chrome plating
![[Deleted User]](https://openforum.hetclub.org/applications/dashboard/design/images/defaulticon.png)
on my step down the rocket hornet badges need crome plating. can the pitting be fixed before plating.
0
Comments
-
I haven't had any of my cast pieces re-chromed yet but I hear it's tough to get the pits out and get the chrome to stick and even more important its very expensive!
Since I'm rodding my 49 - I may look at some of the higher end chrome simulated paint on some of those cast parts that are pitted - but I'll do some test pieces first to decide...of course at the current rate I'm going that'll be sometime in '07 :mad:0 -
Dan is correct. The pits have to be drilled out and filled. Then, the part should be tripple plated using nickle, copper and chrome. Even if the pits are small, the cost will climb quickly if they are numerous. Buy good used badges and use them or, if yours are very pitted, find good cores with less pits and have them replated. Pits are the pits when it comes to chrome!0
-
DO NOT USE Superior Plating in Houston!!!0
-
If you are one of those guys like me that just MUST do stuff yourself..buy a simple copper plating setup. You can drill , file, sand,or grind all the pits out, then copper plate. After you have a copper base, you can add solder to the low areas and pits. The solder surface is easy to work. I have used a large soldering iron like they use for soldering copper rain gutters. I never tried a small torch. Afraid I might melt the pot metal. After you have the pits all filled and smoothed out, replate with copper. You can keep repeating this process until you are satisfied with the appearance of the part..then send it to the plater for tne Nickle-chrome treatment. it will cost you much less and you will know what you have. You will also have a healthy respect for the work that goes into doing a pot metal part. Have fun..
Dave w.0 -
I have been working with Triangle plating in St.Louis. This old guy is a genius with Die Cast. I have done over 20 parts with him over the last year for my 47 Truck. He has perfected a process that I prep and fill the surface with high grade expoxy filler and then he triple plates it. He can bring it up to the top quality. I have been building his website this week. I took time tonight to put up the before and after of the 47 tbar piece. You won't belive it. I will post a lot more and the before and after shots. Take a close look. this just below his best work.
http://www.triangleplating.com/main.htm
Click on the before and after album.
I will be putting up a lot more of the 47 parts later this week.0 -
question, in doing the prep work, how do you remove the old chrome before you work on filling the pits ? ? ?0
-
I bead blasted the parts. Then I filled them. Sprayed with high quailty sandable primer. This process was a learning experence. To maintain the detail. The fender lights were tough to keep the detail. I haven't photographed the lights that he sent back to me. They turned out great. I use a fein detail sander. I will be posting the pics later this week.0
-
I think I might have a decent rocket badge that needs to be rechromed but if I recall correctly, isn't pitted. If you are interested I'll check my stack o' stuff.0
-
Dummy, you might want to get an estimate before you tackle do-it-yourself pit-filling! Any reputable chroming shop will give you an estimate if you show them the piece. If you mention your locality, maybe someone on the Forum can recommend a good plater that's not far away, and you can then show them the part, for an estimate. Not all platers are equal, when it comes to dealing with pot metal, so it's best to rely on word-of-mouth, such as you'll get here at the Forum.0
-
All my heavy chrome parts (bumpers, grill etc.) were prepped by chrome shop
and I should have next week...Tomorrow morning I am bringing additional pieces, fortunately they aren't pitted badly. If interested, see pictures.
Ray0 -
Anyone have a shop that they would recommend sending pot metal to?0
-
As I mentioned ealier - Frank at Triangle Plating is a wizard with Pot Metal.
I have been working with him for over a year and he can do wonders with the worst parts. See my eairler post for more information.
http://www.triangleplating.com/main.htm
Click on the before and after album.
I will be putting up a lot more of the 47 parts later this week.0 -
Hello,
There is a fantastic chrome shop in Grafton Ohio, just south of Elyria called Custom Chrome.
http://www.customchromeplating.com
They are one of the few shops that uses reverse plating to remove the old chrome. This avoids losing detail to the grinder. Then, all the pits are filled with copper and the peice is buffed to its original contours. They have three grades of finished product, relating to exactness of the finished product.
They have to see the part to give an estimate due because they have to know the extent of the pitting that needs to be repaired.
Three years ago I had them repair and plate the handle on a 1951 Philco refrigerator that I restored. I chose the middle grade, and I was impressed. I cannot immagine a better result. The refrigerator has been in daily use in my kitchen and the chrome looks as good today as it dikd when I assembled the refrigerator.
Hope it helps... Dr Java0 -
Wow, Want To Thank Evertbody, I Sure Learned Alot. Dr. Java, I Was Wondering, In What Area It Would Cost. $50.00
or $200.00 Or Higher.0 -
After the mangled bumper fiasco this summer, I found a local shop that did a fantastic job. They are in northern Illinois. If anyone is interested, send me a PM.0
-
Quote": "I bead blasted the parts. Then I filled them. Sprayed with high quailty sandable primer. This process was a learning experience."
I feel more than a little dumb myself, but are you say that copper can be plated over non-metalic surfaces like filler (bondo) and primer?0 -
No a special paint is first applied by the chromer that will allow the copper to adhere. I am sorry I didn't do that step. Frank the Chormer did.0
-
A.I.H. chrome plating in dubuque,ia. does a great job! Steve runs a super clean shop and they do excellent work. all parts are VERY well documented and tracked as well. regards, tom0
-
Dummy, there is no such thing as "bargain" chrome plating anymore, thanks to the nanny-state and the EPA. Your hood ornament will likely run a couple of hundred dollars or more. Two DODGE fender emblems on my '67 truck ran $90 EACH, and they were nearly pit-free! Another friend recently had ALL of the chrome on his '59 Caddy done - at a cost of nearly $55K.
Plating ain't cheap any more!0 -
There are 2 ways to do the job right.
1 fill the pits and have the item plated. If you use a shop make sure they will fill the pits. Most will not!!!! they will just grind the part and, if you are lucky, put an extra thick copper coat and grind it down to get a bit of filling. In any case, be very careful if you are using a shop. Pot metal restoration is very expensive
The 2nd is to find good pates to begin with. I have had very good luck by calling Stu Coleman (check your HET Roster) He hold me may very nice parts to use as the core. It is better to have good parts then to fill bad ones. And it is a lot cheaper too,
I had the pit free NOS fender rockets replated for my Commodore 8. Cost was about 200.00 each. They needed replating as the clear coat had deteriorated and the chrome had tarnished. (Blasted Korean War chrome) They were don in show chrome and are perfect. Like I said. EXPENSIVE!
0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- 37K All Categories
- 106 Hudson 1916 - 1929
- 19 Upcoming Events
- 91 Essex Super 6
- 28.6K HUDSON
- 561 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
- 993 Street Rods
- 150 American Motors
- 174 The Flathead Forum
- 49 Manuals, etc,.
- 78 Hudson 8
- 44 FORUM - Instructions and Tips on using the forum
- 2.8K CLASSIFIEDS
- 602 Vehicles
- 2.1K Parts & Pieces
- 77 Literature & Memorabilia
- Hudson 1916 - 1929 Yahoo Groups Archived Photos