S30 Chrome ashtray Restoration Techniques? Anyone? Anyone?

[monzter]

You can attach pictures directly to a post which bypasses the whole approval process.

None of those buttons work for me, I click them and nothing???

Sorry I should be asking this in a different location

[MikeW]

None of those buttons work for me, I click them and nothing???

Sorry I should be asking this in a different location

Sorry, it looks that attaching files has recently broken.

[monzter]

Hey Will,

Back from vacation and got to work on those covers today, thought I would fill you in on the details.

Well, after showing the old and new parts to the plater 100% sure they are chrome plated, and not Cad or Zinc. The Cad or Zinc can be made to look like the finish, but not durable enough. So I brought to my Chromer I use (Bush Polishing in Garden Grove) and had him look at them, he said they are simple to do. First the part was media blasted (well get to this one later) then nickel flash plated (needed for the chrome to stick) and then chrome flash plated. There is no copper used, as copper is primarily used as a primer of sort to build the flaws and polish them out. If no copper is used then the texture and grooves will remain. So I had him strip the old chrome off, this was done by dipping them in a muratic acid with the part reversed charged. This literally pulls the chrome off without disturbing the nickel plate. If the nickel needs to be removed then it has to go in sulfuric acid.

Next off to another vendor (Embee - Metal Improvement in Santa Ana) These guys specialize in shot peening and special media blasting. They do alot of aerospace parts that blow me away ever time I stop in. He said the only way to match the finish was to simply try different techniques and see how they come out. It is had to tell what will happen, because he does no know the hardness of the metal. First attempt was a very fine glass bead, looked really clean when finished, but you could still see the scratches from the years of opening and closing - no good. Next was shot peening (like we know is done to connecting rods) and pretty good results, but a few problems. First, the texture was a little more than the original, but all the scratches were gone. Next, the big problem was warpage. The idea behind shot peening is that when the balls hit the surface and deform the metal, they actually stress relieve the surface tension. This stress relief actually caused the part to bow, and I am sorry to say I think it is a goner, see the pics, sorry. The second part is still fine, and now ready for the third attempt and I think final process that will work. He has to re-setup the machine tonight so I will know tomorrow, but the plan is to use a heavy glass bead. This will provide a similar texture to the shop peen, but without the surface tension relief that bowed the first part.

After the texture is done and correct I will bring it back to the chromer for the finish flash chrome.

Again sorry about screwing up one of the parts, let me know if you need me to dig up another one.

I will give you more info when I have it.

PS is it normal to have to wait 1 day for uploaded images to be approved, and I cant use the attach image button, any ideas?

Best Regards

Jeff

here are the pics

[hls30.com]

Jeff,

Some how I missed your posts until now...Hmmm!

I have more covers-this isn't my first try at this, so sacrificing a few more was expected. I am going to pull a few more in the next week or so, so If I need to send you more I can...

I really appreciate your efforts! I have not heard from the the others I sent off, but from the sound-and look- of it, you are hot on the trail!

Thanks!!!

Will

[monzter]

Hi Will,

Ya I really think it is going to work. I am going to pull the cover off my other car (daily driver) and have it done at the same time, I think the chome will be better than what I did last time. I have an extra ashtray I refinished years ago. It looks pretty good, only some really small pits inthe bottom, if you want it I can send it to you with the finished ashtray covers? Let me know, and I should be getting back out to the chomer this week.

Jeff

[hls30.com]

Ultimately I will need 6 covers done right(6 NOS consoles to finish out). I still have not heard anything from the ohter shop, but he told me he was about 10 weeks behind when I sent him the covers, so his time is getting close...

I have about four more covers available to pull in my parts cars, so hopefully, my numbers will be right where I need them, after Daytona I will make a mold of one of my NOS fuse box area covers and make up several of them, as they seem to be getting harder to find too.

Then on to the lights and switches...

Will

[monzter]

Well, been a busy couple of weeks, but finally got over to Embee to pick up the cover from glass beading. It ended up looking good. These are the specs of the glass bead:

GP-.083-.100 Glass 10-20 psi

I dropped it off at the chromer for the final steps.

Jeff

[hls30.com]

Thanks Jeff!

Will

[monzter]

Hey Will,

Just picked up the cover from the chromer, looks good I will post some pictures tonight. Can you PM me your address so I can send it back to you to check out. I hope you like it.

Jeff