How to save crusty chrome on an intricate grill?

13348 Views 21 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Silver Surfer, Mar 21, 2012

Elevinpointsixtoone

Discussion Starter · Jan 25, 2012

4

I acquired this amazing original 34 Chevy Master grill..all 3 pieces that have been hiding in an old hot rodders attic since the late 50's. If your familiar with these the intricate grill work has thicker vertical strips top to bottom and then finer horizontal shaped strips that run horizontal molded onto the backside of the vertical ribs. Its fine and tight spacing...less than a quarter inch between each horizontal ribs. The entire grill is chromed. It would be almost impossible to get something down between the ribs to clean the rust and crust off those horizontal strips. At least with any control. Is there some kind of chemical dip that removes this corrosion without damaging the steel or chrome plate? I've cleaned enough to see that the chrome is intact...just not sure which way to go with this.

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1 - 20 of 22 Posts

delawarebill

· #2 · Jan 25, 2012

go buy a liter of coke...

and pore it on.... let it sit and wash off... if its heavy it wouldn't work well but light stuff i've seen it do fine..

matts37chev

· #3 · Jan 25, 2012

chrome wheel cleaner might work well for that
try it with the grill wet first, then spray on the cleaner (this will dilute the cleaner a little) some soft brush scrubbing, then rinse well

35WINDOW

· #4 · Jan 25, 2012

I thought about suggesting the use of a "Molasses Bath"-something to consider:

http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/rust/rust.html

http://forums.aaca.org/f120/rust-removal-using-molasses-293820-2.html

something to ponder-

Elevinpointsixtoone

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 25, 2012

Never heard of the molasses bath...that is interesting. Not much info on if it will harm chrome or not. Anyone try the carbonate/water 12 volt electrical process?

DanielC

· #6 · Jan 25, 2012

I have done electrolysis. it works well with rusty steel, but takes a long time.

One of the big problems with electrolysis is some people use stainless steel anodes (the positive electrode) because it does not deteriorate as bad.
USING STAINLESS STEEL FOR THE ANODE CAN CREATE HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM. This is nasty stuff, do not use stainless steel for the anode.

Using electrolysis to clean the grill makes the chrome grill the cathode. I do not know if this prevents the formation of hexavalent chromium or not.

Here is my contribution of a web page about electrolysis.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm

1971BB427

· #7 · Jan 26, 2012

2

My grille wasn't as intricate, but it looked like green scum over years of sitting. I knew I could never find a replacement, so I decided to clean and polish it myself.
I built a frame from old wood and then lined it with plastic sheeting to make a soaking tank. Then I mixed up simple dishwashing soap and hot water and dropped it in. Scrubbed it with a soft bristle brush as it soaked and almost everything came off.
Afterwards I hosed it off with plain water and used a toothbrush and liquid chrome polish to scrub and clean a bit more. When I was done I hand polished the surface areas and it came out great. I have some pits in my chrome, but they are OK by me.
I spent a day on the project, maybe 6 hrs. total, a couple more carefully straightening some bent grille bars, and well worth it to me.
Before:

After:

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Elevinpointsixtoone

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 26, 2012

Well, nothing seems to stand out as the clear winner but there are few things to try. I'd be more than happy to sit there and hand clean it but those curved deep cross bars are just about impossible to attack with any kind of scrubbing power.

T-bucket23

· #9 · Jan 26, 2012

How about a pressure washer with some detergent like simple green. If it is not rusty but just dirty, this should clean it off. hit it, let it sit to soak and hit it again.

unix

· #10 · Jan 27, 2012

Here is a great product mild grit has the consistency of liquid polish, use with a buffer wheel 2.5 or 3.0 x 1/4 on an electric drill. I cannot tell but the grill looks rough. This polish will not remove chrome, just a cleaner.

http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-280RA-Liquid-Chrome/dp/B0009JKGJC

matts37chev

· #11 · Jan 27, 2012

matts37chev said:
chrome wheel cleaner might work well for that
try it with the grill wet first, then spray on the cleaner (this will dilute the cleaner a little) some soft brush scrubbing, then rinse well

try the chrome wheel cleaner
whats the worst that can happen?
you would be able to clean you wheels with it?

