Are 1961 hub caps chrome finish or polished steel? Can they be restored? If so any good sources? Thanks for the help, Joe
-
-
Hub Cap Restoration
Call Gary Smith at (731) 662-7960 and he'll refer you to me. I do restorations. The original wheelcovers as well as ALL stainless trim on these C1 Corvettes was SMACK chrome plated. (reverse polarity and a thinner layer than flash chrome) It was more cost effective than polishing the stainless.
Dale pearman -
Smack vs. flash vs. triple; what's the difference?
Dale,
In terms of plating thickness and the number of plating layers, can you tell me the difference between smack chrome, flash chrome and triple chrome? I know triple consists of copper, nickel and finally chrome. Is this true for smack and flash and, if not, what layers do those two processes have?
Thanks in advance,
GaryComment
-
Re: Smack vs. flash vs. triple; what's the differe
Gary in flash chroming there is no nickel or copper in the process. Chrome must have a nickel layer to bond to, and it was discovered that if you removed the oxidation from stainless steel that chrome would bond well without any strike coats.
There are two ways of accomplishing this, through mechanical polishing or applying a reverse current to the part to be chromed while in a pickling bath to drive the impurities off of it. Both methods must be followed by the chroming process as soon as possible before any oxides form on the surface.
Triple plating by it's nature will give buildup on the part and will change the sharp lines as it tends to build up more on edges. I do not suppose that this was on the minds of GM engineers when the contemplated how to treat the stainless parts, I think they were looking for the least expensive process that would last well.
I have searched the libraries at length trying to find any description of the SMAK process of which Dale speaks and the nearest I could find was the reverse polarity cleaning followed by flash chroming. In any event, I have found that flash chroming will give the same look as was originally on the trim and the thickness is controlled by the plater, so it can be as thin as you wish.
The first few caps I had done were so thin that it did not cover the burnished area in the center of the cap and had to go back to be re-plated.
In order to get a nice job the stainless should be buffed to a mirror shine, as the chrome is clear and is very thin, so it will not make up for lack of polishing.
Stainless will polish up to a mirror finish but will have a slightly yellow color which is caused by the nickel, but a layer of chrome will turn this to a nice icy blue sliver.Additionally polished stainless will oxidize over time and darken even further while chrome will not.
Regards, John McGrawComment
-
Smack Chroming
leaves a thinner coat of chrome than flash chroming does. I'm not an expert on chrome plating and can't relay many details.
The process was explained to me by the Bison chrome guys some ten or so years ago when they were offering the service to restorers. The reverse polarity thing might be confusion on my part and refer to the cleaning process as stated above. In fact the term, "smack chromed" might refer just to thickness only and reflect a scant deposit while "flash chromed" might mean a thicker deposit. At any rate, the chrome IS deposited on the bare stainless and adheres to the nickle in the stainless. The result is NOT thick like a bumper for instance which IS triple plated.
I'm not aware of any smack chrome platers in the hobby at the present time and my work is done by a chrome plater who achieves a VERY thin coating identical to that of a "smacked' item.
Please note that ALL stainless C1 trim was smack-flash chromed.
Dale.Comment
Comment