Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items => Topic started by: ctaylor738 on March 30, 2011, 13:03:10

Title: Re-chroming Issues
Post by: ctaylor738 on March 30, 2011, 13:03:10

I have reached the point on my 280SL project where I'm starting to put re-chromed pieces on the car.  I am running into issues where pieces are a tight fit and where they need to fit together.  The pieces around the heater controls took a couple of hours with a Dremel to fit correctly, for instance.  My most recent experience was with the mouldings on the rear panel between the tail lights and the trunk lock.  There was simply no way to get a good fit on the trunk lock end, and I ended up buying new ones.

This picture shows the problem.  So I would urge caution in buying re-chromed or re-chroming tight-fitting pieces.   

Title: Re: Re-chroming Issues
Post by: 66andBlue on March 30, 2011, 15:35:02

Chuck,
what was the exact problem, too much material added, or a contour/shape change during polishing?

Title: Re: Re-chroming Issues
Post by: ctaylor738 on March 30, 2011, 20:27:21

Too much material added, especially build-up around the edges.  You can see that the moulding sides doubled in thickness.

Title: Re: Re-chroming Issues
Post by: mdsalemi on March 31, 2011, 11:52:16

Chuck,

This is too bad.  Did the plater not know about fit when beginning the process?  Sounds like they were not that experienced in these kinds of trim parts, and or just made some bad choices here.

It was some years ago now, but I used three different chrome platers for various parts of the car (all the trim was replated by two of the platers; the bumpers by a third) and we did not have any fit issues anywhere.  I'd say your experience is the exception.  Remember, the parts were chromed originally, so some thickness is being removed in prep.  Typically you might get a thicker plating job than OEM, but there should be plenty of room (as measured in thousands of an inch!) for a "thicker coat".

Sounds like you got the problems solved by replacement but you should circle back with them (if you have not already) and let them know what happened.  If you used a Dremel you compromised the chrome plate...compromised chrome is one reason for redoing it in the first place.

It was hard to see in the photo exactly what your issue was but I relied on your hands-on description.