As far as I know, nothing has ever proved better at preserving metal objects than good old WWII Cosmoline. Surplus parts still coated clean up to look like newly manufactured. Cleaning it off is a real PITA.

 

Where can I get it?

 

Cosmoline was intended to protect steel parts in leaky tents in the jungle. It works.

cosmoline - Google Search

 

I bought a Nordan bumper from M.U. and it came wrapped in a waxy paper.
I hope it's good for storage, as that was 3 years ago and I haven't looked at it since.
If you're really concerned you could buy this peel-off stuff.
McMaster-Carr
(Scroll down and click on "peel away coating")

 

I guess you know, you can paint the backside of the bumper with a rust proof coating. Since chrome is somewhat porous, coat with a protective coat that provides an air tight seal. The Cosmoline, as mentioned, is probably the best known. At least by us old(er) guys.
You might try Vaseline as a qwik alternative.
Happy Motoring (eventually)

 

What causes rust...moisture. Store it in a dry (low humidity) area as well.

 

That cosmoline is a biatch to get off. I purchased a rifle coated in it one time. I ended up having to take it to a restaurant kitchen and use their high-pressure super-duper hot water wash pit to get all that cosmoline off. Nothing else worked.

 

During the many years that I was accumulating parts for my 427 fastback build I had the chrome hurst shifter mounted on the transmission and it started to oxidize. I cleaned it off and smeared a liberal amount of wheel bearing grease on it and put it back in storage. Several years later when I was ready for it I wiped the grease off and it looked like new.

 

I would think a good polish and couple coats of wax would take care of it. Maybe place in a air tight plastic bag and suck it down. Cosmolene is probably good stuff for tools with sharpened edges to protect but maybe not practical for something as large as a bumper.

 

and it is not needed for an item that will deliberately be kept in good storage.

As was mentioned, keeping it dry is the key.

My original bumbers were rechromed and installed on my Mustang 26 years ago. They are still perfect with nothing but an occassional coat of wax.

I can't see why a bumper hidden away needs better care than that. Once installed it won't be coated in anything.

 

keeping it dry is the key.

My original bumbers were rechromed and installed on my Mustang 26 years ago. They are still perfect with nothing but an occassional coat of wax.

I can't see why a bumper hidden away needs better care than that. Once installed it won't be coated in anything.

after all- they aren't some sensitive pieces of art.

Y'all think we may go overboard about this stuff sometimes? I'm just wonderin.

 

Plastic is a bad idea because it does not breathe. Condensation forms and has no way to evaporate. That is why the factory used a porous paper.

I agree with coating it with something and then wrapping it with brown paper or even cardboard.

 

Yeah, that old military surplus stuff was dipped in Cosmoline, and wrapped in oil or wax paper.

 

Mustang Magazine issue #10 (Home | Mustang Magazine Online) is evaluating a new product for treating bare metal to keep rust away. I cannot remember the name or if they are testing on chrome as I only scanned it quick last night when it arrived

 

Keep in mind chrome is porous. It is not a protective, not even rust resistant coating/plating. It's the nickel (over copper) that is non porous protective. Early cars had nickel plating as a protective decorative finish. Chrome plating was added to make parts shineyer. Then they started chinsing on the nickel because it still looked great for a while, until the rust started!

IMO cosmolene is over rated. Weapons and vehicles needed to be repaired in the field with parts litterally drop shipped an sitting who knows where until used. Cosmoline and special oil impregnated kraft paper were used to hopefully protect parts for maybe a few years. They didn't have zip loc poly bags back then LOL!

In the 80's I was doing a mechanical resto on my near mint one owner 37 Ford Deluxe Coupe. I spent months sometimes years searching for NOS parts. This was before the net so a lot of snail mail and long distance calls (many like $5/min.). Ford engines and other mechanical parts were used in various military vehicles. Many of these parts were same as used on 37 Ford drive train. Like Paul Harvey used to say "here is the rest of the story". WWII military surplus parts were about 40 years old. Supposidly great source for old Ford mechanical parts. $100s of dollers of NOS Ford parts started arriving at my door. A package would come...it's like Christmas...Oh Boy this one is the NOS cam I ordered. Get out the big pan, kerosene, rags etc. two hours later in my hand is a nice deeply pited rusted absolutely useless NOS cam! Engine bearings, same story, piston rings so rusty some were falling apart. This useless trash was in fact NOS!

Cosmolene or any other protective coating like say epoxy paint tends to concentrate the corrosion damage where the protection is violated. Zinc plating "galvanizing" actually protects the part galvanically even in the area were the zinc coating is damaged.

Back to the point. If the so called chrome plating has a good copper/nickel plating before the chrome it will probably be fine without cosmolene, grease or a big zip loc bag!

 

Put in a plastic bag and fill with nitrogen. Will keep both oxygen and water out.

Or...just put it in a spare bedroom that has working heat and AC and you won't have a problem.

 

I put a good coat of wax on it, wrap in rags, then in a plastic bag. Check it once in a while and have stored parts that way for years...

 

Plastic is a bad idea because it does not breathe. Condensation forms and has no way to evaporate.

I was suggesting a plastic bag that had been evacuated of air. I didnt think condensation could form in a vacuum but hell, who knows?

 

maybe a little bit.....but it's stimulating conversation you know.

 

ehhhe. Absolutely

: )

 

I keep my NOS parts in my vault next to my one meeeeeeeeeeeeeelion dollars. *holds finger to lip and giggles special Mr. Evil laugh*

 

My original bumbers were rechromed and installed on my Mustang 26 years ago. They are still perfect with nothing but an occassional coat of wax.

I can't see why a bumper hidden away needs better care than that. Once installed it won't be coated in anything.after all- they aren't some sensitive pieces of art.

Y'all think we may go overboard about this stuff sometimes? I'm just wonderin.

Difference is in storage its not washed and polished regularly (I'd bet you did that a few times in 26 years!). Or the fact that just using the car does keep some dust off. And if not kept covered and left sitting dust and crud can settle and eventually assist in damaging the chrome.

I pull parts in my shed about once a year and check, as the fine dust here in Brisbane seems to get into everything. When I first moved here I left some stored parts too long without checking, and while not ruined not keeping an eye on them resulted in a bit more rework that would have been necessary in comparison to if I had unwrapped and checked on occasion!

Can't be too careful, especially with OEM parts in good shape.