I'm in the process of restoring the cluster housing on my '64 and the chrome, particularly on the switch lettering, is gone - the letters are no longer chrome, but a bronze color. I thought about just painting them, but that will never be as shiny as chrome. What experience have folks had with replating these? I am a bit nervous that the background texture would be messed up in the plating process. Thanks.
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Re: Replating C2 Dash Cluster
Those who provide turn-key instrument cluster restoration services do this as part of the job... Caswell makes a do-it-yourself chrome system for home plating that can get pretty darn good results. Last, a rattle can of chrome paint can 'approximate' the original finish with less than perfect results... -
Re: Replating C2 Dash Cluster
Jack,
Can you recommend one of the 'turn-key' cluster restorers that could do/have done the re-plating? I have seen many ads and talked to a few of the cluster restorers (Corvette Specialities of Maryland, Corvette Clocks by Roger) and they all are emphatic that their restoration does NOT include re-plating of the cluster housing. From their responses it is implied that this is not an issue of "not included in the average price quote", but more "we don't/won't do that".
Comments/suggestions?
Thanks,
grantComment
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Re: Replating C2 Dash Cluster
I thought the entire cluster was made of aluminum and then the entire cluster was chrome plated before the black paint was applied. When the chrome wears off the metal underneath shoud still be close to chrome in color. Not brass.
I also noticed that most of the restorers do not replate the letters. I didn't think that would be a big issue though.Comment
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Re: Replating C2 Dash Cluster
Bob,
I'm pretty sure the entire cluster IS chrome plated (it's pot-metal, by the way, not aluminum). The cluster restoration ads I've seen speak of "polishing" the bezels/letters etc, which, if they're still chrome plated, is good enough. What I think Mark is seeing on his letters is not bronze, but probably the copper layer that is commonly used under the surface chrome layer in plating parts.
I think the question raised by Mark about plating without losing the texture (the "grain") on the part is critical; if the plater can't retain that texture, you're better off either replacing the bezel with a good used one, or trying a type of "chrome" paint to touch-up the bezels (and letters). I had my console replated some years ago, and although it came out pretty good, I suspect a careful comparison to an untouched original might reveal some "rounding" of the edges in the grain pattern. Good enough for me, but perhaps not for someone seeking Flight judging.
grantComment
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Re: Replating C2 Dash Cluster
You're right, I haven't talked to any dash guys except for Jason Oliver who will do a chrome exchange but he really doesn't recommend it. I believe he will polish the shiny areas but you need to talk to him for the facts.
The C2 dash clusters are completely chrome plated with the thinnest layer of copper underneath. The problems associated with replating is that the plater must know how to address pot metal correctly and even if the blisters are repaired with silver solder etc, blisters can and will return due to the nature of the beastly pot metal. I've seen several horrible replates that have been buffed to ruin, not only the sharp rim edges but they dug right into the grain in a couple sections.
What I did on one of my spare dash consoles is I block wet sanded sanded all the scratched and worn bezels, lettering and pitted rim down to the base metal with 400, 600, 1200 and carefully buffed it to a mirror shine. It looks better than new, however I've been warned that this will soon dull down since this is high in zinc. I hope that a shot of quality clear urethane might solve this issue and still look like chrome.
I haven't experimented with any chrome paint yet to know how it looks on parts. One can I looked at called "Chrome paint" was basically high temp aluminum paint and required a 600 degree F bake.
Anyone have any other suggestions.Comment
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Re: Replating C2 Dash Cluster
At the local hobby shop I found a can of something that claims to be chrome paint. I will shoot some of it tomorrow and report back how it looks.Comment
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