SHOW CHROME

EVER WONDER WHY THE CHROME AND POLISHED ALUMINUM ON THOSE BIKES AT SHOWS LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER THAN YOURS?   DO THEY RE-PLATE EVERY SINGLE PART WITH SOME SPECIAL SHOW CHROME?   ARE THOSE BIKES ALL JUST TRAILER QUEENS AND NEVER SEE ANY STREET TIME?   MAYBE THEY ARE ALL FROM ARIZONA?   WELL, COULD BE ALL OF THE ABOVE, BUT MOST LIKELY IT'S IN THE PREP....CHECK THIS OUT.....

THIS OLD BATES HEADLIGHT SHELL HAS BEEN BOUNCING AROUND WITH ME SINCE THE SEVENTIES.   IT'S CHROME IS REALLY DULL AND IT HAS ABOUT A MILLION MICRO SCRATCHES IN IT.    LEFT:  ...OUT OF THE JUNK BOX.    RIGHT:  ...AFTER A LITTLE ELBOW GREASE.   THE PICS DON'T REALLY SHOW THE DRAMATIC CHANGE, TRY IT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF....   HERE'S HOW AND WHAT YOU NEED.

STEP #1   A LITTLE ACETONE ON A SHOP RAG TO REMOVE OIL, WAX OR WHATEVER IS ON THE PART.  

STEP #2   I USE HAPPICH SIMICHROME POLISH.   ON CHROME THIS IS MOSTLY A CLEANER, BUT ON POLISHED ALUMINUM....WOW!!!   NEVER FOUND ANYTHING CLOSE TO AS GOOD AS THIS PRODUCT IMPORTED FROM GERMANY.    I DO THIS STEP TWICE.   I DON'T USE SHOP RAGS FOR THIS AND THE FINAL STEP, TOO COARSE.   I USE TERRY FACE CLOTHS.   I BUY BUNDLES OF THESE AT K-MART, FOR REALLY CHEAP, JUST FOR THIS....   

STEP #3   I USE MEGUIAR'S MIRROR GLAZE HI-TECH YELLOW WAX #26.    THIS STUFF WORKS FANTASTIC ON YOUR PAINT AS WELL.   MAKE SURE ALL YOUR FINGER PRINTS AND STREAKS ARE CLEAR.   THEN APPLY THE MEGULAR'S.   I APPLY 3 COATS WITH AT LEAST AN HOUR IN BETWEEN COATS.   DON'T DO THIS TO YOUR EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE WAX WILL MELT AND MAKE A MESS.   ANYWAY, THAT'S THE BIG SECRET TO GREAT LOOKING CHROME AND POLISHED ALUMINUM.   IT FILLS AND MAKES MICRO SCRATCHES VANISH AND GIVES YOUR CHROME A LITTLE DEPTH.   I DO THIS EVEN WITH BRAND NEW PARTS, SINCE THE PARTS MANUFACTURES WON'T SPEND THE TIME OR MONEY THEY SHOULD ON CHROME TODAY.   THIS HELPS A LOT!   RIDE FREE, RIDE SHINY...........RR