Glovebox die cast cover and center dash die cast part- What is the metal?

['41 Fat Bottom Girl]

Before I tackle trying to clean up the parts more than with just a regular metal polish (not much lustre resulting) I'd like to know what the die cast metal is- it seems like a pewter or pot metal of some sort. 

Anyone know?

It would be good to know if heavy polishing and buffing wheels would be ok.

BTW- Hope you all had a good Christmas and the folks in the storms get home safely.

Best Wishes to all.

 

[Eneto-55]

It's pot metal alright.  I think that pot metal and pewter are very similar, maybe slightly different proportions of the metals involved.  I think pewter has a higher tin content.  Not sure what the other metal is.  (I'm assuming that you are talking about the chromed pieces.  Just be careful not to wear through the plating.  If there are blisters, then you can't polish that completely out.  I have used scotch bright on some of my pieces.)

['41 Fat Bottom Girl]

Thanx.

It's interesting that these pieces don't have chrome. Present surface looks like a pewter teapot in color. Dull.

Do you suppose it might be Zinc? Whatever it is, I would think it would be a lot shinier in its early years.

Being that the car was manufactured in June 1941, it was pre-war.

Maybe autos still using zinc at that point?

I had heard that during the war, other materials were substituted as you mention.

Maybe I'll do a small area on the back side of the glove cover to see what results. There I can always hide a goof.

And Scotchbrite.. good suggestion. That always helps in the process.

[andyd]

My understanding is that the "pot metal", "muck metal", "diecast" or whatever it is is a zinc based casting that over time does react with the weather and ends up with holes and areas that are difficult if not impossible to repair unless the area that is affected is polished away when rechroming........most chrome shops hate this diecast as it requires a LOT of repair work and that equals time & money.........your best bet is to find the absolute best piece possible as without being repaired it will only get worse.........andyd

[sidevalvepete]

3 hours ago, andyd said:

....your best bet is to find the absolute best piece possible as without being repaired it will only get worse.......

I agree with Andy here about finding the best condition bits. Generally, the inside pieces aren't too bad as they have avoided the elements. I found that the inside trim was a mix of the diecast and pressed tin/metal. All interior trim was plated a nickel finish, slightly yellower than chrome. Outside trim was chrome if diecast, or stainless if pressed thin steel...but my car is a '38. Yours may be different.

My horn button is different again. It is a satin finished chrome. Not sure if that was original finish or not. I picked it up on epay and didn't replate it...

Edited December 27, 2022 by sidevalvepete

['41 Fat Bottom Girl]

My horn button is the only chrome plated die casting. It has some minor pitting but shines up nicely.

On my glove compartment cover, I took some rubbing compound and then metal polish with a buffing pad. Started with light pressure and then increased- I worked it for a couple minutes with very little improvement in lustre. 

Whatever the cast material is, it can't be shined up. To me, not worth plating.

So, I am fine with what I have. 

Thanx all.

[andyd]

I had the original dash diecast pieces rechromed when I built the 1940 Dodge......when bought in 1971 it was still on the road, in 1973 I installed the 318 poly etc & over a period of 2-3 yrs rebuilt most bits.......I had the complete dash chromed parts rechromed by a plater in Sydney, all are diecast pieces..............about 10 yrs ago I modified an extra centre dash chromed piece to accept the radio/cassette in its centre......the piece I modified was one of a couple of extra spares I have & does have its original 1940 chromed finish, it is slightly different in its shine compared to the rest of the dash which as mentioned was rechromed in the 1970's.............the attached pic shows the dash centre piece but its hard to see the difference in shine in the pic............andyd 

['41 Fat Bottom Girl]

Those are beautiful! 

Those photos are a convincing argument that chrome is the way to go.

After I finish my final front suspension work, I have look into it. My original dull non-plated parts look like good candidates for plating! Now I think I will have to see what it costs. My fault, I asked the question!

Here is a photo of another original '41 D19 dash, you can see the dull pewter- looking finish but chromed horn button.

Thanx for your pix, good motivation.

Wishing all a safe and healthy New Year. 

 

[Eneto-55]

18 hours ago, '41 Fat Bottom Girl said:

My horn button is the only chrome plated die casting. It has some minor pitting but shines up nicely.

On my glove compartment cover, I took some rubbing compound and then metal polish with a buffing pad. Started with light pressure and then increased- I worked it for a couple minutes with very little improvement in lustre. 

Whatever the cast material is, it can't be shined up. To me, not worth plating.

So, I am fine with what I have. 

Thanx all.

I suppose it's possible that during that era they skipped the plating process.  (I learn something new "every day".) In that case, it would be easier for a plating shop to chrome it.  The difficulty with these soft alloys is that the much easier clean up process that would be used on steel would quickly dissolve the pot metal. 

[Sniper]

I know when my 51 was built the Korean war was going on and chrome was strategic material. So I don't have much of anything in the way of Chrome plated stuff. What's shiny on my car is stainless steel