hardware re-finishing

[mark g]

Many boaters are now preparing to get their boats "ship-shape" for the coming season. I am a professional restorer and will gladly give advice and answer any questions on the topic of hardware restoration. Topics may include re-chroming process to maintenance. I look forward to your inquiries. mark g

[John Blazy]

My stepfather and I are kindof restoring an old wood '57 boat from the Molded Fiberglass Boat Company (anyone ever heard of it?) and a few parts like the bow light would look great rechromed against the refinished mahogony deck. What kind of prep is required on this kind of part before I was to take it in to be rechromed? Sand off the old chrome, and buff? No clue here. It also has a thermoformed acrylic windscreen and wet sanding buffing the scratches out is a real chore anyone had succes scraping down then sand & buff? - JB

[Bob Cleek]

Stand back, Mark... they'll be comin' at ya! LOL

[mark g]

For John Blazy
I agree the bow light will look great chrome. Do not try and prep it yourself. It may haunt you. Chrome shops, including me usually insist on doing the stripping and poishing work. This prevents problems in the end result or quality.
mark G

[mark g]

For Bob Cleek
I am ready for all the questions that may be out there. Keep them coming!
Mark G

[Rocky]

Mark, I have a hood ornament from a 52 Nash, I believe, of a flying lady. It's very badly pitted. Tried to polish but the pits go through the copper down to the - zinc? - underneath. Is there anything that could be done with this?

[mark g]

Buster the hood ornament is most likely zinc die cast. be careful trying to polish out the pits. they can get bigger. Have a good chrome shop restore it for you. Zinc die cast is not a favorite of restoration shops due to the the pitting and porosity in the castings.
mark g

[Paul Scheuer]

Mark; Just curious. What are the pitfalls in doing the prep? The old timers where I used to work said that I should insist on doing my own buffing prep.

[Rocky]

Not YOUR chrome shop, I see, can't blame you. Would these pits have to be filled in manually? If so, with what? Could I use solder? Is there some kind of bath that would fill them in? Or I could even have it chromed pits and all, I guess. Only so much you can do with zinc, I guess.

[mark g]

Buster to further elaborate on zinc die castings You never know exactly what was used in the big melting pot formula of the casting. There are several metals other than zinc mixed together. remember, it is an inexpensive method of producing an intricate shaped 3 dimensional metal part vs. individually maching one from a solid piece of metal. Mark G