Arthur,
Chrome plating is more than having the right chemicals and anodes. It
requires extensive polishing and possibly silver soldering to fill in the
pits and give a uniform surface. It's a lot harder than you may think. For
chrome to look shiny and reflective the surface must be perfectly smooth w/o
irregular valleys. The cost of a large buffer and wheels probably cost 1K.
6" buffers will not do, nor 8" wheels. You need large 14" wheels or so and
generally quite wide (3-4") to get a good surface finish and the surface
speed to cut the copper. Buffing is an art.
Additionally the fumes are hazardous as are the chemicals. Disposing of the
used chemistry also presents problems which is why in some areas of the
country, platers are rare.
Moreover that kit can't be used to plate bumpers and other large objects. I
don't have to look at the web site to know that. Although the rectifiers may
be able to nickel and copper plate the object, it won't have enough juice to
chrome plate as chrome requires mucho juice.
The rectifiers alone to chrome plate a fairly large part cost way more than
1500.
With the 1500 kit you could probably plate the smaller parts like tailights,
headlight scoops, mirrors and other parts, but even the grill may provide a
problem. I have bought materials from Caswell in the past but after doing
research on plating came to the conclusion that their chrome kits are barely
adequit. They would be good for zinc plating which requires smaller
rectifiers or copper plating.
It's the labor not the price of the chemicals, anodes etc. which causes
plating to be so expensive. Who's gonna give their labor away for free or
cheap?
Save your money and have it replated professionally as in the long run it's
cheaper and where you gonna store all those vats of chemicals?
Good intention though and I thought of doing the same until I went into a
plating shop and saw the equipment they had.
Mike
PS - Buffing is real messy too. Dust flies everywhere especially up your
nose :(
----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur" <maybee@zebra.net>
To: "A datsun list" <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: Newbie
> I found a web site that sells do it yourself triple chrome plating
systems.
> It's like $1,500 for the serious system and they have lower models for
about
> $450 or so. That includes the chemicals for chrome removal, brass plate,
> nickel, and chrome. I know the price is a bit steep.. but not if you
> compare the price of replacing all of your chrome. I know that with proper
> sanding, brass plating and polishing, you can remove most imperfections in
> the parts. It seems the price difference is related to how many gallons of
> each chemical you have for the plating process at one time. (more
> chemical/higher voltage = larger parts).
>
> I don't know about you guys, but I think having somone who can rechrome
the
> trim for our cars affordably would be nice.
>
> http://www.caswellplating.com/triple.htm
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Nathan Ruffcorn <nruff@famvid.com>
> To: <CalSpeed@aol.com>
> Cc: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 4:27 PM
> Subject: Re: Newbie
>
>
> > Anyone have any pictures of this Datsun Roadstergia? With the quickly
> > diminishing supply of taillight bodies and the associated costs, its
> always
> > nice to know your options! .......or just contract an aluminum set out
> from
> > Phil Hall! <g>
> > Nathan
> > :
> > > From what I understand... there is a very nice Roadster lurking in
> > California
> > > with a set of early Karmann Ghia rear lights. If you are familiar
with
> > those
> > > lights you will know that they fit the Roadster profile almost
> perfectly.
> > >
> > > Calspeed
> > > http://members.aol.com/calspeed1/motorsports.html
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