No it will not. If the panels are dull, it is because of scratching of their surface. Kepp in mind that the appearance of chrome plate is largely due to the surface preparation of the copper and nickel that are underneath the chrome. Unless the nickel is buffed up to its final luster prior to depositing the chrome the result will be a less-than-mirror-like shine.
The reason that you can't simply go back and repolish the old chromed surface is beacause the actual "chrome" layer is so thin that it would be removed by doing so. This would leave the underlying nickel exposed, and it would soon tarnish. (Which is probably what you are seeing now.) Sorry to say, but the only solution is to live with the dullness or have the tank replated. If you do go for "plan B", make sure you tell the plater that the only part of the tank that really needs to be buffed is where the "cheeks" are. It's the buffing that creates most of the work, and hence expense. John Sutton wrote:
Would this work on 30 year old dull but not rusted tank panels as well? John S. 73.5 Eldo Civ.
From: Tom Bowes <kk-@home.com> Reply-To: Loopfram-@topica.com To: Loopfram-@topica.com Subject: RE: chrome and steel wool Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 16:20:14 +0000
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Ross,
I am not sure if your comments are an endorsement of the steel wool method, or not. Personally, I have yet to see any chrome item that has had the steel wool treatment come out anything but totally, and permanently screwed up. Gary Cheek showed me a much better way to restore moderately rusted chrome using a brass brush and Never Dull. Comb the Never Dull wadding into the brush and then start scrubbing on the chrome until the rust disappears. I have seen him do some items that I would have sworn were going to have to go to the chrome shop, with excellent results. Since he showed me this trick, I have used it many times and recommend it highly. Granted, it is not as good as a rechrome job, but where perfection is not warranted this provides a good substitute.
Ross wrote:
I keep seeing this mentioned, including on Ebay, that to clean up that "old chrome that has rust and pits" just take some mild steel wool to it. Chrome is a very thin layer over nickel, abrasives will only shorten the life of the chrome and expose the nickel.
Tom
'70 (July '69) Ambassador '82 V50-III Shelby Township, Michigan
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Tom
'70 (July '69) Ambassador '82 V50-III Shelby Township, Michigan