Finally got around to writing a post on this after mentioning it elsewhere, an overview of making Chrome Bumpers nice and shiny again.
The original finish was apparently achieved using a linisher (like a belt sander) but I opted for an orbital sander. There may be other ways to do this but I’ve used this method successfully on a NAT101, SNAPS, NAC42, NAP160, NAT02 and a NAIT so far.
The first step is power down, remove the feet and gently slide the sled out of the sleeve.
It turns out a 1/3 sheet sander fits nicely across the front edge and combined with an oversize sheet you reduce the risk of damage if the sander “falls off” the edges. The paper is 240 grade silicone carbide, also known as wet & dry.
You don’t need much pressure to remove any tarnish but for scratches or dents, turn the sander 90 degrees and apply some force as well as covering the whole front edge in a sweeping motion.
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Check progress until you have nice sharp and clean corners
Make sure you wear a dust mask!! The other important part is removing all aluminium dust from the sleeve before putting the sled back in. I use Mr Muscle kitchen cleaner and a sponge to give the paint a good scrub and rinse with clean water before leaving to dry.
Here’s a NAIT I’ve done previously so no before photo (it did look pretty dull)
