Chrome and a question

[ggdad1951]

JUST got back from my chromer guy. As you can see below I can now start to get things going again (once I have time away from the woodshop).

I have one question tho: the wing window latches....are the pins spring loaded or do they just ride on the stud? If there were springs inside they didn't make it thru the plating process. Didn't even think of that.....D-oH!

You decide: $1200 for this lot of chroming and SS/nickle polishing. My next lot: DODGE grill badge(polish), JOB RATED badge(fix and plate), hood ornament(fix and plate), one wiper arm (polish), dash badge(polish), parking light refelctors(clean up and plate), misc screws(strip and plate), wiper arm bezels(clean and plate) and the wiper motor switch & nut (clean and plate) for $1100, did I get a good deal?

Edited February 29, 2012 by ggdad1951

[Dave72dt]

Putting together quite a showpiece. Sure you're going to want to drive it when finished? Local plater?

[HanksB3B]

Springs are supposed to be there. Looks like your chromer did a real nice job and really that's the most important thing. The price is probably equal to what other shops would charge. I'm a bad person to ask about the price though as Don of Decore Chrome must have sized me up and noticed I had holes in my jeans I paid about half that.

Hank

[ggdad1951]

Putting together quite a showpiece. Sure you're going to want to drive it when finished? Local plater?

Chrome to Polish in St. Paul.

[ggdad1951]

Springs are supposed to be there. Looks like your chromer did a real nice job and really that's the most important thing. The price is probably equal to what other shops would charge. I'm a bad person to ask about the price though as Don of Decore Chrome must have sized me up and noticed I had holes in my jeans I paid about half that.

Hank

hmmm, seems I'm gonna have to take those apart and get 'em back together somehow then.....I think the heads are pressed on....those looked like a whitch's nose when I took them in they were so warty.

Rats.

[Barry Maxwell]

I paid $520 to rechrome my horn ring and hood ornament, and I thought I was robbed. Nevertheless, I gulped and went ahead. I polished everything else (head light rings, light, choke, heater, etc. knobs, etc., etc.) with buffing compound. Came out fine, for the most part.

[Young Ed]

You'll have to investigate but on the cars the spring goes between the piece you had chromed and the pin that it gets attached to.

[ggdad1951]

You'll have to investigate but on the cars the spring goes between the piece you had chromed and the pin that it gets attached to.

yah, can someone help me out here? Pictures would be huge! Spings I can get, but where to put'em?

[ggdad1951]

I paid $520 to rechrome my horn ring and hood ornament, and I thought I was robbed. Nevertheless, I gulped and went ahead. I polished everything else (head light rings, light, choke, heater, etc. knobs, etc., etc.) with buffing compound. Came out fine, for the most part.

all my pot metal was/is pretty pitted. I think I'm getting a fair shake considering all the pitting.

[HanksB3B]

is a really cool guy. Last time I saw him he was seventy two (2 years ago?) He still races dirt track cars, not sure what class but they probably weight 1,200 lbs? and are putting out something like 800hp?

He makes his main living chroming shopping carts, industrial shelving and the like for a couple of big nationwide clients. Out of love of the hobby, he side lines with vintage automotive chrome restoration.

Chromers have one basic problem that started with Erin Brockovitch and Pacific Gas & Electric. The EPA has made so many restrictions, rules and regulations that Don told me it costs $70,000 a month just to put the key in the door and open up. No wonder there are no jobs and everything is made in China.

Hank

[HanksB3B]

Do not dissassemble your chromed parts. I think you can just clip a ballpoint pen spring in half and just drop them in, stretch them out a little and you should be fine.

Hank

[ggdad1951]

Ill have to check my pictures but doesnt the spring live in the shaft post for that? Pushed the pin out that way? The stud has a hole in it if I remember right. Waiting to fly out to vegas so I can't look at ANYTHING for a while. I don't think I would have missed that detail and not taken it apart if there was a spring on the pot metal handle itself....

[Desotodav]

Great job on the chrome Mark - love that horn ring! Price seems fairly good. I am fortunate enough to have found a great chromer/polisher over here. In saying that though, it costs around $100 to chrome a hubcap (with no dents) over here if that gives you any comparison.

The vent wing latches have a small corrugated washer that sits on the shaft in behind the latch to spring load the latch placing back-pressure on the the pin to hold it in place. I can drop down the shed and see if I can find some to get a photo if you need one?

I can see a new "cool tool" for tightening instrument bezels (compliments of Eric) being put to good use soon!

Desotodav

[John-T-53]

Looks amazin'!

Price seems fair. Would have been more in my area as the environmental regs and bullsh*t fees out here are putting a big squeeze chrome shops in CA!