like stuff that was covered in some kinda oil. Came in a tin can. Wish i could remember what it was called.. it buffed chrome really nice

The basic polishing product you are referring to is wadding compound. Never-Dull is a very good product. I use it to polish chrome on cars. It works great. Most car part stores sell it.

http://www.autogeek.net/eo104.html

 

[garthg]

List price on the 7 piece set (you've got 8) is $198. So, he's asking a little less than 50% for used tools.

Snap On seems to command that much, but it still seems relatively expensive. If it's a present for your son, why not spring for the extra $100 for new? They'll last forever, after all.

 

[Exceller8]

Flitz

That stuff is amazing!

 

[Outlawmws]

Sorry, but my initial reaction was, why do you want to make the wrenches more slippery?

In any case, NevrDull is sold at WalMart now. I missed it at first, as the can is now silver instead of the old blue.

I've got some Nevr-Dull that the cans are basically white, with red and Blue detail, so to me the "Blue" is new..

 

[PBCampbell]

Fairly certain never-dull used pumice as the abrasive(I think Brasso did as well).

 

[tradesmanschoice]

Wondering this myself. When i got my first job at a dealer it was detailing, the owner had me use some wool like stuff that was covered in some kinda oil. Came in a tin can. Wish i could remember what it was called.. it buffed chrome really nice

Sounds like standard silver polish. You can get the stuff here in the UK from the supermarket. It's called Silvo wadding - hands get yuck afterwards though.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Kevin54]

Sounds like standard silver polish. You can get the stuff here in the UK from the supermarket. It's called Silvo wadding - hands get yuck afterwards though.

Cheers,
Mark.

Spot on. Most of the stuff is all basically the same. With the creams in the tubes...Flitz, MAAS, it's all the same. It's just how the salesman push it to make it sound better than the other.

Aluminum foil...it fills in the scratches.

To the OP...Toss them in the dishwasher (when the wife has her back turned) them hit them with some chrome polish and you're good to go.

 

[Dennis93]

Hey there,

Live in Va Beach too, and seen them on Craigslist for over 2 months now. They're not selling, you can prob talk him down a little as he is overpriced for that. Also, Turtle Wax Alloy and chrome polish is what I use on my chrome bumpers and on some of my home collection tools. Its $5 or so at Wally World.

 

[joedodge]

I don't get it.......gives those tools grease and expierence.

 

[Conductor562]

Old detailers trick...use the shiny side of aluminum foil,buff it with that it wont damage the finish and shimes chrome up nicely

Is there an "un-shiny" side of aluminum foil?

 

[DirtRoad]

Is there an "un-shiny" side of aluminum foil?

Actually yes

A "how it's made" episode explained why.

 

[Conductor562]

Actually yes

A "how it's made" episode explained why.

No ****? huh, guess I never paid that much attention. Good to know I suppose.

 

[GRX]

To buff chrome remember Red, White & Blue. Red rouge to attack the scratches, White compound to rough polish and Blue compound to finish polish. Be careful, chrome plate is thin.

^^ this! Get yourself some bars of polishing compound and THREE buffing wheels. One for each color/grit compound.

Also, are those wrenches chrome plated? If so you stand the chance of buffing through the layer to below. Ran across that when polishing up some of my older Craftsman tools.