chrome bumpers

[packrat6]

any thoughts on the quality of the chrome bumpers offered by mac's and Snyder's?

[Larry Jenkins]

Call Tom Jordan at Snyders. Their Tech man and partial owner. Tells it like it is..

[160B]

Understand that triple plate, copper, nickel, and then chrome is quality.

You get what you pay for!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating


Automotive use[edit]
Most bright decorative items affixed to cars are referred to as "chrome," meaning steel that has undergone several plating processes to endure the temperature changes and weather that a car is subject to outdoors. Triple plating is the most expensive and durable process, which involves plating the steel first with copper and then nickel before the chromium plating is applied.
Prior to the application of chrome in the 1920s, nickel electroplating was used. In the short production run prior to the US entry into the Second World War, the government banned plating to save chromium and automobile manufacturers painted the decorative pieces in a complementary color. In the last years of the Korean War, the US contemplated banning chrome in favor of several cheaper processes (such as plating with zinc and then coating with shiny plastic).
In 2007, a Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) was issued banning several toxic substances for use in the automotive industry in Europe, including hexavalent chromium, which is used in chrome plating. However, chrome plating is metal and contains no hexavalent chromium after it is rinsed, so chrome plating is not banned.

[Kevin in NJ]

Triple plate is an advertising gimmick.

If you want to plate steel you start our with buffing the steel then putting one type of copper to bond to the steel then build with the other (I think you start with acid then build with cyanide). Then you smooth out the copper and lay down the nickel. This is the color of the chrome plate. With original Ford plating they did not have the bright nickel so the front was buffed out and the back side left as a dull silver. Then the chrome acts as a clear coat to protect the nickel from tarnishing and is put on in a very thin coat. Chrome adds a blue tint and offsets the yellow tint of the nickel making it more brilliant.

I think you are likely better off going to Bert's or others and buying replated original bumpers. The repros always seem to stand out like a sore thumb. The bumpers are sitting out there and are obvious so they are something you want looking good. Any experienced A guy tends to pickup on the repro bumpers quickly and it just does not look right.

[3.6rs]

What about stainless steel bumpers ?

[Fullraceflathead]

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I bought mine from Little Dearborn and they look perfect.

[duke36]

As stated, the (buffing and) smoothing of the base metal is key because the plating won't fill all the scratches; stainless should be able to be filed,sanded buffed like '30 head lamps to repair scuffs, etc.

[jhowes]

My 2-door came with the stainless and it makes for a nice looking car at 20 feet, but anyone can tell that it is not chrome. Jack

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by packrat6

any thoughts on the quality of the chrome bumpers offered by mac's and Snyder's?

MACS should not be in the conversation......IMHO.....Snyder's great, berts, brattons, mikes. All Great....

[GPierce]

Originally Posted by msmaron

MACS should not be in the conversation......IMHO.....Snyder's great, berts, brattons, mikes. All Great....

Why not, mine from Mac's look great. Did I get lucky

[100IH]

One problem with some of the Front 30-31 repops is that they are straight rather than being curved like original. I got chrome reproduction ones on a car, straight as an arrow with good chrome. One bar survived the bending, the other did not - Chrome popped off.

[J Franklin]

SS is available too.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Fullraceflathead

I bought mine from Little Dearborn and they look perfect.

X2 here as well