'37 Hudson headlight reflectors polishing?

Hudsonrules
Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
edited May 2012 in HUDSON
Is it okay to use chrome polish on the reflectors as the lenses are off and they look pretty good, but would cleaning them or polishing them help with brightness? Thanks in advance. Arnie in Nevada.

Comments

  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    edited May 2012
    I was advised by a chrome shop to use Windex window cleaner on chrome instead of chrome polish. He said everytime chrome polish is used, a little chrome is removed. It sounds reasonable.
  • StillOutThere
    StillOutThere Expert Adviser
    ABSOLUTELY DO NOT use chrome polish. Simichrome brand NON-abraisive polish should be used - available at many parts stores and certainly all motorcycle shops.
    Depending on current condition of your reflectors, they may come out nearly as new or may need to be replated.
    DO NOT touch them with your fingers as the acid on your skin will fingerprint later on.
  • Rocket
    Rocket Senior Contributor
    are you sure that your reflectors are chrome plated my 36 hudson reflectors are silver plated and that is why they say do not touch them with your fingers because of the acid in your skin I use cotton gloves and use silver polish .
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I'll bet they're silver plated (unless some former owner made a horrible mistake at the plater's). Go with the silver polish and you might end up waxing it (to sort of seal the silver from future corrosion). Check the gasket around the perimeter of the glass. If it's not in great condition, replace. What I used, rather than trying to cut a circle out of a cork sheet, was some of that pliable cork H-O gauge model railroad roadbed which comes in long strips, maybe 1/8" thick. I used a long straightedge and a mat knife and cut off a long strip maybe 1/4" wide, which was easily formed into a circle and fit the little trough around the perimeter of the reflector (on my '37).

    The seal evidently worked. I had the reflectors plated maybe 8-10 years ago and they are still bright and shiny.
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