MTFCA Forum

Does anyone here do bright nickel plating? Ken Kopsky used to do nickel plating on the side and did a great job on some parts I sent him about 15 years ago, but he stopped doing it several years ago and I have more parts that have accumulated that need to be plated. Jim Patrick

If you can't find anyone on the forum that is plating, you could try Graves Plating in Florence AL. I had them do some chrome plating for me but I think they can do nickel also. https://gravesplating.com/

Jim,
There was an old forum discussion I found a few years ago and Craig Riker in Ohio was mentioned. I don't know if he is still plating, but he did a wonderful job for all of my nickel needs and at a very reasonable price. He knows Model A's and T's well and even can do the Butler nickel finish used on the A's.

-Joshua

A-W Custom Chrome in Eastpoint Michigan.... they told me nickel plating was a first step before chrome plating but I confess I'm not familiar with the process.

In chrome plating (done right) the step is copper plating, which is the buffed out smooth. Then nickle plating and then chrome plating.

There is no place for chrome on a T. Nickel has to be done by a company that specializes in the early method of nickel plating, I believe it's called hard nickel or watts nickel. Christensen Plating in Los Angeles did mine over ten years ago, and it's still good, never needs polishing. I hear they might be forced to close their doors soon because of the EPA.

Jim,

I had my door handles nickel plated last year. I used a local place, Denver, to get it done. Ajax Plating 1423 S Broadway. 303 777 8930.
Not real convenient for you but he does shipping also, I am sure, if you cannot find anyone else. $100 for the 4 parts. About a 3 week turn.

Before


After


Good Luck!
Rich

Qual Khrom in Erie Pa does fabulous nickel plating. They are a restoration shop so they are familiar with the process. Good work is expensive but make a restoration or break a restoration in my opinion.

If you’re interested in doing it yourself I can help you. I made up a small tank and all the supplies are available on eBay or Amazon.

David

Oldav8tor wrote: ↑

Wed May 03, 2023 10:34 am

A-W Custom Chrome in Eastpoint Michigan.... they told me nickel plating was a first step before chrome plating but I confess I'm not familiar with the process.

Most people have heard of the term, "Triple Chrome Plating". Triple chrome plating involves three steps and they aren't all Chrome. If an item is triple chrome plated, the first layer of plating is Copper. It is used to provide a surface that nickle can adhere to and because copper can be applied in sufficient thickness as to fill defects in the parent metal (within reason). Then nickle, which give the silver color is applied, and finally, chrome. As explained to me by a plater, chrome over nickle is much like clearcoat over base paint. It provides a 'sealer over the nickle to retard corrosion. Nickle without chrome will oxidize and tarnish, as everyone with a T with nickle parts will attest. The thicker the copper and nickle is applied, the longer the plating will last. Nickle plating can be done without the copper step and frequently is done on cheap plating jobs. if you have ever bought any part made in china or Taiwan, most likely it is not triple chrome plated, and if the plating doesn't hold up, you can bet the copper was omitted. I just read Darel's post, above. My post echos what he posted.

Any Chrome Shop does Bright Nickel Plating. Chrome is actually clear and protects the Bright Nickel.

Any Chrome Shop does Bright Nickel Plating. Chrome is actually clear and protects the Bright Nickel.

Chris, you're going to have to produce evidence of that as it is not my personal experience, nor can I find any evidence to support that...

On their web page, Arlington Plating uses the term "clear" but in context of the entire article, they are not implying that it is a transparent film akin to saran wrap...they are discussing the application of Nickle Chrome, which is not Chrome plating.

Finishing.com is a pretty good source for accurate info...https://www.finishing.com/428/66.shtml# ... han%20blue.

I am with Scott on this. I have heard chrome is nothing but a clear coat before and I don't buy it. Place a chrome plated item next to a nickel plated item and compare them. Chrome plating has a cold bluish tint while true nickel plating has a soft warm tint not unlike silver. There is definitely a difference in appearance between the two. I prefer nickel to chrome for both its warmth and old world "antique" appearance.

Chrome plating is a similar process to painting.
Starting with the base metal ( brass steel or other suitable metals) it should be as smooth and shiny as possible. The better you finish it the easier and quicker it is to obtain a great finish.
The copper is the primer/filler, it is used to gain adhesion, its soft and easy work smoother especially if it has to fil scratches and pit marks. The objective is to produce a mirror finish.
The nickel is them added, if the copper has been prepared correctly the nickel will be smooth also, put on a lot and the nickel will provide a great nickel finish to polish without rubbing through to the copper easily.
Add Chrome (which has a poor ability to cover - which is why some think its clear) and the chrome produces a brighter harder finish. Chrome plating is a more expensive finish but being such a bright/mirror finish superseded nickel as it is superior and more robust than nickel.
The bottom line is the quality of both nickel and chrome plating depends on how well the surface was prepared and how much plating is applied.