General Chat
Q:
Both the vent ends & center vent in my '72 have to be re-chromed. I have a place doing my rear bumper guards, but they said they couldn't get the vents done. In fact, he said that he didn't know anyone that could do the plastic pieces except in Kalifornia.
IF this is true, are there different chemicals involved to make it bond on the non-metal surface that are perhaps more toxic? I'm only guessing. If that's the case, why is he saying that it is done only in Kalifornia? I thought folks were allegedly more environmentally conscious over there.
Anybody know of a place in the metro Atlanta area that can help? I remember a place in Tallahasse, FL that was mentioned on the Georgia Z Club website, but either it's been removed or I'm looking right over it.
A:
Thats a darn good question. I wish I could tell you but I'm just as interested in this answer as you!
Matt
A:
Never used them but you can google some other up...
D & D Plastic Chrome Plating
4534 S. Detroit Ave.
Toledo, OH
419/385-5628
I got this from this page
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/852/
77 280Z with SBC, 700R4, Vette C4 IRS W/11.5 rear disk, Centerlines 16x9.5 W/BF G 245x45ZR Comp T/A Rear and 15x7 Ft W/BF Goodrich Euro 225x15 on ft. Soon to have Coleman 12.2x1.25, x-drilled, zinc plated, Rotors W/Billet Outlaw 4000. Z U V8ter
A:
most people i know rub the "chrome" off to make it look better.
i think that the problem is that metal plating on oily plastic is not that easy to do.
ever think of just using 'chrome" paint from a model airplane hobby store?
79 280ZX -The best selling sports car of all time
A:
It takes a different piece of equipment to chrome plastic. It's not as simple as dipping it then chroming it. The plastic needs to be stripped which is an entirely different process then acid dipping, then has to be re chromed.
Stacy from Trucks! should how this process is done awhile back and not all chroming/plating companies have the tools to do the job. More often then not it's cheaper to buy new ones.
Progress:
Z32 Had to sell for DD 06 Sentra :(
S30 one of these days I will get around to putting it all back together.
A:
Yep, you were looking over it.
Custom Coatings Corp
4794 C Woodlane Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-562-0538
"These people specialize in Plastic Chroming!! They chromed the framing around our rear 280Z taillights. Pleas note they do have a $50.00 minimum and chrome inside pieces too (i.e. dash vents etc)"
74 260Z (12/73) Pretty Much Stock, 72 240Z Project Car. Zs I have owned, 91 300ZXTT, 88 300ZXT, My first car at the age of 15 (1982), 71 240Z. Williamson, Ga.
A:
Hobby shops do have paints, been there done that... I hear they make a tape also but I cound not find it at hobby lobby... There are many places that can do the work. Problem with new ones are not made any more.
Glad to see someone else likes Stacey stuff also. Did you catch the show this weekend? He tested drove Copperhead's 572 then took it to the track, put some 112 and opened up the cut outs. He did a 300 ft burn out in it before he backed out of it to get it to bite... He also did some donuts...
77 280Z with SBC, 700R4, Vette C4 IRS W/11.5 rear disk, Centerlines 16x9.5 W/BF G 245x45ZR Comp T/A Rear and 15x7 Ft W/BF Goodrich Euro 225x15 on ft. Soon to have Coleman 12.2x1.25, x-drilled, zinc plated, Rotors W/Billet Outlaw 4000. Z U V8ter
A:
Yeah I saw the chroming part on trucks, missed it this weekend. Did Stacey post any times with the truck?
Matt
A:
Cyind-
The paints and tape you are talking about are not the same as the chrome placed on plastics in a car. The stuff you are talking about will not hold up with constant use and time.
Progress:
Z32 Had to sell for DD 06 Sentra :(
S30 one of these days I will get around to putting it all back together.
A:
No he was just playing around having a good time making his buddy buy the gas. Drove it to the track, ragged it out and drove back with out any problems. It was an oval track and he took it up to 140 before backing out.
Too much body roll on the truck. Great for burn outs, donuts and straight line. It even did good on the track part at 140. He showed the body roll part on the streets part... There is about 3 seconds on the web page no sound to go with it...
http://www.truckstv.com/
77 280Z with SBC, 700R4, Vette C4 IRS W/11.5 rear disk, Centerlines 16x9.5 W/BF G 245x45ZR Comp T/A Rear and 15x7 Ft W/BF Goodrich Euro 225x15 on ft. Soon to have Coleman 12.2x1.25, x-drilled, zinc plated, Rotors W/Billet Outlaw 4000. Z U V8ter
A:
Yea, I know, that is why I said "Been There, Done That"... I was looking for the tape for door panels only.
77 280Z with SBC, 700R4, Vette C4 IRS W/11.5 rear disk, Centerlines 16x9.5 W/BF G 245x45ZR Comp T/A Rear and 15x7 Ft W/BF Goodrich Euro 225x15 on ft. Soon to have Coleman 12.2x1.25, x-drilled, zinc plated, Rotors W/Billet Outlaw 4000. Z U V8ter
A:
I sent the plastic framing around my rear tail lights to a company in Canada to be rechromed. When they came back, they looked great!...like new! I mounted them on my car. The first time some drops of water got on them, and the drops dried, the frames were "etched" with drop marks. In the end, I stripped them back to bare plastic and painted then same color as the back end of the Z (a dark grey color) and they look great (though no longer chrome).
A:
actually ive been a plater for over 15 yrs now on all metals but never plastic i do hear that there is a place on long island ny that does that. as far as the acid dip it wont hurt the plastic at all...ive did this on my 240 air vents in the shop ...... to strip chrome you need either reverse current with pot ash or sulphuric acid. then you have to get passed the electroless nickel. only then you will be down to the raw plastic. the sulphuric acid will not attack the plastic while removing chrome but the nitric may.....i did notice mine get a little soft after 2 days in the nitric though. some plastics are effected but some are not. just my 2 cents
A:
The process is called "VACUUM METALIZING."
http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=FP-pull-web-t&p=vacuum+metalizing
Don't know about these 2, but they came up on the above link:
http://mmmetalizing.com/pricing.html
http://www.coatingsresource.com/metalize.htm
You can look for yourself. Trouble is, many have high minimum orders.
Rusty but running.
Polish cell phone and two tubes of Aluma-seal.
And, now we are historic.
A:
vaccum plating, chrome plating BLAH!!! its called vibrance for PPG , all the paint companies make a metalized paint now, chrome, aluminum, whatever , call a paint store ;)
Automotive Painter
83 280ZXT(Traded)
76 280 z(soon to be ZT)
A:
MSA sells the 'rechromed' vents.