Don't forget to protect your chrome!

[Lynn Matthews]

We all think about cleaning and protecting our chrome wheels but what about the other chrome on our rides?

We all follow "The 5-Step Paint Care Cycle."

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain

But do we all think about protecting that chrome?

I have a ton of chrome on my 59 Caddy and the chrome package on the Honda Pilot so when I wax I make sure that I go over it with my wax of choice, usually Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax,



or reach for one of the Meguiar's metal polishes like, NXT Generation All Metal Polysh, especially if your chrome needs a little cleaning.



Both will help your protect your chrome and prevent corrosion and deterioration of your chrome surfaces while making it look great!

Lynn

[rdarwa]

I use the NXT wax on the chrome bumpers of my Tundra and 4runner. It makes them look great!

[bunker]

Abrasive??

Lynn, Mike,
I guess I misunderstood this product. I assumed it was a abrasive that might scratch chrome. Guess I thought it was for polishing stainless

[Lynn Matthews]

Re: Abrasive??

Originally posted by bunker
Lynn, Mike,
I guess I misunderstood this product. I assumed it was a abrasive that might scratch chrome. Guess I thought it was for polishing stainless

It does clean but it is completely safe, just make sure your applicator is appropriate for the job.

Lynn

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Great advice Lynn!

Over the years, I have always made sure to use Meg's #20 Polymer Sealant and now, NXT Tech Wax, in order to protect my chrome.

On the fake chrome, which is plastic coated, I will use Meguiar's PlastX.


It is all in the details! Excuse the pun!

Tim

[Lt1Corvette]

Can you use tech wax on coated and uncoated chrome?

[TOGWT]

"Can you use tech wax on coated and uncoated chrome? EOQ.

Q: Would you explain the differences?

[Lynn Matthews]

I have never heard of coated or uncoated chrome?

When I took my Caddy apart the chrome cones on the side of my fins were painted. (next to my tail lights in my avatar) I stripped the paint and sent them to the chrome shop, $375.00 later I had beautiful new looking side cones for the Caddy.

I did a google search and here's a link on the "Chroming Process" to help everyone better understand what we are careing for.

Lynn

[TOGWT]

Thanks for clarifying that Lynn.

I put it along with this one in my 'Chrome Myths'

Chrome is actually a "sacrificial" material - its structure consists of oxidized scale which constantly "gives up" its top layer of molecules to reveal the shine below - I too believe that cleaning is paramount, with no wax, which would seem to me to compromise the whole process.

Remember that we are not dealing with pure chromium as found on the periodic table. "Chrome" has nickel added, and a copper substrate as I recall.

Oxidation resistance can be attributed to the formation of a highly adherent protective scale. The adherence and coherence of the scale can be improved by the addition of small amounts of other reactive elements such as zirconium, silicon, cerium, calcium or similar. The scale thus formed is a mixture of nickel and chrome oxides (NiO and Cr2O3). These combine to form nickel chromite (NiCr2O4), which has a spinel-type structure.

Reminds me of the Paint needs to breathe theory.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I believe the comment made in regards to coated or uncoated chrome is in reference to the chrome being clear coated. Some factory chrome wheels have clear coating on them. I.e. Dodge Ram trucks 1996-.

However, while I believe that there is no oxidized coating per se that can be removed on chrome, it is important to create a protective barrier against corrosion caused by salt being used on the winter roads. Just IMHO!

Tim

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by TOGWT
Thanks for clarifying that Lynn.

I put it along with this one in my 'Chrome Myths'

Chrome is actually a "sacrificial" material - its structure consists of oxidized scale which constantly "gives up" its top layer of molecules to reveal the shine below - I too believe that cleaning is paramount, with no wax, which would seem to me to compromise the whole process.

Just to chime in...

The reason you want to clean chrome is to prevent dirt and other contaminants from building up. You do this for two reason

• 1. Cleaning removes built up dirt, which hides the true beauty of the chrome
  2. Cleaning removes dirt, which left on the surface over time, combines with water/moisture and other contaminants and traps these things onto the surface.

Left alone, there is always the potential for this built-up dirt and contaminants to attack the chrome at the microscopic surface level. This leads to corrosion and deterioration, usually seen as rust.

Thus, removing dirt and preventing it from building-up helps to prevent deterioration. The biggest enemy or chrome I believe is dirt and moisture left on the surface. Wax is by its very nature, anti-corrosive. It creates a barrier-film between the surface and those things that would attack the surface if they were to be able to come into direct contact with the surface.

