1960 Window Frames Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 416
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From: Kearney Nebraska
1960 Window Frames Question
Are the window frames on a 1960 corvette chromed or stainless. While disassembling my side window frames, I noticed a fairly deep gouge in one of the window frames and if they are stainless, it probably will not polish out, but if they are plated, I am sure the work can be done to repair the gouge before re-plating.
As always, thanks to everyone for their help!
Greg
1960fivette
As always, thanks to everyone for their help!
Greg
1960fivette
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 19
From: Portlandia Oregon
They are stainless, but with a flash chrome I believe. Any quality plating shop or welder who knows how to stainless weld should be able to fill the gouge for you, then you can have it polished.
oWEN
oWEN
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Kearney Nebraska
Thank you for the reply Vintagecorvette! Looks like I need to get the glass out of them and get them sent off with the rest of the pieces to be polished and flash chromed (hubcaps and windshield stainless).
Greg
1960fivette
Looks like I need to get the glass out of them and get them sent off with the rest of the pieces to be polished and flash chromed (hubcaps and windshield stainless). Greg
1960fivette
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
Greg,
Most of the gouges that the frames usually get in them will sand and buff out. I have never had one that was so bad that it needed welding up. The problem with welding them up, is that it is hard to get the filler material to look exactly like the trim, so they repair sometimes shows.
Stick with one of the trim experts if welding is necessary, and be prepared to pay more than a good original will cost to have yours repaired. If yours is truly damaged that bad, drop me an Email, as I am pretty sure that I have a couple of re-polished originals up in the attic.
Mine are not flash-chromed, but then neither was any of the trim on my Duntov 60, and I never took a single point hit on it. If you keep your trim polished regularly very few people will ever be able to tell.
In an inside venue, under metal halide lighting, it is absolutely impossible to tell!
Regards, John McGraw
Most of the gouges that the frames usually get in them will sand and buff out. I have never had one that was so bad that it needed welding up. The problem with welding them up, is that it is hard to get the filler material to look exactly like the trim, so they repair sometimes shows.
Stick with one of the trim experts if welding is necessary, and be prepared to pay more than a good original will cost to have yours repaired. If yours is truly damaged that bad, drop me an Email, as I am pretty sure that I have a couple of re-polished originals up in the attic.
Mine are not flash-chromed, but then neither was any of the trim on my Duntov 60, and I never took a single point hit on it. If you keep your trim polished regularly very few people will ever be able to tell.
In an inside venue, under metal halide lighting, it is absolutely impossible to tell!
Regards, John McGraw
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Kearney Nebraska
Thanks for the offer John! I will take a look at what I have and see just how bad the gouge is! I am still moving ahead with the 1960, hopefully in the next year it will come together; NCRS Regional Denver - May 2008, NCRS National St Charles, MO - July 2008. That's the game plan!
Greg
1960fivette
Greg
1960fivette
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Frontenac Kansas
C-1 Window Frame Polishing
Originally Posted by John McGraw
Greg,
Most of the gouges that the frames usually get in them will sand and buff out. I have never had one that was so bad that it needed welding up. The problem with welding them up, is that it is hard to get the filler material to look exactly like the trim, so they repair sometimes shows.
Stick with one of the trim experts if welding is necessary, and be prepared to pay more than a good original will cost to have yours repaired. If yours is truly damaged that bad, drop me an Email, as I am pretty sure that I have a couple of re-polished originals up in the attic.
Mine are not flash-chromed, but then neither was any of the trim on my Duntov 60, and I never took a single point hit on it. If you keep your trim polished regularly very few people will ever be able to tell.
In an inside venue, under metal halide lighting, it is absolutely impossible to tell!
Regards, John McGraw
Most of the gouges that the frames usually get in them will sand and buff out. I have never had one that was so bad that it needed welding up. The problem with welding them up, is that it is hard to get the filler material to look exactly like the trim, so they repair sometimes shows.
Stick with one of the trim experts if welding is necessary, and be prepared to pay more than a good original will cost to have yours repaired. If yours is truly damaged that bad, drop me an Email, as I am pretty sure that I have a couple of re-polished originals up in the attic.
Mine are not flash-chromed, but then neither was any of the trim on my Duntov 60, and I never took a single point hit on it. If you keep your trim polished regularly very few people will ever be able to tell.
In an inside venue, under metal halide lighting, it is absolutely impossible to tell!
Regards, John McGraw
If I understand your post, the frames can be polished without need of flash chroming? I haven't tackled mine yet, but they appear to have pits around the area where the doors meet the frame. I figured I would have to disassemble the frame and send it off with the bumpers, etc. If I can polish it out -possibly without having to disassemble- it would be great. Again, your suggestions are appreciated.
Respectfully,
Tom Spurgeon
corvettethomas67
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
Originally Posted by corvettethomas67
John,
If I understand your post, the frames can be polished without need of flash chroming? I haven't tackled mine yet, but they appear to have pits around the area where the doors meet the frame. I figured I would have to disassemble the frame and send it off with the bumpers, etc. If I can polish it out -possibly without having to disassemble- it would be great. Again, your suggestions are appreciated.
Respectfully,
Tom Spurgeon
corvettethomas67
If I understand your post, the frames can be polished without need of flash chroming? I haven't tackled mine yet, but they appear to have pits around the area where the doors meet the frame. I figured I would have to disassemble the frame and send it off with the bumpers, etc. If I can polish it out -possibly without having to disassemble- it would be great. Again, your suggestions are appreciated.
Respectfully,
Tom Spurgeon
corvettethomas67
Tom,
Yes the frames can be sanded and polished without the need to replace the flash chrome. On thin pieces of stainless like the window frames, it is all but impossible to tell the difference between ones that have flash chrome and ones that don't. You can sand and buff the scratches and its out and the frames will polish up to a mirror shine. They will have avery subtle yellow cast to them as opposed to the slight blue cast that flash chrome parts have. It takes a pretty practiced eye to even tell the difference. I would not reccomend trying to polish the frames without taking them apart and pulling the glass out. You will need to sand the frames and you will scratch the glass for sure. If you do not buff all the flash chrome off, it will show, so you will need to buff the entire part. This is a job for a fixed buffing machine with wheels and compound.
This is a job that is well within the capabilities of most garage restorers, but requires some investment in tools and supplies and has a bit of a learning curve. Buy a book to help you learn the basics, and the rest is nothing but practice.
Regards, John McGraw
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Frontenac Kansas
Thanks John,
I have a fixed buffing wheel affixed to a workbench in my garage. I fashioned one end of a grinder for this purpose. For the past couple of years, I've been working slowly at the learning curve you mentioned -I just hope the fingers, arms, and body don't mind it...
Tom
I have a fixed buffing wheel affixed to a workbench in my garage. I fashioned one end of a grinder for this purpose. For the past couple of years, I've been working slowly at the learning curve you mentioned -I just hope the fingers, arms, and body don't mind it...
Tom
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From: Alameda CA
1962 Window Frames
Originally Posted by 1960fivette
Are the window frames on a 1960 corvette chromed or stainless. While disassembling my side window frames, I noticed a fairly deep gouge in one of the window frames and if they are stainless, it probably will not polish out, but if they are plated, I am sure the work can be done to repair the gouge before re-plating.
As always, thanks to everyone for their help!
Greg
1960fivette
As always, thanks to everyone for their help!
Greg
1960fivette
