What happened with my chrome?

**conman1395** · 06-24-2014, 10:47 AM

Yesterday I decided to polish the chromed plastic on my car. I used a microfiber towel and M105/205. As I used this, black residue was appearing on the towel. The chrome looks good, and it was clean before too. Just wondering what was going on.

**brondondolon** · 06-24-2014, 10:58 AM

Maybe it's not actually chrome and instead it polished aluminum or another type of metal.

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**Dr_Pain** · 06-24-2014, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by brondondolon

Maybe it's not actually chrome and instead it polished aluminum or another type of metal.

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**Setec Astronomy** · 06-24-2014, 12:02 PM

Be careful polishing those "chromed" plastic pieces, they are not chrome plated anymore the way they may have been in the old days, they are PVD (physical vapor deposition) coated, and even if it is chrome, it's much thinner than plating.

**Riff** · 06-24-2014, 02:01 PM

Plastic can be chrome plated?

**wdmaccord** · 06-24-2014, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by conman1395

Yesterday I decided to polish the chromed plastic on my car. I used a microfiber towel and M105/205. As I used this, black residue was appearing on the towel. The chrome looks good, and it was clean before too. Just wondering what was going on.

Most of the plastic "chrome" pieces on my car are separate pieces that sit in another plastic piece that is black. If this is similar for you, you probably were overlapping onto the black trim when you were polishing. Otherwise, could just be dirt.

**jamesboyy** · 06-24-2014, 03:13 PM

It could have been embedded dirt that the naked eye or clay didn't see or catch....you did clay the surface first right???? thought be careful cause some chrome plastics will give off a black residue which in my opinion I think is a warning sign letting you know the plastic chrome is getting thin to point we may burn through it

**FUNX650** · 06-24-2014, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Riff

Plastic can be chrome plated?

Sure can.
Several ways to do it.
Here's one of the ways:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8]Spray-On Chrome - Jay Leno's Garage - YouTube[/video]

Bob

**BobbyG** · 06-24-2014, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Riff

Plastic can be chrome plated?

Yes they can and in fact, they've been plating plastics for over 60 years....could be longer...

**Riff** · 06-24-2014, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by FUNX725

Sure can.
Several ways to do it.
Here's one of the ways:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8]Spray-On Chrome - Jay Leno's Garage - YouTube[/video]

Bob

Cool!