I try and find a set of good originals to start with.

You can do it yourself. I do a two step process.

First soak them overnight in Evaporust. This will get rid of any small rust areas and help clean them up in general. Wash any residue from them and get them as clean as possible. This may generate an acceptable finish, but usually there are some ugly spots and they are still dull.

Second. To freshen up the galvaninzing, flash dip them in Muratic acid (HCL). The amount of time to bring back the galvanized finish will vary, but leave it in too long and you will have bare metal. I am talking seconds not minutes. Have a pail of water next to your work station to nuetralize the HCL after extraction. It will keep eating away if you don't put it in the water. It may take a few flashes to get your desired look.

In the end I usually shoot some satin clear on it to keep it fresh looking. You wouldn't have to do this step but it will weather back to what it looked like prior eventually.

Safety!! Wear safety glasses and some sort of hand protection. HCL in an open cut is like lighting your hand on fire....don't ask me how I know. (It is dissolving the iron in your blood I am told)

BTW, this works great on the rear license plate bracket as well.

Hope this helps.

D