cb_chrysler

· #12 · Feb 1, 2012

Molassas

Best bet is the molassas, get it from a Horse Tack shop. Also, a friend of mine makes amazing new inserts for Chevvy grilles of that era. Send him an email:

ALEX BENINCA [[email protected]]

chevy3600

· #13 · Feb 1, 2012

Somewhere I've seen an assortment of brushes that are shaped a few inches long and different widths from 1/4" up. That would help when working through the slots of the grill.
Also you might try Go Jo hand cleaner or lava soap.

1971BB427

· #14 · Feb 1, 2012

cb_chrysler said:
Best bet is the molassas, get it from a Horse Tack shop. Also, a friend of mine makes amazing new inserts for Chevvy grilles of that era. Send him an email:

ALEX BENINCA [[email protected]]

Molasses is great to neutralize rust, but I've never heard of it doing anything to clean tarnish. If this is dirt and tarnish I doubt molasses will do much.

madmike3434

· #15 · Feb 1, 2012

i saw on an australia site they soaked the part in brown MALT VINEGAR and it took the rust off....

that grille mesh is made reproduction in stainless steel.

mike

Ted Lohry

· #16 · Feb 1, 2012

Cleaning dirty chrome

I had a '55 T-Bird with wire spoked wheels. I used the Eagle One Chrome & Wire Wheel Cleaning Kit with great results. It is a 2 part application, the first part being an acid cleaner that is left on for 30 seconds (I left it on longer the first time) then rinsed off. The second step is to spray the neutralizer on and let stand for at least 1 minute. Rinse again with water. The wheels looked like they were right out of the box new when done. Give it a try.

godlemmy

· #17 · Feb 5, 2012

if it's just surface rust try using C.L.R. it works on bathroom chrome.I have seen some posts on the HAMB where a guy used it on surface rust on his 60's chevy wagon. it came out great.on the plus side you will have a clean bathroom if it doesn't work out.also comes in small bottles, less $outlay.

madmike3434

· #18 · Feb 5, 2012

grille mesh 34 master

madmike3434 said:
i saw on an australia site they soaked the part in brown MALT VINEGAR and it took the rust off....

that grille mesh is made reproduction in stainless steel.

mike

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
harris engineered reproductions
P O Box..800991
houston texas
usa 77280
phone 1-713-826-0419
fax... 281--856--9423
email .... [email protected]
they have a web site....google it

they make AS ORIGINAL stainless grill mesh inserts for 1932 to 1936 chevrolet models , plus the center strip piece and also for 1934 master only a repo grille trim ring.

mike :thumbup:

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topwrench

· #19 · Feb 5, 2012

You asked about cleaning the rust,try OSPHO it will completly neutrlize the rust.
Its a phosphoric acid based product.

Silver Surfer

· #20 · Mar 21, 2012

Elevinpointsixtoone said:
I acquired this amazing original 34 Chevy Master grill..all 3 pieces that have been hiding in an old hot rodders attic since the late 50's. If your familiar with these the intricate grill work has thicker vertical strips top to bottom and then finer horizontal shaped strips that run horizontal molded onto the backside of the vertical ribs. Its fine and tight spacing...less than a quarter inch between each horizontal ribs. The entire grill is chromed. It would be almost impossible to get something down between the ribs to clean the rust and crust off those horizontal strips. At least with any control. Is there some kind of chemical dip that removes this corrosion without damaging the steel or chrome plate? I've cleaned enough to see that the chrome is intact...just not sure which way to go with this.

The ONLY way I will ever remove rust is with this stuff:
http://www.theruststore.com/Evapo-Rust-Gallon-P1C1.aspx

You pour it on, let it sit, what doesn't fall off by itself, you just literally wipe off with a rag. I know this sounds like magic/info-mercial, but this stuff is legit.

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