Anybody know a good plater?

[bobc]

Does anyone know a good plate shop. I'm looking to have hood latches, gas line, etc replated. I think the original was zinc cadmium, but may not be. Trying to duplicate the gold/red/blue plating on the original items.

Thanks

[DatsunZGuy]

http://www.restoration-specialties.net/Plating.htm

"We can restore all your hardware. Nuts, bolts, brackets, spacers, everything. If you want the original finish for your project, we can help. No order is too small. Remember, return shipping is on us. Ask about special pricing for www.zcar.com,www.classiczcars.com,www.67-72chevytrucks.com, and www.myoldtruck.com members. We will also extend pricing to any forum member of any internet resource."

[1 Bravo 6]

Isn't it a shame,

Nobody knows where a bloke named Bob Coleman comes from.

If we did, ... SOMEONE might know of a good plater close to lost Bob's location, which is WHY a few more personal details would come in handy.

S'no good giving him an address in Canada if he lives in Florida, or Californeee

if he lives in Western Australia is it ????????

Sorry lost Bob, .... can't help you mate.

Rick.

:devious: :devious:

[dogma420]

were hood latches plated? Mine are car color--is this wrong?

[ncz]

I think they were that cadmium color Dave, not the hood hinge but the latch and striker, mine just look old!!

[datsunrides]

Not sure where you are located, but I just had a batch of parts re-cadded for a Datsun roadster I am currently restoring. The shop is called:

Industrial Plating Company

803 American Street

San Carlos, Ca 94070

Ph # (800) 477-1048

www.indplate.com

They are located in the San Francisco bay area. They charged me $250.00 to redo just about all the originally plated items on my car. I had a bright cadmium plating done on my stuff and am mostly happy with the outcome. The finish does not match exactly with the original finish, but is close enough. It was my fault for not asking their oponion, I just stated I wanted a cadmium finish and they came back grey! They were nice enough to put the bright finish on for a minimal cost which somehow gives it the yellow/gold tint to it.

Mark

[bobc]

Mark, I'm in So Cal, so shipping to San Carlos is no problem (yes, even Australia!). How long did the platter take to do the job?

[26th-Z]

The hood latch hardware is plated and finished as such. Hood hinges are plated and painted to match the car color.

[datsunrides]

Turn around was about 2 1/2 weeks including ship time. I would give them a call , it all depends on how busy they are. Let me tell you, it seem like plating shops in general are getting harder and harder to find due to EPA regulations, espically those dealing with heavy metals! I also know of a good (read not cheap, but fair) chrome plating shop in San Jose if you are interested in it. they did some great work on some pretty janked up stuff for my SPL311.

Mark

[=Enigma=]

The hood latch hardware is plated and finished as such. Hood hinges are plated and painted to match the car color.

The hinges on my 73' were painted at the factory to match the car.

[Carl Beck]

....snipped.....

The finish does not match exactly with the original finish, but is close enough. It was my fault for not asking their oponion, I just stated I wanted a cadmium finish and they came back grey! They were nice enough to put the bright finish on for a minimal cost which somehow gives it the yellow/gold tint to it.

Mark

Hi Mark (everyone)

I only mention this as a point of information:

A friend of mine's father "USED" to own one of the better show chrome plants in Florida. So I had an opportunity to spend a little time with the Chemists they had working for them. My friends father and the Chemist both had 30+ years in the Aerospace and Defense industry - where most times "cost" has no bearing on the product, but quality is everything.

I see that the Plant you recommend lists Cadmium Plating with options for Bright, Black, Chromate, Olive Drab.. The original parts on the Z's were indeed Yellow Chromated Bright Cadmium.

Because of the EPA requirements for handling toxic and heavy metals.. 95% of the plating companies today in the US don't "actually" use Cadmium. Because consumer's are usually clueless.. If you call a Plating Company or visit one- and you say that you have small parts that were Cad. plated - and ask them if they can re-plate them - they will just say "sure".

You'll send them the parts - get them back - and they won't quite have the exact same look as the originals. The usual reason is - they didn't Cad. plate them to begin with, rather they used a zinc plating, and yellow chromate dip...

Parts plated with either Zinc or Cadmium both come out with a somewhat dull silver appearance, and when next processed with a Chromate.. they come out with a yellow/gold look. The zinc parts will not have quite that deep golden huge, with the same rainbow of colors that parts plated with cadmium will have.

If you make it perfectly clear that the process you want MUST be a bright cadmium - not ZINC.. usually they will say something like; "oh.. well we don't actually use cadmium, we use zinc - but it looks the same".... If you don't say anything about it they won't either. You can also expect to pay a lot more for the use of real cadmium.

The quality at which your parts will come out of the plating process - will depend upon how nearly perfect the small parts are that went into the process. Some shops do a great job of cleaning the parts up - and then polishing them up to near new condition. Other shops will clean the parts before plating and plate them... flaws and all. Still other shops will simply plate what you send, and expect that you have cleaned/polished them. So you have to assure that the parts are to be not only cleaned but also polished (so to speak) or understand fully exactly what will be done and by who.

The whole plating process is can be a mine field... so be careful out there.. Communicate with the plating company and clearly define what you expect the end result to look like and the quality of the parts your expecting to receive back. Pin them down to very specific explanation of the exact process and materials used.

I'm not an expert on plating - only relaying my personal experience and what experts have told me.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com