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"Use of Nickel Plating in Automobile Restoration"

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2003

I am restoring my car and intend to have the metal sand blasted and repainted. Some of the parts will be powder coated. In a few articles I have read, there is mention made of having some metal parts nickel coated. Can you give me any guidance as to what parts I might consider having nickel coated? Is there any material to read about nickel coating car parts in a restoration job? I plan to have the sand blasting and painting done by a body shop. Should I just wait until I am ready to do that and ask these questions of the body shop?

Douglas L. Carden
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.

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2003

Douglas,

The shiny parts that people speak of as "chrome" are the parts that would be nickel plated then chrome plated: the grill, the headlamp surrounds, the moldings and emblems. If the car is very old (1930's and older) and you wanted to maintain authenticity you might nickel plate those parts without chrome plating them for the more yellowish, tarnished, look of really old cars.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey