chrome hinges
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 14
From: Baltimore Md.
chrome hinges
I thought I posted this last night at work but I can't find it, so here goesagain. Anyone have chrome hood hinges that have been on a long time and with no RUST!? Overnight my hinges rusted bad and I did get most off with wd40 but I'm trying to get a refund from this company that sells poor quality chrome( I'll tell you later). So who has the best chrome hinges with the best price? Thanks, I know I will get lots of choices. Doug 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Been looking at hinges myself. Also looking into how hard it would be to do it myself with the factory hinges. I have found chrome plating kits for around $300. I don't know if I should attempt it though on the hinges and latches.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
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From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
The problem with the hinges and latches is they are assemblies with moving parts. The components pivot or rub against one another, and no plating job will last forever under those conditions. Keeping the joints lubed with a light penetrating oil, or a dry film lubricant will definitely help, without being too noticible.
I got both my hinges and latches from CEC and am happy with the quality. They've only been on a few months though.
As for the other question of plating your own parts, sure you can buy the chemicals and dip them yourself, but remember the tedius part of any decorative plating is the polishing that needs to be done beforehand. The parts need to be highly polished before the first dip in the copper, and then likely polished again before the nickel and chrome baths. Chroming is a dirty, tedius job, involving some very nasty chemicals, and the entire process is somewhat of an art to perfect. Not trying to discourage you, but it isn't a simple $300 kit and instant bling. There is a reason there's not many chrome shops, and why the good ones have such extremely long lead times.
I got both my hinges and latches from CEC and am happy with the quality. They've only been on a few months though.
As for the other question of plating your own parts, sure you can buy the chemicals and dip them yourself, but remember the tedius part of any decorative plating is the polishing that needs to be done beforehand. The parts need to be highly polished before the first dip in the copper, and then likely polished again before the nickel and chrome baths. Chroming is a dirty, tedius job, involving some very nasty chemicals, and the entire process is somewhat of an art to perfect. Not trying to discourage you, but it isn't a simple $300 kit and instant bling. There is a reason there's not many chrome shops, and why the good ones have such extremely long lead times.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 14
From: Baltimore Md.
Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
The problem with the hinges and latches is they are assemblies with moving parts. The components pivot or rub against one another, and no plating job will last forever under those conditions. Keeping the joints lubed with a light penetrating oil, or a dry film lubricant will definitely help, without being too noticible.
I got both my hinges and latches from CEC and am happy with the quality. They've only been on a few months though.
As for the other question of plating your own parts, sure you can buy the chemicals and dip them yourself, but remember the tedius part of any decorative plating is the polishing that needs to be done beforehand. The parts need to be highly polished before the first dip in the copper, and then likely polished again before the nickel and chrome baths. Chroming is a dirty, tedius job, involving some very nasty chemicals, and the entire process is somewhat of an art to perfect. Not trying to discourage you, but it isn't a simple $300 kit and instant bling. There is a reason there's not many chrome shops, and why the good ones have such extremely long lead times.
I got both my hinges and latches from CEC and am happy with the quality. They've only been on a few months though.
As for the other question of plating your own parts, sure you can buy the chemicals and dip them yourself, but remember the tedius part of any decorative plating is the polishing that needs to be done beforehand. The parts need to be highly polished before the first dip in the copper, and then likely polished again before the nickel and chrome baths. Chroming is a dirty, tedius job, involving some very nasty chemicals, and the entire process is somewhat of an art to perfect. Not trying to discourage you, but it isn't a simple $300 kit and instant bling. There is a reason there's not many chrome shops, and why the good ones have such extremely long lead times.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 14
From: Baltimore Md.
Originally Posted by doug doo wop
I thought I posted this last night at work but I can't find it, so here goesagain. Anyone have chrome hood hinges that have been on a long time and with no RUST!? Overnight my hinges rusted bad and I did get most off with wd40 but I'm trying to get a refund from this company that sells poor quality chrome( I'll tell you later). So who has the best chrome hinges with the best price? Thanks, I know I will get lots of choices. Doug
