I notice on the McGee roadster he used nickel plated brakeshields ( or what method was used ? ) First I thought after see the black front axle and that brake shield he used that chromed parts would look better. But he had some parts chromed as steering parts and the wish bone. As the car was build 1947 they did not chrome much stuff. My guess ( if I got it correct ) nickel plated brake parts was Indy car deals ( he copy. The front end is neat to say the least ! If any information her, I’m intrested to learn history.
I have done nickel. We have a lot of firearms manufacturing here so it is pretty easy to find someone to do it. The part has to be polished even more perfect than if was going to be chromed because you have no copper layer to fill imperfections and scratches
Nickel doesn't get copper underneath for a first layer? I always thought that nickel plating was just like chrome, but without the final protective chrome layer. To replicate what was done pre-1930 when they didn't have the chroming process down-pat.
Copper, grey nickel, bright nickel. There's 2 coppers used, 1 is acid copper. I dunno the 100% particulars. Grey nickel can be final polished to get the gleam. Bright nickel is a finish but needs attention, think grandma's silver tea set but you don't get to just dip, break out the mild polish and get dirty. As mentioned above, Cad plating. Very kool addition to finished areas, and best washed very well and satin cleared for long life. Powders up fast and easy with an off season of even slightly humid storage.
In my case no. Field grade firearms get nickel only. The fancy commemorative ones these guys do sometimes get the full treatment depending on the amount of engraving
The Highlander has explained exactly why nickel plating fell out of fashion. You really gotta love the look to put up with the extra maintenance labor.
Find this, but as a Swede ( language ) what is it ? https://techmetals.com/plating/cadmium-plating/ The nickel plating should be Very nice to a hot rod in late 40’s style. Like the ’tone’. But my parts is Ok but really need copper under.
Cadmium plating is hard to find nowadays, but white zinc is easy to find and cheap. Looks a whole lot like white cad. I can get a 5 gallon bucket of prepared parts dipped for $100. Depending on how long they leave it in the tank, will be a satin silver or a slightly shiny silver. Like a new hardware store bolt.
I found a guy at youtube restore MC and he had a cadium bath in shop ( the cadium was bullets and he used 2V ) This is not like zink plated. Zink plated would not be fun to has on brake shields and feel boring. Wonder why MaGee used it ? Was it a process car industri used back then ? Never heard of it before really, but of a cool deal but the surface must be very nice and I had rust pittings on my shields. This is a process for new made shields or ones really nice.
I know @3w Hank got the answer he was looking for from @Pete Eastwood , but I’d like to comment on nickel plating which was also mentioned. These two window cranks are from Bob Drake, the ‘34 on the left is chromed and the other is a ‘32 with bright nickel plating from when Drake still offered that. The nickel has a richer appearance, and as was said it takes a bit if maintenance. It will show a slight haze, kind of a gray tone if not polished once in a while.
^I've always preferred the color of Nickel vs Chrome. Especially in the era of chinese chromed parts from the big retailers, it really sets apart the original parts from the cheap replacements. Also, like I said on the other thread, even aged Nickel looks really cool! It doesn't really lose it's protective qualities with tarnishing, just requires a lot more effort to bring back and you eventually run out of material to polish. ~Peter
From the Wiki: Electroless nickel-phosphorus plating. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroless_nickel-phosphorus_plating All of this is electroless nickel plated, I specifically wanted a brushed finish so before taking them to the plater I prepped it by using scotchbrite pads.
Wonder if copper can be under if use that process ? The chrome is nice but on my car I think nickel would be awsome ( look like old chrome ) I’ll just scared as my vishbone/braskeshields is little pitted.
