C3 beauty rings ?

[Jim M.]

I sent my beauty rings out for reair and polishing. The guy who was performing the work sent them back to me to remove the clear finish on them so he could sand them before polishing. I never knew they had a clear finish. You could see where he had started to sand them where there was some damage and there was a outline of a clear finish on them. So I bought Aircraft stripper and put on them for a while and then rinse it off. The stripper never lifted the clear. In fact it made it look shiny.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, Jim.

[Jack C.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

I have never seen them with clear on them. I'm sure this was done in someones garage.

[Joseph K.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

I sent my beauty rings out for reair and polishing. The guy who was performing the work sent them back to me to remove the clear finish on them so he could sand them before polishing. I never knew they had a clear finish. You could see where he had started to sand them where there was some damage and there was a outline of a clear finish on them. So I bought Aircraft stripper and put on them for a while and then rinse it off. The stripper never lifted the clear. In fact it made it look shiny.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, Jim.

Mine did not have a clear coat on them either. you might try PVC pipe cleaner.

[Pat M.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

Are you sure this "clear coat" is not actually flash chrome?

I have seen many original rings with flash chroming (I know, MANY people don't believe they were originally chromed) over the stainless steel, and where the bluish-looking chrome is thin, you can see the yellowish stainless underneath. It's subtle, but unmistakable once it's been pointed out.

Sanding would quickly remove some of the chrome, which might then make the remaining chrome look like a foreign coating. Could this be what you're seeing? Because it seems to me a good solvent should be able to remove a true clear coat.

[John H.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

Diluted muriatic acid will remove the flash chrome layer. Original stainless trim rings were flash-chromed after polishing to protect the stainless from oxidation (chrome is clear, not shiny).

[Pat M.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

Diluted muriatic acid will remove the flash chrome layer. Original stainless trim rings were flash-chromed after polishing to protect the stainless from oxidation (chrome is clear, not shiny).

Thanks John - You may have just sent shock waves through the crowd who insists original rings were not chromed!

[John D.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

pat,

Do you have a part number for the trim rings ?

[Pat M.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

pat,

Do you have a part number for the trim rings ?

I don't John. My primary interest is in early Shark first design rings, so I look at and buy these the most.

[Sal C.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

3923626 is the number, but there have been three versions.

[John D.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

....no luck with that p/n....

[Sal C.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

????? Been the same number since 1968. Don't think it is discontinued. Last time I checked they were over $200.00 each. The current configuration is not correct for early C3s anyway.

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

Current list $234.98

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

Current list $234.98

GM PART # 3923626
CATEGORY: All
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $234.98
OUR PRICE: $144.19

From GM Parts Direct -- AKA Flow Chevrolet. Of course one then has to add shipping.

[Jim M.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

Thanks guy's for the update on the Flash Chrome. So after the flash chrome is removed and the rings have been repaired and polish what is the next step ?

[Pat M.]

Re: C3 beauty rings ?

Thanks guy's for the update on the Flash Chrome. So after the flash chrome is removed and the rings have been repaired and polish what is the next step ?

Reapply a flash chrome if you want it to look like it did before.