Polishing small chrome bits, Tips and Tricks? Options

[bbrock]

Okay, I just got a quote for re-chroming inner and outer door handles, early window crank bases, and the side mirror mount and post of $800. All of a sudden I'm seeing the minor blemishes on the parts as "charming patina." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Plan B is to just polish them up as best I can. They are all in pretty good shape. Mostly I'd like to get rid of some fine scratches on the outer door handles if possible (Looks like maybe they were cleaned with a scrubber sponge at some point). Anyone have suggestions on buffing wheels, compounds, techniques, etc.? I already went over most of the parts with Mother's which, of course, shined up the chrome but door handles will need a little more aggressive polishing I think.

[bbrock]

Thanks all. Phil, I probably have that same cheap HF grinder. I use it to wire wheel all my parts before zinc plating. I also have one cotton buffing wheel but don't know what is on it. Some green compound. I also have a stick of white rouge but it's at least 20 years old so probably should go fresh. looks like I need to pick up some supplies. I'll start with the wheels on the grinder and have the Dremel with cotton wheel and Mothers ready for any detail needed.

It is some comfort that the quote seemed high. This is our "local" (only 150 miles) guy and he does great work but I think cashes in on being the only game in hundreds of miles.

At this point, I think I'll see where polishing gets me and go from there. Except for the outer door handles, the rest of these parts could be bolted on after a light cleaning and be fine. They look more rough in that pic than they are because they've been sitting in an open box for months gathering dust that I didn't bother to wipe off before snapping the pic. If they were in worse shape, re-chrome would be worth $400 but right now I probably have better places to spend my limited funds on this build. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)