How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Hey Guys ! I have a real nice pair of 33 Ford headlights. The reflectors are dirty from age, What is the best method to clean these without damaging the plating on them.
Vic

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Years ago i used Sliverwear Polish and a soft cloth .

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Thank you F1 Mike for the response. I had been told not to use anything abrasive. Due to the thinness of the silver plating and sensitively to scratching .
Vic

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Silver cleaner, soft cloth, no Brasso.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

you can use silver cleaner, brass cleaner or car polish with soft cloth. Icleaned mine with car polish...

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

The plating is so thin that even a soft cotton cloth can wreck it. Use very little pressure, wipe from the center out, and only a couple applications.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

The old fashion way was to use lamp black, I have been told.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

What is lamp black? What was it used for? Have heard of it, but always wondered what it is.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Lamp black is the soot off a candle or lamp flame. I think it was once available commercially, and might still be.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Lamp black is available on Amazon for $13 a pond.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Lamp black is available on Amazon for $13 a pound.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

If you give up send them to UVIRA and have them aluminum plated. Sounds cheap but it is what they do for medical and spacecraft uses. Not cheap, (541) 474-5050.

Charlie Stephens

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

When I had the reflectors coated for my 39 Zephyr it was less than $100 for the pair. You must have them nickel plated before you send them. The final results were outstanding. Bright white 6 volt headlights.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Nothing, but nothing compares with silver plating, as original.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

I have herd of lamp black also. I had plans on trying that first. I do not want to damage these reflectors. Thank you to all who posted comments. This gives me somethings to go on.
Vic

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

Vic, soft cloth isn’t soft enough. The accumulation of smog and dust will scratch the reflector as you wipe it off. It IS that sensitive.

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

ford38v8 I had been told that . A individual I met yesterday at a local car show here mentioned to only use liquid cleaner and do not touch the reflector with anything. He thought to use vinegar , but was not sure.
Still looking
Vic

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

I have to agree with you on this, the aluminum is not quite as good as the silver. Come back in a couple of years and the silver will be tarnished but the aluminum has a clear coating and will look the same as when it was new.

Charlie Stephens

Re: How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford
 

The virtue of silver compared to other coatings isn't total brightness, but rather focused brightness combined with the shape of the reflector. Other coatings diffuse their brightness and less ends up on the road ahead.

My experience with indoor-kept vehicles is no perceptible fading, even after 30 or 40 years (NOS or re-plated reflectors). I avoid the use of the gaskets most vendors sell which are a composite of cork and rubber as the presence of rubber will promote oxidation of the silver plating. I use 100% cork, as did Ford.