MAKING OLD TRIM LOOK NEW AGAIN? or replace?

[timbermusic]

I am trying to figure out if I want to replace the chrome trim, ( I think it is aluminum) on my 76 bronco. The trim around the windows and windshield all appear to be very cloudy looking. Is there a way to bring back the new look or do most of you replace it. If you replace it where is the best place to buy it from? Thanks,

Donnie

 

[dewshan]

you could try to polish it with a polishing wheel on a grinder and some fine compound.

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

A hard polishing wheel on bench grinder will make the trim look new again. But it would help if you sprayed a clearcoat that POR sells for aluminum wheels, will keep the new look for another 30 years.

 

[br0nc0xrapt0r]

scrub it with tooth paste to clean it then use a buffing wheel and polishing compound

 

[TN1776]

I buffed up my grill and windshield trim on a buffing wheel with some light rouge and they came out pretty good. Not quite as good as new but close, as my trim pieces have a few dings.

You need to be careful because the trim pieces are not very rigid and its easy to bend them if you're not paying attention. Fortunately they tend to bend back to shape assuming you don't kink them in the process.

 

[thegreatjustino]

http://www.polishmywheels.com/index.htm

 

[timbermusic]

trim

How hard is to to take off and put back on? Looks like it just kind of pops off? Is it hard to get back on and make it stay on? If I take it off I guess it also would be smart to replace the rubber behind it?

I guess it would save me alot of time and work for me to polish it while mounted and not take it off???

If I do take it off to polish and bend or mess a piece up can new trim be purchased somewhere?

Thanks,
Donnie

 

[tmacstickman]

I have the same problem, and as soon as the weather breaks I will be tackling it. Someone told me that the best polish to use is a plastic polishing compound, which is less aggressive and wont "burn" through the anodizing.

 

[eb66to77]

I still have to tackle this with my father's Bronco. I was thinking of making a wood jig to hold it flush and flat during the buffing process. I guess it all depend on if I put buffing wheels on the bench grinder or buffing wheels on the hand grinder.

I am definitely stripping off the original coating first though.

 

[4lofun]

i have this issue. mine had deep scracthes, thinking they were stainless steel i sand out scrathes. well that was bad as there seems they are coated aluminum.so now i have a replacement but with the gouging and scrathes, i beleive they need a professional touch now.so do they need recrhoming? anodizing? some are goughed enough they would need repair.is there a trim repair specialist that any of you know ,recomend?

 

[Hal9000]

Most aluminum trim was either anodized or coated with a clearcoat like nyalic from the factory. You can strip, polish, and re coat at home (or re-anodize, it's not that hard). But there are also companies out there that specialize in restoring original auto trim.

 

[eb66to77]

I also meant to say that getting the trim back in the window seal is a fun experience. My seal is brand new so I used lots of liquid soap but you have to be real careful not to bend it up while putting it in. I really hope to find a better method of doing this.

 

[bfluegel]

It looks like chrome-plated aluminum to me. If you look at the inside, where it has been protected from the elements, you can see areas that are much more reflective than typical anodized aluminum. Also, if you fine-sand a (hidden!) spot, you will see a well-defined layer get broken through. There was a post showing pics of this. I believe the cloudiness in many people's trim is oxidation of the chrome, much like a chromed bumper that has seen too much weather. In my case, the cloudiness included pits that went through the chrome. If you polish away the chrome, you'll be left with nothing but aluminum, and you'll have to try to replicate the original luster by doing a very fine polish of the aluminum. People do it, but it is a real art, since the metal is so soft.

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

Its not chrome plate and not anodized. Its clearcoated like most aluminum trim and and older wheels. The haze or cloudy is in clearcoat. Remove the clear, polish and recoat.

 

[timbermusic]

trim

After polishing the haze off the trim can the clear coat be applied with the trim still on the truck. Where do you get the clear coat from? Does it come in some kind of spray can or does it have to be dipped? Thanks,

Donnie