purplepeep
Junior Member
One is never enough:)
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1966 Serro ScottyTonga
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Post by purplepeep on Jul 19, 2014 19:25:33 GMT -8
Took sinks parts to be re-chromed. Omg, $350.00 and it would take 8 weeks because the owner is backed up on work.  No thanks. I think the vintage pitted look is looking better by the minute.  Drove around to a few camper places looking for window gaskets. That was a waste of time and gas. Vintage Trailer Supply has the two different gaskets styles I need and both are out of stock.  Go to put the original fiberglass sink/counter top back in. We had repaired and repainted last summer. Now, we find two good size areas in the sink, that were overlooked. Back out it goes, to the shop, on Monday. It's so frustrating that I can't just walk into a store and buy what I need! Sorry to rant. I'm sure you all can understand where I'm coming from.  Wish I could re-chrome, fix fiberglass and a few other things too.  |
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Jul 19, 2014 19:33:41 GMT -8
I feel your pain!
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John Palmer
Senior Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Jul 19, 2014 19:42:58 GMT -8
I'm always surprised each time I drive by a chrome shop and see them "still in business". It's very labor intensive work, so they need good people or they will destroy parts during the prep process of striping, sanding, and copper plating. It's very expensive to keep good workers today, and then have to pay their insurance and workman's comp on top of their hourly pay. The EPA has very strict regulations they have to follow, and the cities do not want chroming operations due to the safety hazards of the chemicals. Go and try to find a building to rent, after you tell them your plan to use it for chroming.
For some items, you can have them done in powder coating. They have a very bright silver, that looks almost chrome. I did my rear bumper/trailer hitch on my hot rod and it held up and looked good for six years at a fraction of the cost to chrome it. But nothing looks really like chrome, but chrome!
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purplepeep
Junior Member
One is never enough:)
Posts: 88
Likes: 11
1966 Serro ScottyTonga
Currently Offline
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Post by purplepeep on Jul 19, 2014 20:43:28 GMT -8
John, I got a whole speech from the owner on how stupid and poorly made my sink parts were. Got the rundown on the chroming process too. I understand the cost. This shop has been really busy because of the Nationals this week. I'm going to put my parts on for now and take them back in the winter, when things are slower for them.
Any experience with re-galvanizing(sp)? Our cot brackets were painted over. In the stripping process the coating came off. I'd like them to match the original poles so paint won't work.
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John Palmer
Senior Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 575
Currently Offline
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Post by John Palmer on Jul 19, 2014 22:30:24 GMT -8
John, I got a whole speech from the owner on how stupid and poorly made my sink parts were. Got the rundown on the chroming process too. I understand the cost. This shop has been really busy because of the Nationals this week. I'm going to put my parts on for now and take them back in the winter, when things are slower for them. Any experience with re-galvanizing(sp)? Our cot brackets were painted over. In the stripping process the coating came off. I'd like them to match the original poles so paint won't work. I would doubt that any of your brackets were galvanized. Maybe the sheet metal that was used to make your original water tank? Go look at a chain link fence, galvanizing is NOT pretty!
You might look into white cadmium (actually silver), or yellow cadmium (actually golden), which are common "cheap" production finishes on most hardware. To save money, it's best to take a whole box of parts at a time, because they are just going to drop them into a basket, and do the plating as a lot.
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No thanks. I think the vintage pitted look is looking better by the minute. 
