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  • 60 T-Bird
    Experienced
    • Jun 2 2010
    • 347

    Chrome question

    I am going to chrome the "bird" ornament just forward of the hood, two pieces of the driver side mirror and the hood "scoop" which is pot metal. I received 2 quotes here in Northern Ca. One was $225 and the other $400. Both seemed high. Does anyone have a good, reasonable chromer contact? Shipping for those parts probably wouldn't break the bank.
    "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"
  • Guest

    #2
    Ray had once refered me to a shop in AZ that I have used several times for smaller and mailable items. I have been satisfied with their service and quality.

    Papago Plating
    2312 E. Washington St.
    Phoenix, AZ 85034
    602-273-1408
    papagoplating@qwest.net

    Comment

    • JohnG
      John
      • Jul 28 2003
      • 2341

      #3
      Have you considered new, reproduction pieces? Any chromed potmetal I have bought is first rate.

      Also see elsewhere a thread on spray on chrome.
      1958 Hardtop
      #8452 TBird Registry
      http://tbird.info/registry/DataSheet...r~equals~8452)

      photo: http://www.squarebirds.org/users/joh...d_June2009.jpg
      history:
      http://www.squarebirds.org/users/johng/OCC.htm

      Comment

      • Guest

        #4
        Contact www.archerchrome.com! They were at the swap meet last year in Louisville Ky. I looked at some of their work and it looked awesome. They even do pot metal and had some pieces there to show before and after!
        Richard D. Hord

        Comment

        • partsetal
          Super-Experienced
          • Jun 4 2005
          • 850

          #5
          The retail price on this 1960 hood bird is around 40.00, but is listed at not concourse quality. You might consider this rather than the rechrome or the repaint route.
          Carl

          Comment

          • Dan Leavens
            Moderator / Administrator


            • Oct 4 2006
            • 6366

            #6
            Martin there are some valid points made to the repro parts especially the emblem, as they are quite nice. The mirrors and hood scoop are a different matter and if you can get them rechromed ( quality finish ) for under $225, I would say go for it. Anytime you can get three (3) pieces rechromed ( again quality finish ) for about $75.00 a piece that's a good thing. I had the front / back bumpers, hood scoop, headlight plates and the valve covers done for $1500 two years ago and they turned out great.Just a suggestion, if your are getting the hood scoop chromed ( I would suspect for added accent ) have you considered your head light plates as well
            Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada
            Thunderbird Registry
            58HT #33317
            60 HT (Sold )

            Comment

            • 60 T-Bird
              Experienced
              • Jun 2 2010
              • 347

              #7
              Thank you for the suggestions and contact information, I will send pictures off to them tonight. Here are the items I wanted re-finished. I have a Harley and did alot of re-chroming last year. I had my primary, transmission and rocker covers done as well as lifter blocks, belt guard, coil and battery cover done for $500. This bird stuff represents about 1/5 of that conservatively. So I figured no more than $150. Of course prices here in Ca. never stop going up!
              Attached Files
              "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"

              Comment

              • 60 T-Bird
                Experienced
                • Jun 2 2010
                • 347

                #8
                Originally posted by Dan Leavens
                Martin there are some valid points made to the repro parts especially the emblem, as they are quite nice. The mirrors and hood scoop are a different matter and if you can get them rechromed ( quality finish ) for under $225, I would say go for it. Anytime you can get three (3) pieces rechromed ( again quality finish ) for about $75.00 a piece that's a good thing. I had the front / back bumpers, hood scoop, headlight plates and the valve covers done for $1500 two years ago and they turned out great.Just a suggestion, if your are getting the hood scoop chromed ( I would suspect for added accent ) have you considered your head light plates as well
                Thanks Dan...I'm trying to make Angelina a little different which is why I am only chroming the hood scoop. Wait until you see the color of the paint being done!
                I tell ya...doing one of these cars, you end up being a contractor, interviewing people and weeding out the BSers. I'm not complaining too much. I'm really having a blast! The painter/body guy is allowing me to do grunt work on the car for him. He said with me helping it should take 2 weeks longer...
                "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"

                Comment

                • YellowRose
                  Super-Experienced


                  • Jan 21 2008
                  • 17188

                  #9
                  Chrome question

                  All my chrome was done by Southwest Chrome in San Antonio. 210-658-8087. Tell them that you know me if you call them and remind them I am the guy with the '59 yellow Tbird. Their prices are quite reasonable and they have things done pretty fast. I have had things chromed for others outside the US, and I think they have been pleased with the results. I will tell you though, that chroming pot metal is problematic, and they told me so. I went through three air scoops to get one chromed that would fit and it still does not fit that well, but it is on. Also, the curved tail pieces in the rear are hard to chrome also. One of mine bent during chroming, but I was able to get it on. Keep that in mind.

                  Ray Clark - Squarebirds Administrator
                  The Terminator..... VTCI #11178 ITC #6000 Yellow Mustang Registry (YMR) #12188
                  Contact me via Private Message for my email address, or Call (Cell) 210-875-1411

                  https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm
                  Faye's Ovarian Cancer Memorial Website.
                  https://faye.rayclark.info/index.html

                  Comment

                  • 60 T-Bird
                    Experienced
                    • Jun 2 2010
                    • 347

                    #10
                    Originally posted by YellowRose
                    One of mine bent during chroming, but I was able to get it on. Keep that in mind.


