Posted May 13, 201212 yr comment_389932 Well, this has been an ongoing process for the past month and a half attempting to prep one of the two heater face plates I have for the 240's I have. Originally some of the chrome was flaking and the black paint was worn through in places so I made that bold jump to "strip it" to the base plastic. The face plate has been in muric-acid for the the duration, only removed to scrub off the loosened material with 00 steel wool. I have attached a couple of photos showing what the face plates looked like and what the strip plate looks like. Now I just have to get a pint of Mirrachrome, and then do the black paint and then detail the letters and hopefully I will have a fully retro-new face plate. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 13, 201212 yr comment_389936 Sounds like an ambitious project! Good luck with the chrome areas.Dennis Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-389936 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 13, 201212 yr comment_389957 Keep up the cool work! Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-389957 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 14, 201212 yr comment_389970 Thanks for the Mirrachrome reference. I had never heard of that stuff before. Pricey isn't it?! Best of luck - let's see your finished work and thoughts. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-389970 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 16, 201212 yr Author comment_390222 Got to admit I am excited spray the mirrachrome. I follow the european touring car circuit. Numeous audi bidy chrome parts are sprayed with this. Even a couple of F1 use this. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390222 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 16, 201212 yr comment_390254 Good luck. Restoring that part will certainly separate the men from the boys. I hope to get some inspiration to do mine after I see yours done. ;-) Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390254 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 17, 201212 yr Author comment_390277 Have you ever had a day when you are convience you know what direction your going to go and then all a sudden you have the ability to go right or left. Well, I just hit the Y-intersection. I found and a guy here in Madison Wi. who does vacuum plating chrome on numerous restoration dashes. He has been doing for twenty years and for $50 (estimate) to replate the face plate versuses ~$400 for the mirra chrome (pint kit), I have to rethink my direction. I would love to spray the mirra chrome but if it doesn't work then its a $400 flop which I doubt will be the case. I did talk talk with Gerry at ALSA and he said the mirra chrome is great but it is really the technique that makes or breaks the finish outcome. With the speed clear sprayed it should be pretty durable. Talking with Rob at www.chrometechusa.com/, he said the vacuum plating will last another 30 yrs if you treat it right. Needless to say the restore will go but whether I spray mirra chrome or go with vacuum plating that is now my dilema. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390277 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 17, 201212 yr comment_390279 No dilema - - if you are "restoring" it - put it back to the condition it was in when originally produced. Vacuum plate it. Also give us the guy's name in Madison. And go see if he wants to do your tail lights as well!!good luck,Carl B. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390279 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 17, 201212 yr comment_390281 Makes perfect sense to me. See if you can get a price for the tail light chrome too. $50 for the heater panel chrome restoration sounds like a WIN! Vacuum plating places seem hard to come by. Watching this thread for sure.EDIT: Haha great minds think alike! I posted this at the same time as you ^ Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390281 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 17, 201212 yr comment_390282 Let the shop Vacuum Plate it for you, unless you thrive on frustration and challenge. Fifty bucks sounds like a very good deal....and you can always blame someone else if it doesn't turn out right.Dennis Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390282 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 17, 201212 yr comment_390286 Makes perfect sense to me. See if you can get a price for the tail light chrome too. $50 for the heater panel chrome restoration sounds like a WIN! Vacuum plating places seem hard to come by. Watching this thread for sure.EDIT: Haha great minds think alike! I posted this at the same time as you ^Hell, I will send my parts to him for that price. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390286 Share on other sites More sharing options...
May 18, 201212 yr Author comment_390439 Guess, it really was a no brainer in addition to the cost difference. I do plan to send the tail light trims but have not started stripping them. Maybe get them started this weekend. If I can get the remaining trumpeter swan nest survey done early to day I should be able to ship the face plate out. When I get it will put picture of it out. Also, I found a second vaccum plater that may do this. Will contact them and see. Enjoy the weekend when you all get to it. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/43208-heater-face-plate-ready-for-restore/#findComment-390439 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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