Post by cheepskatebob on Aug 10, 2021 21:17:02 GMT
I am struggling to find a solution to the restoration of the air intake grille. As these were cast in Mazak (monkey metal) the chrome is pitted in the usual places. I have tried two reputable chrome platers and neither will take it on due to the base metal, size and complexity.
Grasping at straws a bit I decided to try out Rustoleum's chrome spray paint and have practiced on one end of a spare grille but the finish is more like aluminium spray paint and isn't reflective enough to pass for real chrome. I found that the corrosion bumps on the chrome and especially the nickel plating are very hard to flatten and ended up having to use a file as well as coarse wet and dry papers of differnt grades. I did enough preparation to the practice piece to establish that I would be able to achieve a reasonable finish with high build 2k primer and body filler to fill the pits before spraying with the Rustoleum and a finishing clear coat.
I asked my local powder coating firm, who did a great job on engine parts for me a few years ago. They have a reasonably shiny Chrome effect finish but pointed out that the powder coating won't fill in the pits and you can't use a plastic filler before powder coating due to he need to earth the part for the electrostatic powder to stick to it.
Grasping at straws a bit I decided to try out Rustoleum's chrome spray paint and have practiced on one end of a spare grille but the finish is more like aluminium spray paint and isn't reflective enough to pass for real chrome. I found that the corrosion bumps on the chrome and especially the nickel plating are very hard to flatten and ended up having to use a file as well as coarse wet and dry papers of differnt grades. I did enough preparation to the practice piece to establish that I would be able to achieve a reasonable finish with high build 2k primer and body filler to fill the pits before spraying with the Rustoleum and a finishing clear coat.
I have also been in touch with a couple of companies who do a more convincing, but very expensive, chrome effect paint process but they are not interested in taking on such an intricate part.
A better second-hand part might be an option of course but I'm guessing
that it will be difficult to find a decent one as they will all be about
50 years old and suffering from the same DMMS (disintegrating monkey
metal syndrome).
that it will be difficult to find a decent one as they will all be about
50 years old and suffering from the same DMMS (disintegrating monkey
metal syndrome).
I am running out of ideas for this one.
Has anyone on the forum looked into this problem and found a better solution?