I have a gentleman in Illinois looking to chrome his radiator shell. I thought I saw something on the forum regarding but was unable to locate. Can anyone recommend a vendor? Thank you in advance for any help...

You can get it done here in Indianapolis,but you'd best have deep pockets.

I am going to have mine chromed - and it is going to cost me about 300-400 bucks they say.


Travis E. Towle
Topeka Kansas

785-357-1004

The Finishing Touch Inc.
5580 Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60630
(800) 403-4545
http://www.thefinishingtouchinc.com

I have seen their work. First Rate!

My unit was sand blasted and they said it would cost more because they have to polish it smooth again before doing the plating...


Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

To be like they were originally, they should be nickel-plated, not chromed.

Mike.

You can save a lot of money if you do the polishing yourself

I'll be sure to pass that along Mike and Ned! lol

Trish,

Tell them to go for the Nickel, it looks original, Ford didn't use Chrome (or what they called stainless) until 1930. It does have to be polished more often than chrome but looks a lot nicer (mellow), on Packards & Roll's (I think Roll's still uses it) they used the common name "German Silver".

When Chrome plating came in '27 or '28 you'd drop your car off in the morning, they'd remove all the brightwork, do the Chrome plating & you'd pick up the car in the afternoon, all for 15 or 20 bucks.

I think the big cost today is due to the removal of toxic waste. When they tore down San Diego Plating it took like 20 years to get the waste out of the soil, all to build a 40 story Condo project (average price for a condo $1,500,000).

Pull up my profile you'll see the Nickel (which needs polishing) I think the radiator shell, lamp rims & bumpers we're talking an orginal $20 dollar option, Bob Bishop who I bought it from told me the bumpers were over $300 to get replated.

Alex

One of the guys in AACA told me I can take 000 steel wool and polish down the chrome and it will look exactly like nickle... Anyone tried that? Then you do not have to polish up the nickle all the time!


Travis E.Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

Chrome has a blue cast to it, so it will always appear different than nickle. BTW, Chrome plating is actually three platings, Copper base to fill imperfections and provide good bonding to base metal. Nickel plating for the silver color, Chrome to provide corrosion protection for the nickel. Cheap plating will eliminate the copper. Yes, you can dull chrome (satin, or Butler finish).
The Ford 1930 and on Stainless finish IS stainless, not chrome, 18-8 stainless. And (pet peeve) Model A dashes were not shiney, they were satin nickel in '28-30 and butler finish in 30-31. Most restored cars today have the wrong finish.
T'ake care,
David D.
BTW, early nickel plating had to be poilished to be shiney, before the chrome plating too, today most nickel comes out of the tank shiney.

Trish, forget the steel wool: chrome plating is easy to strip off from a nickel plate and only takes a minute. I took a chromed steering gear cover to a plater and he was back with it in less than 2 minutes. He didn't even charge me for it.

Sorry Trish; I meant Travis.

Travis,
Why waste time and money chroming then buffing it off? I used A and A Bumper Plating here in Independence and they nickled my tall radiator shell for $300. They did a great job of it too.
There is also Hiles Plating in Kansas City that are the only platers for silver here in town. They redo headlight reflectors with silver then coat them with a thin film of protection so they won't tarnish.
I like the nickle finish and it holds up well.

Joe R.

Chrome radiator shells look nice; but, as many have said, "They have that blue hue to them". A good heavy coating of nickle over copper over steel is what you want for a good 26-27 car. The biggest concern of the coating process is contamination. The part must be completely cleaned between each process.

I was soldering a new nickle neck on a radiator last night and found that when I started to polish it, there were a few pits that were already starting to shed some of the nickle. Likely the result of dust in the air or a cleaning rag. The more that you polish nickle, the more chance you have of working into the copper. There are a lot of nickle radiators out there that look like leopards because of this trait. German Silver wouldn't do this. It is the same alloy all of the way through.

A radiator made out of German Silver would look great; but, it would be way out of class for a Model T.

Tour America,
JC

The reflectors don't need a film on them for protection. They will tarnish when out in the open air, but not in a headlight. I recently had the opportunity to inspect a 1916 T which has been in storage for about 50 years, with the headlight lenses and "string" gaskets in place. I removed a headlight ring and lens, and the reflector looks like brand new!

Mike.

do you know what he charges for the headlight reflector plating?
john

John,
I called and the people at Hiles Plating and Silversmiths said the cost for a Brass reflector is about $90 dollars and for a steel reflector after clean up woudl be abut $180.
Their address is:
Hiles Plating and Silversmiths
2030 Broadway
Kansas City, Missouri

Phone: 816-421-6450

Web address: www.Hilesplating.com

They are nice to talk to and said they have had many happy customers with the silver plated reflectors. They use a process of silver plate followed by a clear lacquer to protect the silver.
I hope this helps you, Happy New Year.

Joe R.