MTFCA Forum

24 Coupe
The reflective surface of the inside of the headlight is well 100 years old. I was going to clean it up and spray some chrome paint on that surface to get a better reflection or is there a better way to go? (price is an issue i retired yesterday)

Have you tried a product like tarnex?(a liquid silver cleaner) Is the silver still mostly in tact?
If not, spray paint is a poor reflector. I have heard of gluing the shiny side of aluminum foil out.
Also better lights will help. I run Halogens. Very bright, but heavy amp draw. L.E.D.'s give out better light with much less current draw.

Barteldes wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2024 11:34 am

24 Coupe
The reflective surface of the inside of the headlight is well 100 years old. I was going to clean it up and spray some chrome paint on that surface to get a better reflection or is there a better way to go? (price is an issue i retired yesterday)

The reflector surface is silver plated. So you should clean it with soapy water to remove any grim lightly washing. Pat dry.
Here are some other ways to remove the tarnish https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/11- ... r-at-home/

Polish with a good silver polish (not a multi-metal polish). Buff with microfiber cloth. Don't over do it.

Here are is an example. Note the highly reflective center is the critical area for reflection, its within the focal point of the reflector. A filament bulb is a pinpoint of light that needs to be adjusted in this area. The fluted lens is what directs the beam of light. --
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Now if its still dull and you don't care much about originality these LEDs are self focused and contain their own reflector. A best solution for night driving

Nix on painting, preserve the silver plate. A good polish like Wright's Sliver Creme works well.


But rub and polish only from the center to the edge, in straight rubbing with soft wet sponge or wet chamois and polish.
Don't rub in circles .




These reflectors can be restored, maybe not as new, but fairly well and way way better than chrome paint.

Absolutely the reflectors can be brought back! There are some great products to use that will work pretty well. Ace hardware has silver polishing cloths, silver cleaning soft paste that will surprise you. In my experience my 24 Coupe and 1919 Roadsters reflectors were a dark green and after reading the forum about repolishing they came about 95% good. Chrome reflectors aren’t near as bright as the silver plated original.
Of course condition is important and some are better than others. Good luck.

My reflectors were reletively tarnished, and with a microfiber towl and polish, they look real nice now. Also, polishing leaves a residue that can be hard to get off for paint to stick. The glossiest of paints will not compare with a decent polish job on bare metal.

Wrights Silver cream is the best. Polish as little as possible, easy to rub through the silver plating. I use to replate headlight reflectors, silver is required by most State DOTs. Cost of raw materials got too high.

If the LED headlight bulbs with their own reflectors mentioned in another post work well, you will not need to have perfect reflectors. They are not cheap, but neither is replating original reflectors.

Allan from down under.

Or get these: https://www.modeltford.com/item/6590BQ.aspx