SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Hey all, I've been out of action for a few weeks with the family wiped out by the Influenza A outbreak (which my wife managed to convert to pneumonia, the poor bugger). Because of all that I haven't had much of a chance to work my way through the issues with my '76 911. All the chrome trim on the car has been painted gloss black. One of the few things that I've managed to do is pull off the rear quarter glass and strip the gloss black paint off it. The paint came off nice and easily with just a couple of applications of the stripper that the paint guys recommended. I was hoping that they hadn't prepped the chrome properly before painting because there's a fair bit of it that's chipping off. Unfortunately, they've given it enough of a rough up for it too look crappy. These pics make it look worse than it appears in person, but it's still not great. I'd like to go back to the chrome, although there's no great hurry to do so (I'll just re-spray this window with gloss black in the meantime). Given the cost of replacing all the window surrounds I was wondering what my options are? Can I pull them all out and have them re-chromed? Does anyone have an idea of what sort of ballpark cost I'd be looking at? And of course, has anyone got a good supplier that they've used in Brisbane or surrounds ... Thanks Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 have you tried metal polish before you commit to re-chroming it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Sure have, the worst of the scratches are too deep for me to take out by polishing them. There's not that many that are that bad, but enough that I don't think polishing is an option, unless a pro polisher could take them out, which I guess is an option too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Can you experiment with going down a layer with wet and dry to even out the scratches, then gradually polishing it back up with higher grades until finally polishing? The scratches look too deep to get out with just polish - you're going to have to reduce the amount of metal. I don't know if those have a thick coating on them that will allow you to remove material or not. So if you can test in a place that isn't seen but is coated, you might get an idea of how much you can remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 I'm pretty sure there's really only a thin layer of chrome on the copper base, and it's really quote hard so those scratches are probably going to be in there permanently apparently re chroming isn't what it used to be with the changes in environmental laws, there are a number of DIY sprays they covered on Jay Leno's Garage or something, but to do that you'd probably want to pull the current chrome off (which means you may as well just get them re chromed) might be cheaper to buy a set of chrome trims too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 New set of chrome window trims all-round is $USD3,000 not including shipping ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Can you experiment with going down a layer with wet and dry to even out the scratches, then gradually polishing it back up with higher grades until finally polishing? The scratches look too deep to get out with just polish - you're going to have to reduce the amount of metal. I don't know if those have a thick coating on them that will allow you to remove material or not. So if you can test in a place that isn't seen but is coated, you might get an idea of how much you can remove. Coastr, I think that's definitely worth a try, and no real hassle seeing as I've got 400-2000 grit wet and dry lying around from other projects. Nothing really to lose. I'll try and have a go if I can free up some time on the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pauly Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 New set of chrome window trims all-round is $USD3,000 not including shipping ... Time to sell a limb, which one can you go with out? I would try wet and try to get most of the scratches out. probably wet and dry the chrome off, and get them re-chromed. Call up some chromes (not the guys who stand in alley ways sniffing paint cans) and ask them what to do to prep for chroming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 What ive just done to my 912 door frames that had some decent scratches in them. I have a basic $50 bench grinder and bought cheap coarse and soft polishing wheels that fit onto splines that are supplied with the kit, and some reddish compound (coarse) and white compound (finishing). The results are absolutely fantastic. I would HIGHLY reccomend buying all the gear and having a go yaself. I have just done one Fuchs wheel outer, and I would challenge anyone to say it wasnt done professionaly. If you do try it, gentle to start till you get a feel for it with the coarse wheel, then use the soft wheel to take off the black residue LIGHTLY, then use white compound on the soft wheel to finish. Luckily, I had done this years ago on my custom bikes, and even got paid to do some mates Harley bits n pieces. I'm sure there would be videos on Youtube how to do polishing, yet make sure