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Chrome at home

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  • Jeffrey S.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • May 31, 1988
    • 1880

    Chrome at home

    Hello All.
    There have been many posts concerning DIY plating of cadmium/zinc, yellow chromate and black oxide and phosphate but little has been written about chrome plating small parts at home. I have been using Caswell's "Copy-Chrome" for some time with excellent results. Attached is a picture of a few parts I have been successful in plating: the base of my original '69 antenna, the swing bracket from my gas filler bezel, acorn nuts from the gas lid emblem and the screws that attach the bracket to the lid. Actually, the plating is nickel with a cobalt additive which gives the nickel its bluish color and prevents tarnishing. It can be plated right to steel ( not pot metal) and like other plating, has a learning curve but it is quite simple. It is plated at room temperature with very little current per square inch. Of course you can't replate a bumper -only small parts can be done with this. Any questions I would be happy to answer.
    Jeff
    Attached Files
  • Alan S.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • July 31, 1989
    • 3415

    #2
    Re: Chrome at home

    Hi Jeff,
    I've read about Copy-Chrome but you're the first person I've found that's used it.
    Since there's just one layer of plating what have you been doing to prepare the surface and remove imperfections? Perhaps on some parts (as opposed to bumpers) the surface doesn't need to be perfect?
    You said 'no pot metal'... I'm thinking of the guide pins on the front of 68-up roof panels, any chance?
    Regards,
    Alan
    71 Coupe, 350/270, 4 speed
    Mason Dixon Chapter
    Chapter Top Flight October 2011

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    • Jeffrey S.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • May 31, 1988
      • 1880

      #3
      Re: Chrome at home

      Alan:
      Since you can plate right to the base steel,the parts must be buffed smooth and shiny. If there are small pits, etc these must be addressed. You can pu a "strike" coat of the CopyChrome directly on the base and then copper plate on top of that to fill any small pits. I also use Caswell's acid copper to accomplish this but for the most part, small interior pieces and fasteners really don't more than a good buffing to get ready for cleaning and plating. The guide pieces you refer to would make a good candidate for this since I'm pretty sure they are steel and not pot metal. (just put a magnet on them).
      Jeff

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