Clearcoated Chrome

Just went to clean and polish the chrome on my road bike.

After rubbing aluminum foil on the fork I discovered that the chrome is clearcoated.

Now it's badly scratched.

So, is the clearcoat useful and easily restored? If so, how?

If not what's the best way to remove the rest of the clearcoat on the forks and stays?

T-cut?

How badly scratched?

If the scratches aren't too deep you may be able to polish them out - T-Cut plus lots of frantic rubbing at a hi speed (I think you know the action I mean) - [see my frame before and after]

Then maybe a car wax might help to fill in any scratches further.

I'd guess the only use of the clearcoat is to protect the chrome - think Bianchi Pista.

RE: removing the clearcoat - there are quite a few threads on removing paint - go with the one that you can carry out the most carefully.

If it were me I'd try to salvage the CC first, then think about removing the CC.

The clearcoat is scratched enough now that it is cloudy in parts.

So polish or t-cut would smooth those scratches out and allow the chrome to shine through?

The clouding is there because the surface has many small scratches, extremely close together. These cause a blurring effect (in simple terms)
To restore the clearness of the clearcoat, you need to remove these micro scratches. This is done by polishing - removing an amount to restore a smooth finish across the surface. This is what t-cut does. It removes some of the clearcoat, helping to restore the smooth surface.

Follow the t-cut instructions, and read about polishing paint first though...

Strip the clear coat. It has no place on a chrome frame. Nitromorse, 10 minutes. Then polish your nice chrome frame.

You can't polish a turd...

Strip the clear coat. It has no place on a chrome frame. Nitromorse, 10 minutes. Then polish your nice chrome frame.

That too.

You can't polish a turd...

Actually... I beg to differ... YouTube- MYTHBUSTERS are going to Polish SHIT.......... they have gone nuts, remastered by NiteAngel

You can't polish a turd...

But you can roll it in glitter.

[QUOTE=dmczone;1183778]
After rubbing aluminum foil on the fork I discovered that the chrome is clearcoated.
QUOTE]

Why were you rubbing aluminium foil on your forks?

it cleans up chrome.

I did not know this, and am going to try it now