you have a firm grip on the piece to be polished and dont push too hard or it might be sent across the room or damage yaself in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 What ive just done to my 912 door frames that had some decent scratches in them. I have a basic $50 bench grinder and bought cheap coarse and soft polishing wheels that fit onto splines that are supplied with the kit, and some reddish compound (coarse) and white compound (finishing). The results are absolutely fantastic. I would HIGHLY reccomend buying all the gear and having a go yaself. I have just done one Fuchs wheel outer, and I would challenge anyone to say it wasnt done professionaly. If you do try it, gentle to start till you get a feel for it with the coarse wheel, then use the soft wheel to take off the black residue LIGHTLY, then use white compound on the soft wheel to finish. Luckily, I had done this years ago on my custom bikes, and even got paid to do some mates Harley bits n pieces. I'm sure there would be videos on Youtube how to do polishing, yet make sure you have a firm grip on the piece to be polished and dont push too hard or it might be sent across the room or damage yaself in the process. LeeM, that's awesome … exactly the what I was looking for: someone's who's just been through the process! I can definitely justify purchasing the gear as I've bought my wife a 912 and pretty much everything on it is going to need polishing! If it doesn't work on my windows, it won't be going to waste. When I was researching this all a while ago I found a place online that you could order a kit from that contained the compounds and a couple of different wheels. Watched a few videos online as well, seems like a task that would take a bit of patience which is OK with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Time to sell a limb, which one can you go with out? I would try wet and try to get most of the scratches out. probably wet and dry the chrome off, and get them re-chromed. Call up some chromes (not the guys who stand in alley ways sniffing paint cans) and ask them what to do to prep for chroming. I was thinking of selling one of the kids, but they're just so damn cute I couldn't bring myself to do it! You know I had to rewrite that post a couple of times to take out the references to 'chroming' … LOL. Will make some calls and and some questions. Maybe having them re-chromed isn't expensive … maybe, but I doubt it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 About 20 years ago I had a chrome bumper repaired and rechromed. It was $250 for the job then. Be interesting to see how much the price has gone up since then. I bet not as many chrome bumper refinishing companies around nowadays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 About 20 years ago I had a chrome bumper repaired and rechromed. It was $250 for the job then. Be interesting to see how much the price has gone up since then. I bet not as many chrome bumper refinishing companies around nowadays. Interesting … new chrome trim for that rear quarter is USD600 plus shipping. If the re-chroming was $350-400 it'd still be worth it. Google gave me these guys: look pretty serious. I'll give them a yell at some point for some indicative costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Mate, have a go yaself. That way you can say YOU did it, and if you muck it up, you were going to get someone else to do it prior to buying the kit. I've used the polishing wheel for so many tasks, such as old brass bathroom taps and door knobs, nuts n bolts (wear a face shield with that one though! Bolts slipping out of my hand and into my top lip bloody hurts!) and anything else you can think of that needs polishing. Wear clothes that ya happy to throw out or overalls, a hat and a dust mask, or what I did and bought a cheap flip up clear face shield. I also enclosed behind the grinder with a cardboard box, as its a messy job. If you buy a kit that has the spindles to fit onto the grinder, remember that the wheels screw on opposite to 'lefty loosey, righty tighty! I think Bunnings have a polishing kit too Hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Mate, have a go yaself. That way you can say YOU did it, and if you muck it up, you were going to get someone else to do it prior to buying the kit. I've used the polishing wheel for so many tasks, such as old brass bathroom taps and door knobs, nuts n bolts (wear a face shield with that one though! Bolts slipping out of my hand and into my top lip bloody hurts!) and anything else you can think of that needs polishing. Wear clothes that ya happy to throw out or overalls, a hat and a dust mask, or what I did and bought a cheap flip up clear face shield. I also enclosed behind the grinder with a cardboard box, as its a messy job. If you buy a kit that has the spindles to fit onto the grinder, remember that the wheels screw on opposite to 'lefty loosey, righty tighty! I think Bunnings have a polishing kit too Hope that helps Absolutely I will, nothing better than being able to say I did it myself -- even when my wife is laughing her butt off at the debacle that I've made. I like the cardboard box idea, and the face shield, very