[aTOMic]

Originally Posted by David's8

Yes you can get Sodium Hydroxide drain cleaner here. some have recommended it for cleaning the drains in the scuttle (probably called something different in USA ) but I am not sure I want it near paintwork even under the bonnet(hood) as is (obviously) caustic. By the way, how did the coffee taste?

Coffee was fine; in fact the reason I researched how to treat the "raw" aluminum (aluminium* to you guys) was prevent any metallic taste - before I cleaned the 100-year-old pot, which had a layer of mineral buildup in the bottom (remember a moka pot boils dry each time)nothing would (chemicallly) touch.

I don't know what the US equivalent of "scuttle" is ("Sump?) however I do know what the word means, but I know VWs and Audis have a definite problem with their (scuttle) drainage!

*My wife is from Germany, moved to the US when she was 13; when I met her 20-odd years ago, she could not say the Al word either way; especially funny since she has two Masters' degrees - and one is biology! (A good old science joke here is to have someone say "aluminum" ten times as though it were a tongue-twister, then ask them what a tin can is made of)...

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Aluminium and Caustic soda is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdRrZH3M5O0

You are correct, sir; as I said...

Originally Posted by aTOMic

...it requires full protective gear... ...and I actually heed warnings to the point of buying a $90 respirator w/ organic vapor filter for this job. Along with industrial rubber sleeve gloves, face shield, etc.. ...

In any case I have misunderstood the question - OP is talking about the plastic strips, and I was thinking of the removable window trim that is worn-looking on so many of our cars. I have always wondered how they chrome-plate plastic (assuming they do). There was an episode of "How It's Made" (Canadian TV series) which detailed the process IIRC.