anyone know how to polish stained chrome?

[69 air cab]

I have an 84 Silverado that has a chrome band about 8" wide that goes across the middle of the tailgate. It is dull, stained, not shining.......almost looks like hard water has been run over it. Anyone have any potions or advice that I can use to make it shine again. They are so expensive I can't buy another one.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[piecesparts]

Is it chrome or is it the brushed stainless filler that Most of the trucks had in those days. If it is trully stained or has a bunch of hard water spots on it, then try using a mixture of CLR to remove the water spots (test an area first for damage). If it is the stainless then you might be able to use a metal poslish on it and work the spots out with a tooth brush and a towel. The paint can always be redone, but the metal can be polished. If it is chrome, then try using "Turtle Wax" Chrome cleaner. After that it is beyond any help, I,m afraid.

[82 Silverado 4X]

I just did mine a few weeks ago with Eastwood's Compound for polishing Stainless on one of their 3" compond buffs with my air-grinder. Once it looked like I wanted it to, I coated it with Eastwoods clear paint for bare metal. I did the same to the trim around the back of my cab. They turned out pretty nice.

[69 air cab]

thanks guys..........so 82 Silverado 4X to help me address some points that piecesparts made..........are you confirming that this piece is stainless?

[crossy]

those pieces are all anodized aluminum and you are getting a 'milkiness' to the shine which is actually the ozidation. shops that specialize in aluminum refinishing can strip the old anodize and re-do it but as far as home fixes go----- ive heard of guys stripping the old anodize with drano but Ive also heard of them coming back and finding nothing left in the pan except a gray blob!! that tailgate band is too large to experiment with.
the idea behind stripping it is so they can buff out the aluminum , like the eastwood kit, and then either clear it or keep it polished.
I've scuffed em with fine steel wool and spray with clear .brings back a good shine. keep in mind that any of these 'fixes' are fairly short lived.
DAVE

[N2TRUX]

Crossy- If you want to strip anodizing off use Easy-Off oven cleaner. It worked like a champ when I used to race R/C cars and didn't like the color of a part....