smart. I've already made a huge mess of the garage and the verandah degreasing and stripping, it would be strategically smart for me not to make it any worse than it already is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 From a painfull experience, buy the face shield FIRST! Don't wait till the piece youre polishing ends up embedded in ya noggin, then thinking 'Knew I shoulda taken Lee's advice'! Have fun, take ya time. Youll work it out, and post up before n after pics too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 2October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 I was taking pics while pulling the windows apart, and while I was trying to take apart the quarter window latch jammed a jewellers screwdriver through my finger. Not really much of a cut but blood everywhere. Took pics of the blood to remind myself to pay more attention to what I'm doing. Kids were horrified, wifey was horrified then when she realised it wasn't serious just laughed at me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 2October, 2014 Report Share Posted 2October, 2014 Same kit as what I have. One spindle is enough so that you can keep the grinder wheel for.........grinding! http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/METAL-POLISHING-KIT-BENCH-GRINDER-BUFFING-WHEELS-ALL-METALS-POLISH-LIKE-THE-PROS-/261438542129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3cdef39131 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatout Posted 9October, 2014 Report Share Posted 9October, 2014 I've got a bench grinder with polishing wheel on one side and linishing (sanding) on the other. Even I'm suprised how much I use it, they are very handy. Go for a hard mop (wheel) as well as a soft as the soft wheel won't do much on those deeper scratches. These days you can buy most of that stuff at bunnings, although you may be better off going through Machinery House or someone like that who specialise in metal work tools. Be aware though, the cleaner/shinier the part you're polishing gets, the dirtier you and the surrounding area will! Be careful sanding off chrome though, it's nasty stuff and best left to the pro's if that's the path you're taking. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 9October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 9October, 2014 I've got a bench grinder with polishing wheel on one side and linishing (sanding) on the other. Even I'm suprised how much I use it, they are very handy. Go for a hard mop (wheel) as well as a soft as the soft wheel won't do much on those deeper scratches. These days you can buy most of that stuff at bunnings, although you may be better off going through Machinery House or someone like that who specialise in metal work tools. Be aware though, the cleaner/shinier the part you're polishing gets, the dirtier you and the surrounding area will! Be careful sanding off chrome though, it's nasty stuff and best left to the pro's if that's the path you're taking. Cheers. The more I look, the more things I see around the place that could do with a polish! Slippery slope … After degreasing the engine; wheel wells; and underside of the car I don't think I can make under the house much worse than it is. Although, if I can, I certainly will! My preference would be to polish it all myself, especially with all that bright work on the 912 need care and maintenance. These are the guys I found online: http://www.qldchromeplating.com.au they look like they're the goods; I'm a bit flogged at work at the moment, but when I get a chance I'll take the car out and get them to have a look and see what they say. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matara Posted 9October, 2014 Report Share Posted 9October, 2014 I had a 2 sets of 356 front and rear window surrounds re-chromed by Astor Metal Finishers in Sydney about 8-9 years ago for about $700. It included stripping, linishing, polishing and 4 stage chroming. They came back like new, mirror finish. Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted 10October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 10October, 2014 Nice -- thanks for the heads-up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfitz911 Posted 13September, 2015 Report Share Posted 13September, 2015 Hi therei have a 1977 911s that has had this done too. Really want the chrome look. How did it all go mate? Keen to see if it worked!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gman993 Posted 13September, 2015 Report Share Posted 13September, 2015 I think you will find that the these silver window frames are actually finished with 'bright dipped anodized' (not chrome plated). As far as I now there are no commercial platers in Australia that can do this type of plating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC 3.2 Posted 13September, 2015 Report Share Posted 13September, 2015 I recently had some chrome work done by the guy at Tingalpa with good results,however as suggested previously it is an expensive exercise these days....may be worth your time to take a few sample bits down there for a qoute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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