rechrome or leave copper look

So when redoing the chrome on my 1936 pontiac I was left with a choice to finish the chroming process or

Go and clear the copper and leave the copper look

Has anyone gone with the copper look?

 

Do it right, chrome

 

bare metal and copper looks bad ***

 

Yep. Kopper!

 

What about nickel? I always thought nickel looks better than chrome.

 

Chrome,,it's traditional! HRP

 

Once the clear wears thru it will look like an old penny.

 

I'm curious.. As, i thought this look was neat when I was at the chrome shop and saw the copper plated steel/potmetal before chrom--how does the copper finish hold up over time?? I personally think it's a neat look, but I'd just ***ume that it would require constant maintenance, similar to that of bare polished aluminum when it's subjected to the elements. Input on this would be cool-

 

Make sure you have a shop that can do the copper base.
Lotsa US chromers use a nickel base.
TP

 

Copper is soft and will mar easily. It will also tarnish. Any defect in the clear coat will result in discoloration and, if deep enough, rust.

Copper goes down first because it bonds to steel better than nickle or chrome. It also fills minor defects in the base metal and polishes to a high sheen.

Nickle goes down second. It bonds to copper better than chrome and gives the finish strength and depth.

Chrome is last. The coating is very thin. It resists tarnish and ads luster.

 

I'm a big fan of Nickel!

 

Constant maintenance and copper is soft so it will wear though after a few years of polishing.

I know a fella that has an old mercury custom that all the would be chrome is copper. it looks pretty neat but he doesn't drive it ust keeps it stored and waxed until there is an indoor show.

Consider copper like bondo or lead only for a chrome job. Would you fill an imperfection on the body with mud and then just leave it?

 

The Schwinn stingray in my avatar has a copper plated frame. I did it over ten years ago, and it still looks good with maintenance. It still has its original clear, but needs a new coat. The copper itself is just fine.

It needs a clear coat. When the clear coat gets ****py in a few years, strip it off, repolish the copper, then reapply the clearcoat.

As long as it is plated as thick as it should be, you will never rub through it unless using a power buffer.


Another option is a clear powdercoat. I have had copper clear powdercoated and it looked great, but I was never able to check for longevity.

For increased rust resistance, have your plater put a layer of nickel under the copper; that is what I do when a customer wants a copper final finish.

 

I'm also a big fan or Chrome Plater Josh - just say'n!