Restoring chrome?

[Sean S.]

So, does anyone know of a shop that can do reanodization? I want to get the trim redone on my E34. I got a trim piece from a yard to try different methods on before committing to removing the trim on my car. So far, nothing has worked. I've tried the lye treatment which only made the "fogging" worse. I've seen the Classictrim Coat kit, but wonder if my trim is too far gone for it to work.

Sub'd for responses.

[brbahner]

Just bought some of that deoxidizer, we will see how it reacts to 27 year old un touched aluminum trim.

[SkiFree]

Any anodizer is as good as the next as long as you follow the procedure I outlined. Just check to see if they are willing for a small batch run.

Googled "livermore, ca anodizer" and came up with a number of potential shops.

[brbahner]

No dice on the deoxidizer kit :curse:

it helped a bit and evened out the oxidation a tad but it will not cure your trim problems by any means.
i guess ill just wait till it is the ugliest part of the car after paint and get new trim when it really really bothers me

it did work well enough to assume it will fix any car younger then ten years though

[Sean S.]

Powder coating is looking like the solution for me.

[brbahner]

powder coating? im looking for a chrome finish so i guess re chrome is my solution then right? or anyone have better ideas?

[ncsubowen]

No dice on the deoxidizer kit :curse:

it helped a bit and evened out the oxidation a tad but it will not cure your trim problems by any means.
i guess ill just wait till it is the ugliest part of the car after paint and get new trim when it really really bothers me

it did work well enough to assume it will fix any car younger then ten years though

I used it too, same results. I think I will try polishing it first, maybe starting pretty rough then coming in at the end with some 1k or 2k wetsanding.

[SkiFree]

powder coating? im looking for a chrome finish so i guess re chrome is my solution then right? or anyone have better ideas?

Did you not see my post?

[brbahner]

I used it too, same results. I think I will try polishing it first, maybe starting pretty rough then coming in at the end with some 1k or 2k wetsanding.

wouldn't recommend it, i sanded it for a long while and the chrome started to go flat.

[SkiFree]

It feels like you may not have a conception of what you are doing.

Sanding the anodized finish on aluminum will yield a flat finish. REMOVING the anodizing (as per my post) then polishing, then throwing some clear spray paint on top, will give you a shiny finish.

If you're not sure if you've removed the anodizing, grab your voltmeter out. Anodized aluminum will not conduct electricity while bare aluminum will.

[brbahner]

no sir, i used a package and said instruction in said package with a mysterious de-oxidizer.
i understand what it takes to buff it down and start from scratch but thats not what this kit calls for you to do. seeing how i wasn't planning on taking your re anodizing method till i was certain it was needed or until i was going to repaint the car i only sanded it down with the finest paper to take the surface crud off. Just following instructions.
Now ill accept failure and join your re anodizing team because you are right it is the only proper way.

[SkiFree]

Clearly you don't get it then and are becoming obstinate. How am I "right" when I've said there's more than one way to go about it?

To reiterate.

1) remove anodizing completely (using a sodium-hydroxide based solvent, aka lye, aka draino, etc. NOT some generic "de-oxidizer").

2a) then polish, clear, and call it good.
OR
2b) then polish, anodize, and call it good.

[agent]

If you bought the kit and sanded "for a long while" until the finish was dull, you did it wrong.

[brbahner]

If you bought the kit and sanded "for a long while" until the finish was dull, you did it wrong.

just did one section like that because i assumed you handled it like the process above and substituted the liquid. Then realized its not the same. That stuff is pretty much just a clear coat anyways it wasnt going to take anything off of 27 year old trim. waist o' cash

[brbahner]

Clearly you don't get it then and are becoming obstinate. How am I "right" when I've said there's more than one way to go about it?

To reiterate.

1) remove anodizing completely (using a sodium-hydroxide based solvent, aka lye, aka draino, etc. NOT some generic "de-oxidizer").

2a) then polish, clear, and call it good.
OR
2b) then polish, anodize, and call it good.

What would you recommend clear coating it with if i went 2a, instead of 2b for money sake?