                    YIKES!!! I think a little too much heat or current at the chromers.
                    "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"

                    Comment

                    • 60 T-Bird
                      Experienced
                      • Jun 2 2010
                      • 347

                      #11
                      Originally posted by YellowRose
                      All my chrome was done by Southwest Chrome in San Antonio. 210-658-8087. Tell them that you know me if you call them and remind them I am the guy with the '59 yellow Tbird. Their prices are quite reasonable and they have things done pretty fast. I have had things chromed for others outside the US, and I think they have been pleased with the results. I will tell you though, that chroming pot metal is problematic, and they told me so. I went through three air scoops to get one chromed that would fit and it still does not fit that well, but it is on. Also, the curved tail pieces in the rear are hard to chrome also. One of mine bent during chroming, but I was able to get it on. Keep that in mind.
                      Well, you were right. Mine came back a little tweaked and the chrome on the underside of it did not want to take. It looks "ok" but that's it. Pot metal melts just over 700 degrees and apparently has a lot of stress built up in it. I am assuming that the plating process releases that stress either through heat or with the electrical current flowing through it.
                      "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"

                      Comment

                      • simplyconnected
                        Administrator
                        • May 26 2009
                        • 8778

                        #12
                        Originally posted by 60 T-Bird
                        ...I am assuming that the plating process releases that stress either through heat or with the electrical current flowing through it.
                        Au contraire, electroplating is done under water, so the temp never reaches anywhere near boiling (212*F).

                        Any serious heat is caused outside the plating tanks, either by the polishers or sand blasters. Pot metal is easy to plate but it takes a lot of labor to do properly.

                        partsetal is right about repops being much cheaper than stripping, drilling rot out, copper plating, filling holes with lead, metal finishing, copper plating again, buffing to a mirror finish, nickel plating, and finally chrome. If any of the middle steps comes out wrong, more copper plating and buffing. So, plating is easy. A good chrome shop will guarantee their work for ever, and if you aren't satisfied, they will redo it until it's right. That's how my chromer works. This business of ruining or losing parts is totally unacceptable. Avoid those guys at all cost.
                        Member, Sons of the American Revolution

                        CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.

                        "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
                        --Lee Iacocca

                        From: Royal Oak, Michigan

                        Comment

                        • 60 T-Bird
                          Experienced
                          • Jun 2 2010
                          • 347

                          #13
                          Originally posted by simplyconnected
                          Au contraire, electroplating is done under water, so the temp never reaches anywhere near boiling (212*F).

                          Any serious heat is caused outside the plating tanks, either by the polishers or sand blasters. Pot metal is easy to plate but it takes a lot of labor to do properly.

                          partsetal is right about repops being much cheaper than stripping, drilling rot out, copper plating, filling holes with lead, metal finishing, copper plating again, buffing to a mirror finish, nickel plating, and finally chrome. If any of the middle steps comes out wrong, more copper plating and buffing. So, plating is easy. A good chrome shop will guarantee their work for ever, and if you aren't satisfied, they will redo it until it's right. That's how my chromer works. This business of ruining or losing parts is totally unacceptable. Avoid those guys at all cost.
                          I agree totally...He did my Harley last year and the job was good. But this one part was 2 weeks late and a crappy job. I sent and received it through the mail. He just lost the business for the interior trim items.
                          "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"

                          Comment

                          • simplyconnected
                            Administrator
                            • May 26 2009
                            • 8778

                            #14
                            Originally posted by 60 T-Bird
                            ...But this one part was 2 weeks late and a crappy job...
                            The deal is... plating companies inspect the work BEFORE they agree to do it. If you aren't satisfied, call him and send it back! Make him do it right for the money you already paid (it ain't cheap).

                            'Swallowing' bad work isn't acceptable, either. What would happen if you needed that part for a job you are doing for your customer? C'mon, this is business.

                            I saw a hood ornament re-done for a late 40's Pontiac. The detail was terrible. Chief Pontiac's face was all polished off, the side lines were gone, and the whole part was ruined. The point is, they plated it anyway. That's the difference between a good professional plating shop and a bunch of idiots who ruin parts. Maybe that's why some parts get 'lost'.

                            The polish room should be larger than the plating room. Professional polishers are true craftsmen, and I love to watch them work. The guy hefts a Cadillac bumper and polishes it on a huge belt sander by hand without putting 'belt edge' lines in the part. Smooth, round, corners are very tricky. The next piece he picks up might be an emblem bezel or hood bird. The skill is in knowing when to stop polishing. Polishers laugh at me because I can't do it as well. I gladly pay them to do my work. - Dave
                            Member, Sons of the American Revolution

                            CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.

                            "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
                            --Lee Iacocca

                            From: Royal Oak, Michigan

                            Comment

                            • tmjsong1aolcom
                              Experienced
                              • Mar 31 2004
                              • 329

                              #15
                              Rechrome pot metal

                              My 2 cents worth.

                              The nose bird buy the repro piece. The hood scoop is pot metal and prone to warping during the stipping and plating process. If you get a reasonable price you unfortunately will get what you pay for. Make sure you have more than one hood scoop as it may take 2 or 3 to get a good one done.

                              I have not seen the repro mirrors but in order to redo yours the old finish will need to ground off and in all likelyhood most of the detail will be lost.
                              I would suggest at least lookin at the repro first.

                              Good Luck
                              Fuz
                              58's&64's
                              Sun Prairie, Wi
                              tmjsong1@aol.com

                              Comment

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