Hi hambers, On my 63 cadillac coupe, a portion of the window channel has rusted and broken. This metal is all chrome and I would like to weld it back if I can. I'm looking for any and all wisdom pertaining to welding chrome, especially little trim stuff like this. Ideally, I'd like to weld it without taking it out of the door, too. Picture attached of a rusty version of the part I am working on, with the break shown in the picture; where the curved "C" bracket meets the rail has broken.
Chrome is a plating. It can be over any ferrous metal. What the actual base material is determines how to repair. I will say that welding trim in place is not a complete repair. Maybe it's so it is retained in the proper shape, maybe it's a stop gap fix. But you are going to heat damage adjoining items and the repair probably will not be as good as a removed and prepared join. EDIT: just saw the pic. If that is the channel at the bottom of the gl***, it's probably not pot metal and may not be chrome plated. Stainless is fairly rust resistant. Have you looked for a replacement? Those are pretty exact in dimension, so a repair would have to be precise. https://www.antiquecadillacparts.net/window-frames-channels/
Thanks for your reply! I consulted with the 63/64 club president and he sent me the same replacement part link on CaddyDaddy. Unfortunately, they only reproduce the convertible window channel, which is slightly longer than the coupe one, and would require cutting and re-welding. That's my backup plan, should this fail.
As I see the picture, the channel appears it may be stainless rather then chrome. Does the picture mean you have the broken part out of the door with the gl*** removed from the channel? I don't see how you can weld that tab back on the channel if the gl*** is still there, and the channel is still in the door. It would likely crack or break the gl***, and if there is any form of rubber in the channel, the heat from welding will catch it on fire, which would also damage the gl***. It will be difficult to weld the tab back onto the channel while the channel is still in the door. You do want to be sure you know how the tab is positioned in the door, in relation to the channel before it is removed. Originally, that tab was likely just spot welded to the channel. Once the gl*** and any rubber has been removed from the channel, and the channel (and the tab) have been removed from the door, it shouldn't be hard to determine where it was originally welded together. If the channel is chrome plated, you should be able to (lightly) grind the chrome off the channel, and position the tab back in its original location (be sure the tab is correctly located and facing the correct direction). The tab then just need a couple of good tack welds to hold it in position. Then the channel with the tab now attached can now be replaced back into the door, and the rubber and the gl*** reinstalled.
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