How to straighten bumper...

[Jim Saraceno]

Both the front and back bumpers to my '35 have dents in them. They appear to made of a spring steel. What kind of place should I look for to straighten them up before I have them re-chromed?

[Plymouthy Adams]

do you have access to a standing a-frame press

[mackster]

about four years ago, the last time I had a bumper chrome...they straighten it out as well, prior to chroming, so if you have someone else do it you might be paying for it twice!

[TodFitch]

One of the "chrome shops" near me actually as "bumper service" in its name. The implication of that became evident to me as I dropped off some small pieces that needed plating: They fix bumpers.

It also turns out that they just do the prep and polish work then send the pieces elsewhere for the actual plating.

Anyway, you might want to check your telephone book and see if there is a bumper repair service in your area.

[RobertKB]

Most chrome plating shops will do that. The front bumper on my '38 Chrysler was really beat up and badly bent but they straightened it really nicely before chroming. You would never be able to tell it had work except for a few marks on the back where they must have pressed it.

Edited September 25, 2009 by RobertKB

[Jim Saraceno]

Thanks guys. I have a lead on a good plating company around here, I'll give them a call to see if they will do the straightening. If not I looked in the yellow pages and found a plating company listed under "bumper repair".

I suppose I should have figured that out myself but I just wasn't sure where to start.

[RobertKB]

Thanks guys. I have a lead on a good plating company around here, I'll give them a call to see if they will do the straightening. If not I looked in the yellow pages and found a plating company listed under "bumper repair".

I suppose I should have figured that out myself but I just wasn't sure where to start.

Glad you have someone in mind. This is what the forum is all about.....helping each other out and and at times sharing some fun.

[BobT-47P15]

Jim, when you find out what they do, etc., you might let us know.

My guy in Greenfield, MO has said he won't do bumpers any more.

Only small stuff. And, who knows how long he can hold out in a

small one man shop.

I need to check with another place in Independence, MO who my

guy said is getting out of the regular plating business to get into

plastic re-chroming. So, I may need to use your shop. Still have to

have my front bumper rechromed.

[Jim Saraceno]

Jim, when you find out what they do, etc., you might let us know.

Okay, I just called them and they said they would straighten the bumpers and plate the fronts for around $275 each plus $60 each for the bumper guards. I was told it's usually a two week turn around time. That sounded pretty reasonable to me.

They were recommended to me by Mark Aubochon on this forum and several members of the local Horseless Carriage Car Club.

The buisness is:

Highline Plating Inc.

105 Enterprise Drive

P.O. Box 59

Cuba, MO 65453

(573) 885-7651

1-800-596-5473

http://highlineplating.com/index.html

hlpchrom@centurytel.net

I'll probably wait until I put Bluebelle to bed for the winter then pull the bumpers and bring them down to Cuba. Maybe combine a car trip with a fishing trip. Yeah, that's the ticket... a carfishing trip!

Bob, it's not exactly in your backyard but if you have no places locally, it may be worth your while to do you work there.

Edited September 25, 2009 by Jim Saraceno

[RobertKB]

I'll probably wait until I put Bluebelle to bed for the winter then pull the bumpers and bring them down to Cuba.

Hey, I thought you Americans couldn't go to Cuba?! Canada has normal diplomatic relations with Cuba so if you want to ship me the bumpers and pay my way, I'll go for you. Hmmm, maybe a two week turn around. This sounds good! Let me know if I can help out.

[desoto1939]

Jim:

Is the price that they quoted for triple plateing cooper, nickel then chrome or just nickel and then chrome.

If this is show chrome, thriple plating that is a good price. I assume that they are also doing all of the prep work and polishing.

rich

desoto1939@aol.com

[Jim Saraceno]

I thought you Americans couldn't go to Cuba?

Well I've been to Cuba, Mexico, Nevada, (New) Madrid, Amsterdam, Caladonia, Holland, and Olymian Village, all with never leaving the great state of Missouri.

I hear the plating is good in Cuba, I'll have to check out their cigars!

Is the price that they quoted for triple plating cooper, nickel then chrome or just nickel and then chrome.

I'm not sure. He asked me if I wanted both sides plated and I said just the front. I'm guessing if triple plating is more expensive he would have told me it was included so I'm guessing it is only double plating. Is there a big difference?

It did include all the prep and polishing. Now this was just an estimate over the phone, he may have a different price when he actually sees the parts.

[Frank Elder]

I've been to Houston, Missouri!

[Don Coatney]

Anyway, you might want to check your telephone book and see if there is a bumper repair service in your area.

Imagine that! The yellow pages still work

[Captain Neon]

Don, don't you know that if they don't have a website with a check-out cart it is just too much trouble. Some people's time is just too valuable to be spent looking in the yellow pages, reading, or making phone calls.

[Captain Neon]

Cuba, Missouri, is/was on Rt. 66.

[Jim Saraceno]

Imagine that! The yellow pages still work

Yeah, I'm old enough to still remember how to use them, it just never dawned on me that there would be a listing under "Bumper Repair".

My bad.

[RobertKB]

Well I've been to Cuba, Mexico, Nevada, (New) Madrid, Amsterdam, Caladonia, Holland, and Olymian Village, all with never leaving the great state of Missouri.

You guys have everything in Missouri. I thought you had to travel the world to see the world. Guess I gotta go to Missouri. Any of you guys remember the song about the "poor little robin walking, walking, walking to Missouri"? I seem to remember my dad listening to that when I was a kid.

[Andydodge]

Jim, that guy that asked whether you wanted both sides plated knows his stuff......at least get him to polish the rear of the bumper then see if he'll just nickle/chrome the rear, BUT if at all possible always get copper/nickle/chrome on the front and the edges after having the areas to be plated polished........if you check bumpers that have been chromed, look on the rear or inside of the bumper, if it hasn't been polished but still chromed you can bet that the plating will start to lift as the rough unpolished metal doesn't allow the plating to adhere very well, once it starts to lift there then it will allow moisture under the plating and eventually make its way to the front.........its the copper plate that gives a nice smooth strat to the process, also provides a moisture proof surface, the nickle gives it its nice shiney surface and chromium the yummy blue sparkelly tint............chrome.....love chrome......chrome.........andyd, btw what ever you have make sure to put a good heavy coat of wax/polish on the back of the bumpers also.........andyd

[Jim Saraceno]

Jim, that guy that asked whether you wanted both sides plated knows his stuff......at least get him to polish the rear of the bumper then see if he'll just nickle/chrome the rear, BUT if at all possible always get copper/nickle/chrome on the front and the edges after having the areas to be plated polished........if you check bumpers that have been chromed, look on the rear or inside of the bumper, if it hasn't been polished but still chromed you can bet that the plating will start to lift as the rough unpolished metal doesn't allow the plating to adhere very well, once it starts to lift there then it will allow moisture under the plating and eventually make its way to the front.........its the copper plate that gives a nice smooth strat to the process, also provides a moisture proof surface, the nickle gives it its nice shiney surface and chromium the yummy blue sparkelly tint............chrome.....love chrome......chrome.........andyd, btw what ever you have make sure to put a good heavy coat of wax/polish on the back of the bumpers also.........andyd

Thanks Andy, that's some great information. I'll go over those finer points when I bring the pieces in. Wax/polish the back? I'd have never thought of that. I assume that helps to protect it.

[claybill]

ALSO,.... plating will lift and peel if there is a sharp edge. ( i have 2 that are a waste of $375.) on older bumpers the edges are usually sharp and crisp and a bit ragged. ask them to take a grinder and gently round off all the sharper edges.

bill