Author Topic: Pot metal chrome services / taillights  (Read 9714 times)

Sauron327

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Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« on: January 28, 2016, 09:13:52 PM »
I'm looking for recent info on the best platers to do a pair of 67 taillight bezels. Tri-City told me about S&H Plating and Advanced Plating. I'm aware that CHQ makes respectable repro bezels but that is not what the customer wants. Thanks.

cook_dw

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2016, 12:29:22 AM »
Advanced is the best around but. $$$$$

L78 steve

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2016, 01:11:13 AM »
CHQ's are so darn good no one will know.
69 Z/28 Dover White. SOLD
67 SS/RS Mt. Green 1W,2LGSR,3SL,4K,5BY,07C. SOLD
70 Nova L78 Blk. Cherry,Sandalwood,M21,02B

Camarocards

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2016, 01:41:53 AM »
I'll be crossing that bridge very soon in my resto. I believe that Librandi's (http://www.carchrome.com) can restore the taillight bezels but I don't think it'll be cheap. They do, however, do excellent work.

Bob
Bob
'68 SS L35 01D

Mike S

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2016, 01:45:23 AM »
CHQ's are so darn good no one will know.

  That's what I have now and have absolutely no regrets. The thing with a replater is you likely have to accept what they give you.

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

Sauron327

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2016, 02:11:47 AM »
I'll be crossing that bridge very soon in my resto. I believe that Librandi's (http://www.carchrome.com) can restore the taillight bezels but I don't think it'll be cheap. They do, however, do excellent work.

Bob
Librandi was also recommended. Cost is not an issue, quality is. Prices to begin at $450 were expected and became true. These are very nice looking driver, virtually pit free cores but there are no guarantees after stripping, nor what can pop out later. The labor to repair pot metal is understood. The texture within the 67 bezels is another variable. It seems the only sacrifice with CHQ is the mounting studs. It all depends on the value of the car and personal preference. Thanks.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2016, 02:39:31 AM by Sauron327 »

Sauron327

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2016, 02:32:56 AM »
CHQ's are so darn good no one will know.

  That's what I have now and have absolutely no regrets. The thing with a replater is you likely have to accept what they give you.

Mike
Therein lies the problem with those who state they can restore parts. Restore being the operative word.

joesauer

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2016, 06:20:11 PM »
Not sure how far away (shipping) you want to go.  Sherm's Plating in Sacramento, Ca. is very good, but expensive.  Used them on a few of my restorals.

L78 steve

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2016, 08:17:07 PM »
Scott, What is the problem with the CHQ bezel mounting studs? Differ from originals?
69 Z/28 Dover White. SOLD
67 SS/RS Mt. Green 1W,2LGSR,3SL,4K,5BY,07C. SOLD
70 Nova L78 Blk. Cherry,Sandalwood,M21,02B

Sauron327

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2016, 10:41:23 PM »
Scott, What is the problem with the CHQ bezel mounting studs? Differ from originals?

Threaded studs as opposed to the original potmetal studs with speed nuts. After deliberation, I've persuaded the owner to purchase CHQ's. At some point, there has to be a cut off point for a particular car. The owner is saving the originals.

L78 steve

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2016, 11:29:06 PM »
Good job. I had side by side the 69 Camaro gill trim and the CHQ parts were nicer than NOS.
69 Z/28 Dover White. SOLD
67 SS/RS Mt. Green 1W,2LGSR,3SL,4K,5BY,07C. SOLD
70 Nova L78 Blk. Cherry,Sandalwood,M21,02B

big iron

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2016, 03:27:44 PM »
Just had my 67 taillight housings done by S&H and they did a great job but they where good drivers to start with.
Bob

Mike S

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2016, 03:40:01 PM »
Bob,

  Did they have the characteristic pits and if so were they filled in to your satisfaction?

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

firstgenaddict

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2016, 04:02:44 PM »
Good job. I had side by side the 69 Camaro gill trim and the CHQ parts were nicer than NOS.

Nicer?
Were the profile definitions as sharp as the originals?
This is my largest "issue" with the higher quality reproduction pot metal trim.
It appears as though an original is acquired and then polished to remove blemishes and imperfections.
After initial die cast the part appears to be polished before plating.
Nothing is as sharp as assembly line parts.

IF all of the definition is not being lost in the polishing and or tumbling before plating and is from the initial preparation of the model for the "clone"

The way to have generated a part as was done in 67 was to carve the part from wood clay what have you.

If a very nice example were located the main issue would be the duplication of the correct texture.
Pulling from a plated version would give you a very poor reproduction upon recasting and then plating again.
Pulling from a bare die casting would be more accurate,
Generating your own and then testing would probably yield the most accurate. Especially given that plating today and the 60's are different.
If the emblems were not originally plated Cu Ni Cr. The addition of Cu plating will serve to fill the definition and the part becomes even less defined if it is polished before Ni. (When the buffing wheel pulls on sharp edges it naturally removes the sharpness of the edge)

Put a straight edge to the side of a reproduction set of emblems (perpendicular to the mounting surface) SS or 69 CUI emblems for instance, they all appear to bulge, originals are flat. Side by side there is no mistaking them. 
James
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L78 steve

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Re: Pot metal chrome services / taillights
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2016, 04:18:02 PM »
I didn't have a original to compare to only NOS. Lots of sharp casting flash and poor chrome shine on the GM. The customer chose the CHQ.
69 Z/28 Dover White. SOLD
67 SS/RS Mt. Green 1W,2LGSR,3SL,4K,5BY,07C. SOLD
70 Nova L78 Blk. Cherry,Sandalwood,M21,02B

 

anything