Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-03-2020, 10:03 AM   #1
David J
Senior Member
 
David J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: St Croix Falls WI
Posts: 2,080
Default Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Read somewhere there is a chrome shop that uses the old style dull nickel .
I have a NOS 33-34 roadster windshield frame [std-painted] that I want to plate and some trim pieces also .

Thanks
Dave
David J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 10:21 AM   #2
51 MERC-CT
Senior Member
 
51 MERC-CT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Hartford, Ct
Posts: 5,898
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Quote:
Originally Posted by David J View Post
Read somewhere there is a chrome shop that uses the old style dull nickel .
I have a NOS 33-34 roadster windshield frame [std-painted] that I want to plate and some trim pieces also .

Thanks
Dave
Any shop that does chrome plating can do nickel plating.
Just do a Yellow page search for chrome platers in your area.
Bet you will find one within 50 miles.
__________________
DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES
51 MERC-CT is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 02-03-2020, 10:26 AM   #3
David J
Senior Member
 
David J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: St Croix Falls WI
Posts: 2,080
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Sorry bout not being more clear here .
I am looking for the chrome shop that I read about that uses dull nickel in the plating process .
Look at a original 34 grille and you will see the non-polished areas are dull grey .
That is what I seek .


Quote:
Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT View Post
Any shop that does chrome plating can do nickel plating.
Just do a Yellow page search for chrome platers in your area.
Bet you will find one within 50 miles.
David J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 10:46 AM   #4
FortyNiner
Senior Member
 
FortyNiner's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: u-rah-rah-Wisconsin
Posts: 1,130
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Hard for anyone else to know what or where you may have read something...

There is a house in Madison that has a variety of restoration finishes - including nickel. I've seen his work at the Jefferson meet several times. Worth a call:

Madison Custom Polishing and Plating - John Allen, owner 608 273-1929
__________________
19 and 49 F1 - jes' like Henry II built
1946 Deluxe - as Henry built it
FortyNiner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 11:19 AM   #5
philipswanson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bonita, CA
Posts: 1,374
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Nickel is always dull. That's the natural color of it.
philipswanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 11:29 AM   #6
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,713
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I think you want Butler Nickle plating. http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/butlerfinish.htm
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 11:51 AM   #7
DavidG
Senior Member
 
DavidG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,070
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

David,
Looks like the nickel plating that Ford used in the '30s is something of a secret shared by too few. Unfortunately, when they shifted from dull to bright nickel, the demand fell for the former version to the point of near non-existence. We replicate the effect of chrome over unpolished dull nickel, such as on the sides of '34-'37 grille bars, etc., mechanically, Fewer that 5% of the restored grilles on '34-'37s that are shown at V8 Club national meets have the correct finish. Less than 1% of the restored '33 grilles that I see have completely dull grille bars as original.
DavidG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 12:33 PM   #8
34PKUP
Senior Member
 
34PKUP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 794
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Quote:
Originally Posted by David J View Post
Sorry bout not being more clear here .
I am looking for the chrome shop that I read about that uses dull nickel in the plating process .
Look at a original 34 grille and you will see the non-polished areas are dull grey .
That is what I seek .
Sorry, but I and I suspect many others do not have an "original 34 grille" to look at but have you in fact contacted any platers to see what they offer?
34PKUP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 01:03 PM   #9
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

You add brightener to the plating solution.
Even zinc comes out very dull without brightener.
That said platers would probably charge a high rate if they have to change the mix of the plating solution for a few pieces...
You have to come together for a group buy ??
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 01:13 PM   #10
DavidG
Senior Member
 
DavidG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,070
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Yes, it requires a dedicated tank at the platers and that gets expensive in a hurry for just a few items. Some years ago the two premier platers in Toronto knew the correct finish for the subject grilles and both of them had a dedicated tank for the dull nickel and they would only pre-chrome polish the surround and the leading edges of the bars, just like Ford did back in the day, which adds a whole extra buffing round They were small shops and you paid for the privilege, but boy, do I miss them (RIP).
DavidG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 02:07 PM   #11
FlatheadTed
Senior Member
 
FlatheadTed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auckland
Posts: 4,691
Send a message via AIM to FlatheadTed
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

We do maintenance for this chrome shop ,To get the affect we bead blast the bars then just polish the fronts ,a friend needed a wiper motor the supplier in the states didn't have his Chromer any more so he sent down to this Chrome shop then back for assemble ,
Attached Images
File Type: jpg progresive platers 004.jpg (69.7 KB, 110 views)
File Type: jpg progresive platers 005.jpg (67.2 KB, 108 views)
__________________
http://www.flatheadted.com


Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,
FlatheadTed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 04:38 PM   #12
hotcoupe
Senior Member
 
hotcoupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: imperial,mo
Posts: 685
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

St. Louis plating will plate dull nickel, they are on Franklin Ave. They have plated several things for me in dull nickel.
Tom
hotcoupe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 05:20 PM   #13
swanwaco32
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: KC
Posts: 266
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Jon Wright Custom Chrome Plating can do it in Grafton Ohio. 440 926 3116
swanwaco32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 05:38 PM   #14
DavidG
Senior Member
 
DavidG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,070
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Good to know; thanks. The Grafton plater has an excellent reputation among classic era car restorers. However, given that clientele, they are also known as being very pricey.
DavidG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 05:38 PM   #15
David J
Senior Member
 
David J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: St Croix Falls WI
Posts: 2,080
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Thanks all for the guidance . Thought it was here that I read about this . I will post how it goes .
David J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 07:08 PM   #16
PeteVS
Senior Member
 
PeteVS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FP, NJ
Posts: 2,769
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Who's the guy at Hershey who does the Butler nickel? I think he's really into old Buicks.
__________________
Don't never get rid of nuthin!
PeteVS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 07:15 PM   #17
DavidG
Senior Member
 
DavidG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,070
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Good point; that's what a Butler finish is, namely chrome over unpolished nickel. Three more examples are '32-'34 accelerator pedals, '32-'37 cowl vent lever handles, and the lower two-thirds of '32-'35 hand brake handles.
DavidG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 07:17 PM   #18
35fordtn
Senior Member
 
35fordtn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: McMinnville, TN
Posts: 2,327
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Brite Metals in Franklin KY used to be able to do it years ago... Who knows if they still do/can
35fordtn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 07:33 PM   #19
koates
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Melbourne Australia.
Posts: 2,076
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

The gear shift lever and cowl vent handle on early fords was known to me as satin chrome plating finish. Some called it butler finish. Nickel has always had a yellow tinge about it and different to any chrome. Not sure if satin chrome is the result of the finish on the metal surface before plating or something to do with the plating process. Different countries maybe call various plating finishes by different names. Regards, Kevin.
koates is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2020, 08:17 PM   #20
DavidG
Senior Member
 
DavidG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,070
Default Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel .

Kevin,


Good catch! The shift lever, shift lever washer, and retainer should have been on my additions in #17.

The finish is created in the plating process and not dependent on the finish of the bare metal before plating
DavidG is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:38 AM.