How to clean the headlight reflectors on my 33 Ford

[Vics Stuff]

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

[F1 MIKE]

Years ago i used Sliverwear Polish and a soft cloth .

[Vics Stuff]

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

[Bill OH]

Silver cleaner, soft cloth, no Brasso.

[feufeu]

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

[cas3]

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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.

[J Franklin]

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

[JayChicago]

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

[J Franklin]

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

[John Gibson]

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

[John Gibson]

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

[Charlie Stephens]

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

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

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

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.

[DavidG]

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

[Vics Stuff]

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

[ford38v8]

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.

[Vics Stuff]

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

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by DavidG

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

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

[DavidG]

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.