Then you'll want to look for Bright Nickel Plating: "Due to high levelling properties, bright nickel plating hides polishing lines and other imperfections of the surface of a material, which makes it an appealing option. It produces a bright mirror like finish due to its elevated sulfur content and is also has good conductivity. However, it is not as corrosion resistant as other types of nickel plating. It is ideal for car parts like trim work, bumpers, rims, and exhaust pipes. -https://www.ashevillemetalfinishing.com/2019/07/01/nickel-electroplating/ In regards to copper undercoat, that's actually how chrome plating is done: http://www.jpcustomplating.com/chrome-plating-process In case you can't read that site, I'll summarize. Parts are stripped, repaired, and polished prior to any plating. They then go into Copper, which is then polished and cleaned. Then they are submerged in Nickel for about 45 minutes Finally, they get coated in Chrome plating to protect the Nickel finish. So really you can just have your chrome shop skip the final stage. Maybe have them leave the part in the Nickel tank a little longer than usual to build up a deeper layer of the plating. This would leave you with the deepest and richest Nickel finish without being delicate like trying to do it in your garage or a cheap Zinc plating. ~Peter
I have nickel plated some small things in my workshop, just using readily available supplies. The nickel plated stuff looks better on an old car, not as bright and shiny as chrome. And it's a lot more (dangerous) work to "chrome at home".
What is polishing nickel like? Based on some absurd costs, I may get a bunch of interior bits nickel plated and a few exterior bits chromed. The last thing I had nickel plated looked incredible because the polish job was pretty awesome.
On bright nickel, and I think I’ll seen nickel before chrome #3 but it’s bright and its not the smooth tone as just nickel I seen on pictures. But I’m not real shore. I can get my vishbones chromed but cad plated brake shields would be cool on my car but my parts is to pitted ( if cooper cant be under )
In the picture in the first post, the parts looks awfully shiny for cadmium plating - were they cad plated when the car was first built but then chromed or nickel plated when it was restored?
I bought a car in a basket with many parts nickeled decades ago. I buffed them on my Horrible Freight buffer with very little rouge and they looked brand new. I like the color of nickel better then chrome.
The parts in that picture above are chrome. What is not shown, and what I believe are being referred to in this thread are the brake backing plates, which are cadmium plated. These different finishes were done to bring the car back to just as Bob MaGee built it.
Here's another .05c worth on nickel (get it). All the plating in the engine room of most heavy cl***ics were indeed nickel. Acorn nuts, tubing, etc. Stainless tubing and hardware became a savior of sorts as nickel is an element that keeps stainless rust free, and of course when polished is the right color match. Have I peaked any ideas yet? In the depression era cars I focus on most of the open versions had chrome hardware inside in the manor of window cranks, door handles and top hardware. Go figure, right? The closed cars (the money cars of days past) many had what some call "butler finish" which was a softly brushed nickel plating. It's as handsome as it sounds when surrounded with fine fabrics and fancy wooden fixtures and appointments. Another finish choice? Silver. I know, it sounds expensive but not as much as chrome if you find the right source. 33-4 Packard 12s had a silver/silver oxide gauge facia. The raise portion was gently brushed bright silver, the lower portions were treated with a mild acid to create a unique color. I've used diluted gun bluing liquid to duplicate it in years past. Yes, it's a *****, but nothing else like it that I've seen. A final very well reduced coating of clear urethane will stop it from becoming gramma's tarnished tea set. I'ma try to find a pic... Now I ask ya, izzat fkn ***y or what...
Yes beutiful ! To do all nickel in a car means allot of effort, and this is what happens when one open new doors ;-)) Easy means often the most issue way to get there.. Lucky for me chrome was used in late 40’s and its complext to nickel parts as ex rod ends, shocks etc. But a coupe with window garnish etc etc inside must be way nice ! Just a question ( maybe answered ) is nickel Ok with copper under ?
During my years working at an independent hardware store, we ordered all our bolts/nuts/washers direct from National Bolt & Nut our primary supplier, they didn't offer cad plating only zinc which was a heavy co**** plating for industrial jobs & ordered special if requested, we had a local Omaha plating shop do cadmium plate for normal ***embly jobs.
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