I recently watched the Mythbuster episode in which the guys use the ye olde method of removing rust from a chrome bumper bt rubbing it with Coca-Cola-soaked aluminum foil. According to the results, the method actually worked pretty well – better than a popular chrome polish, apparently. I may want to try it myself on my motorcycle pipes, but I’m worried that the foil will scratch the chrome finish. Anybody out there who’s actually tried this?
It’s never caused any scratches for me. Phosphoric acid in coke is the same acid used in naval jelly though it’s so dilute I doubt it has any effect other than giving the foil a lubricant to slide on. Plain ol water would probably do the same thing.
IMHO #0000 steel wool it the absolute best for removing rust “speckles” from chrome parts. Use light pressure and it will not scratch or dull your chrome.
It will scratch, however microscopically. IF you use Naval Jelly, and something not so abrasive as steel wool, the phosphoric acid should do the job of reacting with the corrosion.
I don’t think that the steel wool as you suggest would be a problem. But to say it won’t scratch the finish isn’t correct. It just may not take the finish down to a layer that will then become corroded.