There doesn't seem to be anyone reproducing F-3 <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">emblem</a>s, so I'd like to have my old ones re-chromed. Anybody had that done? Who does good work and what does it cost?

 

Are they potmetal? If so you are in for a big price shock unless you do the repair and prep work.

Otherwise, I use this guy up in Maine. He doesnt do pot metal, I send that down to R.I.



http://www.englishcustompolishing.com/

 

286,

Yes, they are pot metal. The going rate for reproduction F-1 <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">emblem</a>s are over $60 plus shipping. Do you expect re-chroming them would be much more than that? Who is your R. I. guy?

 

If it needs pit repair it could easily be $100 or more, its all labor. Thats why I do the repair and prep myself.

I think it is NuChrome in Providence. There are 2 chrome guys who come to Amherst every month. The Providence guy is good, the Fall River one is crap, particularly for big stuff like <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">bumper</a>s. I'd have to dig out an invoice to be sure of the name.

 

Hey Vern,
I had my F3's done by NuChrome. Cost me $70.00. They finished the Face, but just chromed over the pits on the sides of the letters. If you are coming to Amherst, stop by the house and you can see them.

 

Carl

Sometime when you are bored, could you give us a potmetal prepping short course here? I know you are correct about the high cost. I am lucky 53 stuff is available repro.

 

Newt,

I think 70 bucks is in the ball park. Were yours pot metal and were they pitted? These I have are pitted some.

 

I haven't done this, but from what I've read, this is the procedure:
1) Get a plating shop to remove the old chrome and nickel plating
2) fill the pits: there's a couple of ways:
- welding torch and the right kind of filler rod; from what I've read this takes a lot of practice and care to avoid melting or deforming the entire piece
- plate copper onto the piece to fill the pits, then buff it smooth. Maybe copper plating could be done at home: http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/flashcopper.html
3) Give the whole piece an overall coat of copper.
4) buff the copper until it's perfectly shiny (copper is the primer coat... if it isn't perfect, the finish nickel and chrome won't be either)
5) let the platers put the nickel and chrome on

Before you put the piece on the truck, consider making a mold from it. Then you've got the option of making reproductions, if the rarity of the part justifies it. 57-60 panel truck <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">taillight</a></a></a> housings, for instance. Or Mercury truck <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">emblem</a></a></a>s. I know someone with a shop that does metal casting; I'll have to ask them about this, and what it would cost. (I've also thought about reproducing panel truck <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">taillight</a></a></a> lenses, and Mercury stepside <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">taillight</a></a></a> lenses.)