Chroming Plastic - Sources?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Chroming Plastic - Sources?
Anyone know a source to get plastic re-chromed?
I need to get the original radio ***** re-chromed. The replacements are smaller then the stock 70 ones. I also want to do the pull ***** for the vents.
Thanks,
Pete
I need to get the original radio ***** re-chromed. The replacements are smaller then the stock 70 ones. I also want to do the pull ***** for the vents.
Thanks,
Pete
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,473
Likes: 1,495
From: Little Rock AR
I think the process was Vacuum metalizing originaly.
Here is a number for you to try. I can not vouch for this guy either way but maybe he can help you:
Call ROD after 4:00pm at 734-261-4454
Hope this helps,
-Mark.
Here is a number for you to try. I can not vouch for this guy either way but maybe he can help you:
Call ROD after 4:00pm at 734-261-4454
Hope this helps,
-Mark.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by stingr69
I think the process was Vacuum metalizing originaly.
Here is a number for you to try. I can not vouch for this guy either way but maybe he can help you:
Call ROD after 4:00pm at 734-261-4454
Hope this helps,
-Mark.
Here is a number for you to try. I can not vouch for this guy either way but maybe he can help you:
Call ROD after 4:00pm at 734-261-4454
Hope this helps,
-Mark.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 1
From: VetteMOD
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
The radio ***** are probably vacuum metalized. There are a number of people who do restoration of these parts. I would be very carefull who I used. Most of the re-metalized parts I've seen look like crap.
You can chrome plate ABS plastic (and ABS alloys). I do not know if the ***** are ABS or not.
Regardless of which is used, the part will have to be stripped and that is a problem because the part has to be perfect before plating. I think you can find a metalizer in Hemmings. MPC plating in Ohio does production chrome on ABS (they will not do small quantities or restoration work).
You can chrome plate ABS plastic (and ABS alloys). I do not know if the ***** are ABS or not.
Regardless of which is used, the part will have to be stripped and that is a problem because the part has to be perfect before plating. I think you can find a metalizer in Hemmings. MPC plating in Ohio does production chrome on ABS (they will not do small quantities or restoration work).
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Thanks.
I have looked on a plating forum and there is a lot of bad work done (customers letters about Mr G in particular). Since it will probably cost $50 to get them done I want to have a quality job done.
I have looked on a plating forum and there is a lot of bad work done (customers letters about Mr G in particular). Since it will probably cost $50 to get them done I want to have a quality job done.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,374
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
Originally Posted by stingry
I need to get the original radio ***** re-chromed. The replacements are smaller then the stock 70 ones. I also want to do the pull ***** for the vents.
Pete
Pete
I think the pull ***** for the vents, that are sold by the Corvette houses, are OK. I replaced mine, but I will admit that I didn't closely examine and compare the new (repro?) ones with the originals. I still have some originals, maybe I will.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 649
Likes: 56
From: TX
Tell me about it, sometimes you think just an extra couple minutes of effort and they could have made a decent repro this or that. Why they don't in many cases is the big mystery.
Vacuum metal chrome plating for plastic has always been the impossible nut to crack for DIYers I guess. I've heard of a chromelike model paint out of the UK that comes quite close or so I'm told but I'm sure it wouldn't be appropriate for a **** in a car that's manipulated. I'd guess the plastic ***** are made out of some sort of styrene perhaps (if that helps).
thanks,
PS: BTW I need a (1)single inner tone/balance **** for 69-71 radio/stereo - don't particularly care if it's orig/repro and just needs to be decent - not showroom judging perfect. I lost 1 of my 4 ***** and looked everwhere... just wondered if anybody had a spare. If interested I may have some 72+ ***** but I'd have to dig to see.
Vacuum metal chrome plating for plastic has always been the impossible nut to crack for DIYers I guess. I've heard of a chromelike model paint out of the UK that comes quite close or so I'm told but I'm sure it wouldn't be appropriate for a **** in a car that's manipulated. I'd guess the plastic ***** are made out of some sort of styrene perhaps (if that helps).
thanks,
PS: BTW I need a (1)single inner tone/balance **** for 69-71 radio/stereo - don't particularly care if it's orig/repro and just needs to be decent - not showroom judging perfect. I lost 1 of my 4 ***** and looked everwhere... just wondered if anybody had a spare. If interested I may have some 72+ ***** but I'd have to dig to see.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by 68/70Vette
......"the replacements are smaller then (sic) thestock 70 ones." Why is it that when people make repro parts they don't just go what seems to be a little extra effort and make the part correct? Is there actually a valid reason why someone would not want to make a repro part that was exact?
I think the pull ***** for the vents, that are sold by the Corvette houses, are OK. I replaced mine, but I will admit that I didn't closely examine and compare the new (repro?) ones with the originals. I still have some originals, maybe I will.
I think the pull ***** for the vents, that are sold by the Corvette houses, are OK. I replaced mine, but I will admit that I didn't closely examine and compare the new (repro?) ones with the originals. I still have some originals, maybe I will.
The repro radio ***** are for later year C3s. They are smaller. They are also for stereo radios. Stereo was an option in good ol 1970. My mono radio works great. After 2500RPM it sounds even better.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Saw a bit of Trucks on Spike TV today and an ad came on for
PAUL'S CHROME and it said that they now do plastic parts now !
Didn't catch the phone number, but the web address is paulschrome.com Hope this helps and let us know
what you find out !!! Rick
PAUL'S CHROME and it said that they now do plastic parts now !
Didn't catch the phone number, but the web address is paulschrome.com Hope this helps and let us know
what you find out !!! Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Here's a link that shows the steps for plating plastic.
http://www.caswellplating.com/pickak...ticchrome2.htm
They sell kits there, but too costly if just plating a few things.
http://www.caswellplating.com/pickak...ticchrome2.htm
They sell kits there, but too costly if just plating a few things.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 649
Likes: 56
From: TX
Originally Posted by stingry
The repro radio ***** are for later year C3s. They are smaller. They are also for stereo radios. Stereo was an option in good ol 1970. My mono radio works great. After 2500RPM it sounds even better.
The Mono versions, 3 of the 4 ***** are identical - just one of the tone/balance ***** is a 'dummy' **** but I'm not sure if the dummy **** is in repro or not or if a stereo version can be adapted to fit...
I've seen 'em in repro for like $20 or so for a whole set of four (so far I've been too cheap to buy a whole set of 4 when I only needed one...
kinda still hopin' I might turn up my missing tone/balance **** too ). Skip teh catalogs that list a single part # for 69-76 and look for catalogs that list 69-71 ***** separately I guess?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Try Paragon Reproductions. I've found that most of their repros are very accurate and are of good quality. Not sure about radio *****, though, but worth a call to them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
From: Carlisle PA
Chiming in a lil late, don't get on here too often...
Anyway, I just had 2 chrome vent assemblies done for the Camaro. Sent them to www.chrometechusa.com turnaround time was about 4 weeks.
I've heard some horror stories about Mr. G's, but I think you do get have your circumstances where things don't work out.
The vents chrometech stripped and then replated, I actually sent him 4 and selected the best 2, total including shipping was $65.
Anyway, I just had 2 chrome vent assemblies done for the Camaro. Sent them to www.chrometechusa.com turnaround time was about 4 weeks.
I've heard some horror stories about Mr. G's, but I think you do get have your circumstances where things don't work out.
The vents chrometech stripped and then replated, I actually sent him 4 and selected the best 2, total including shipping was $65.