If moisture causes oxidation and the resulting formation of rust, then it makes sense that if you can apply a coating of some material that creates a protective barrier-film, (to some degree), over the chrome surface, filling into the microscopic voids and imperfections, (and thus displacing dirt and moisture), while also helping to prevent dirt and moisture from coming into direct contact with the surface, then it would make sense that this would help to slow down and prevent deterioration more so than no protective sacrificial barrier at all.

If the nature of chrome is as you say,

Originally posted by TOGWT
its structure consists of oxidized scale which constantly "gives up" its top layer of molecules to reveal the shine below"

I don't believe a coating of wax or some type of metal polish with a protective coating could stop this process or hinder it. So in least in my mind, applying a protective coating over clean chrome would be a protective maintenance step, and a benefit to the owner.

(Just thinking out loud...)

Reminds me of the Paint needs to breathe theory.

Words mean things, just ask any Lawyer. I'm going to take a guess at the origin of the above "Paint Needs to Breath".


For a long time in the past, when a person would have their car painted, and upon retrieving it from the painter, the painter would recommend that the owner wait for a period of time before applying a coat of wax. This period of time is typically 30, 60 or 90 days depending upon the painter. I’ve heard of some painters recommending the owner wait for a year.

The painter would then tell the customer in easy to understand terminology that the fresh paint needs to breath and that a coating of wax would prevent this from happing. The natural impression people would get from this recommendation is that wax is bad for the paint when it is fresh because paint needs to breathe. (At least for a short period of time, 30, 60, or 90 days).

The above fictional analogy is probably as accurate as any assumption as to how the theory that paint needs to breath was started as any. (I'm open to other analogies.)

While people that understand the painting process understand that paint doesn’t literally need to breathe, they also understand that fresh paint needs to outgas. This means that for a period of time, the solvents and other carrying agents that are used to dilute paint so that it can be sprayed out of a pressurized air sprayer, need to work their way out of the paint through the evaporation process, also referred to as, outgas or out-gassing.

Which sounds more plausible,

• 1. A painter trying to explain the out-gassing process over and over through his career to all of his customers.
  2. A painter coming up with a simple analogy that most people can grasp the concept of without challenging his expertise. This would accomplish his goal of preventing the customer from sealing the paint with some type of wax or paint sealant until the paint has completely dried and set-up and the out-gassing process is completely over.

My personal guess is the second option.

Anyway, paint does not need to breathe in the literal sense that you and I need to breathe, but fresh paint needs to outgas. Of course, in the last 50 years or so since World War II ended and the car crazy culture really revved up, (no pun intended), in America and the resulting growth of the collision repair and custom car as well as custom painting businesses, it’s should be no surprise that the idea that paint needs to breathe has finally reached enough of a critical mass as to be the topic of discussion on numerous discussion forums.

Depending on how literal you want to read into it, when someone says �Paint needs to breathe�, what they probably mean is that fresh paint needs to outgas, they probably just don’t know or understand the term, and/or are confused like many who have gone before them and are operating under the wrong idea… innocently.

Well, at least this is my stab at the �Paint needs to breathe theory�

As usual, TOGWT always brings up interesting topics and always offers excelellent insight into the topic.

Anyone else have their own idea?

Mike

[Lt1Corvette]

WOW,

My earlier question regarding coated or noncoated chrome is as 2hotford suggested chrome with a clear coat finish. Sorry for the confusion, I wasn't clear. I was simply wondering if you treat that the way you would "real chrome" like Lynn has on her Caddy? Would you put a coat of wax on both clear coated and non clear coated chrome?

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Lt1Corvette
WOW,

My earlier question regarding coated or noncoated chrome is as 2hotford suggested chrome with a clear coat finish. Sorry for the confusion, I wasn't clear. I was simply wondering if you treat that the way you would "real chrome" like Lynn has on her Caddy? Would you put a coat of wax on both clear coated and non clear coated chrome?

Hi Joe,

If your wheels have a clear coat finish, as in an automotive clear coat paint, then you would treat it like paint.

Hope this helps...

Mike

[Tim Lingor]

Hey Lt1Corvette


I would suggest using something like #20 Polymer Sealant for clear coated chrome. Essentially as Mike pointed out, treat CC chrome like a paint.

Mike,

Great Write-up!!

Tim

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by 2hotford
Mike,

Great Write-up!!

Tim

Thanks!

The topic of whether paint breathes or not is a topic that's been out of control for years, so I decided to address it in this thread, but I'm also going to turn it into an article.

Mike