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boz · 06-17-2009, 02:45 PM

I haven't ever tried the Coke thing, but I will give it a shot on a gas tank before trying something stronger. I read on another forum about using diluted muriatic (hydrochloric) acid, but then a well known plater said NEVER do that. He suggested to put a handful of screws in the tank and shake them around really good to knock the rust free, and then clean the tank.

I have used aluminum foil and WD40 as a mechanical method of removing rust from chrome. It works well enough on chrome that is otherwise damaged and on its way to be either rechromed or scrapped. I've had decent results with getting the rust off, but it leaves a fog or haze on the chrome. The chrome may be hard, but it is getting minute scratches in it.

My best results with cleaning rust from chrome involved using NevrDull wadding polish. I had a Z50 headlight ring that looked pretty bad. With lots of elbow grease and the NevrDull, I got all the rust off and it buffed up to a really nice non-hazy shine.

Of course the thing is with all these remedies, is that the chrome parts you have polished are damaged. My headlight ring has numerous nearly microscopic pits that seem to penetrate the chrome and go through the layers down to the steel. I've no doubt that unless I keep the chrome protected, it will rust that much more quickly in the future.

06-17-2009, 02:45 PM	#16 (permalink)
boz PM Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18	Re: removing rust with coke I haven't ever tried the Coke thing, but I will give it a shot on a gas tank before trying something stronger. I read on another forum about using diluted muriatic (hydrochloric) acid, but then a well known plater said NEVER do that. He suggested to put a handful of screws in the tank and shake them around really good to knock the rust free, and then clean the tank. I have used aluminum foil and WD40 as a mechanical method of removing rust from chrome. It works well enough on chrome that is otherwise damaged and on its way to be either rechromed or scrapped. I've had decent results with getting the rust off, but it leaves a fog or haze on the chrome. The chrome may be hard, but it is getting minute scratches in it. My best results with cleaning rust from chrome involved using NevrDull wadding polish. I had a Z50 headlight ring that looked pretty bad. With lots of elbow grease and the NevrDull, I got all the rust off and it buffed up to a really nice non-hazy shine. Of course the thing is with all these remedies, is that the chrome parts you have polished are damaged. My headlight ring has numerous nearly microscopic pits that seem to penetrate the chrome and go through the layers down to the steel. I've no doubt that unless I keep the chrome protected, it will rust that much more quickly in the future.