The most common process used today to plate plastic is "ion
bombardment", where the piece is literally bombarded with ions of the
type metal that is to be plated. It is an expensive process if you are
dealing with a few parts because of the expense of the chamber that is
required.
But if you are doing literally thousands of the same piece (i.e. plastic
watch cases), the cost is rather small. Texas Instruments began using
this process in the '70's when they realized that without a case that
offered a ground plane, they were losing a lot of watches to
electrostatic discharge. So they began plating the inside of their
plastic cases to provide a suitable ground.
It worked so well that they also began plating the outsides!
Regards,
Joe
Randall Young wrote:
>
> Jeff :
>
> I believe the chrome was put on using an electrostatic process that is still
> in common use. (In fact, the process has become a lot more common in
> California, because environmental laws here make traditional chrome plating
> prohibitively expensive.) Try calling some local chrome shops.
>
> Randall
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jeff McNeal
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 1:18 PM
> > To: Spitfire List
> > Cc: Triumph List
> > Subject: Fake chrome refurbishing
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I just found the stock AM radio that was originally fitted to
> > at least some
> > early '67 Mk3 Spitfires. I know this for a fact, since it is an exact
> > duplicate of the stock radio that was on my original '67
> > Spitfire many years
> > ago (wish I would have just kept THAT one, dang it!).
> >
> > It has fake chrome pushbuttons and knobs and can be seen here:
> >
> > http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/radio.shtml
> >
> > Some of the chrome paint has chipped off the tuning knob and
> > I'd either like
> > to find a replacement knob, or try to determine the type of
> > paint that's
> > used on plastic to give it such a nice, chrome finish like
> > that. I fear
> > that I'm not going to be able to fix this myself and might
> > just have to
> > search for a new knob, but thought I might as well ask since
> > these lists
> > have never failed me yet.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Jeff in San Diego
> > '67 RHD Triumph Spitfire Mk3
> >
> >
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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