Guest soldier Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Does any one know of a good source for for polishing and nickel finishing head lamp reflectors? A post some time ago recommended Uvira, Inc., but they no longer do the nickel finish. They do apply an enhanced aluminum finish to your nickel, which gives them added reflective power, so I need to have the nickel finish done somewhere else first. Thanks, Soldier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Maybe your local trophy shop? That's who I use. I always thought they used silver? I know a guy who does his own nickel plating. He reckons it's easy. I haven't looked myself, but someone's bound to have done a write up on it somewhere online.CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Maybe your local trophy shop? That's who I use. I always thought they used silver? I know a guy who does his own nickel plating. He reckons it's easy. I haven't looked myself, but someone's bound to have done a write up on it somewhere online.CheersGrantOriginally they were silvered but the Uvira setup is a bit different: glass over aluminum. Basically they stay good forever and don't need the periodic polishing that the original silver coating required.I had mine done back when Uvira did the base preparation too and the nickel plating I had done locally was for interior trim parts. Not sure I'd recommend my local company for doing reflectors, so I can't help the original poster with a direct recommendation.It is my understanding that good "triple plate" is copper, then nickel, then chrome. So maybe a good chrome plater in the area can do the nickel work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danhar1960 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 There may be something specific to the year of your reflectors but I too always thought they were silvered. The "enhanced aluminum finish" and "added reflective power" sounds interesting. Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 I had heard of that glass over aluminium process. Supposed to be pretty good. But for us, just as easy to drive across town and get them silver plated at the trophy shop. Lasts for years. BTW, Ply33, thanks to your website 10 years ago, we started using your printers ink woodgraining process, so a big thankyou!CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I had heard of that glass over aluminium process. Supposed to be pretty good. But for us, just as easy to drive across town and get them silver plated at the trophy shop. Lasts for years. BTW, Ply33, thanks to your website 10 years ago, we started using your printers ink woodgraining process, so a big thank you!CheersGrantHi Grant,You should probably be thanking the author, Bob Dunham, and publisher (Skinned Knuckles) of the book whose instructions I followed. Unfortunately that book is out of print and the materials they recommend are no longer available so they are reluctant to reprint or to update the book. I used a different base and clear coat material than they recommended and it's been a lot of years since I did mine with no apparent material compatibility issues to date. I guess they are just super cautious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old26Buick Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I had my chrome plater do the nickel on both my 26 and 27 Buicks and then had Uvira do their thing. Came out very good and a lot brighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Roger_Roy Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 silver is the go its the most reflective, 95% of light is reflected, but it tarnishes, chrome is hopeless (60% of the reflectiveness of silver) , might look shiny but it isnt "reflective", nickel without chrome over will tarnish and it starts off less reflective than silver anyway (same as chrome I d guess) . The overcoated aluminium is what modern lights have, its the same process as telescope mirrors so should be 90% reflective, will not tarnish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Hi Grant,You should probably be thanking the author, Bob Dunham, and publisher (Skinned Knuckles) of the book whose instructions I followed. Unfortunately that book is out of print and the materials they recommend are no longer available so they are reluctant to reprint or to update the book. I used a different base and clear coat material than they recommended and it's been a lot of years since I did mine with no apparent material compatibility issues to date. I guess they are just super cautious.Maybe so, but you posted it on your website! Which we used to good effect on our old 35 Chrysler (Plymouth with Chrysler badging).CheersGrant:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 BTW, all this talk of tarnishing has got me thinking.........do cowboys believe in reintarnation?CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danhar1960 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 What in tarnation are you on about Grant ?? :)Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Cowboys Danny! Reminds me of the cowboy who walked into a German car dealership and said "Audi".BTW, how's the cricket going?CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danhar1960 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Cowboys Danny! Reminds me of the cowboy who walked into a German car dealership and said "Audi".BTW, how's the cricket going?CheersGrantMe too !! "what in tarnation" was a line used in a lot of old westerns. Never really understood what it meant but I assumed it was the politically correct version for the period of todays WTF !!! Maybe one of our American amigos can enlighten us.:confused:As for the cricket.... I don't follow test matches that much. Too long and drawn out. Don't mind the 1 dayers though. Your Sir Haddles was here last week with big Sir Vivvy. Ahh, those were the days. I can still remember that underarm incident just like it was yesterday. Have the Kiwis got over that yet ??? :rolleyes:Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 (edited) Ha ha!! It still hurts Danny! But those old one day matches from the 80's were certainly the best. We had our own "World Series" there for a while. Australia and 2 other teams. Good times!CheersGrantPS This is what should have happened! Edited December 11, 2011 by Grant Magrath Info (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v12lincoln Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 This guy is in Sacramento and will do silver on the reflectors, As soon as he gets back from vacation I am having all of mine done on my 32.G&L Metal Finishing8290 Alpine AveSacramento, Ca. 95826916-997-5838 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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