Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: erickmarciano on January 15, 2005, 18:51:05

Title: is Cadmium as expensive as chrome?
Post by: erickmarciano on January 15, 2005, 18:51:05
anyone know what all the lines would cost to plate?has anyone tried the eastwood kit?

thnaks
Erick

1971 280sl
1962 VW
1954 Allstate vespa
1958 gs150 vespa
1962 gs160 vespa
Title: Re: is Cadmium as expensive as chrome?
Post by: Jazn on January 15, 2005, 21:47:34
Not sure about the Eastwood kit, but I did buy the cad looking spray and it really doesn't look anything like cad plating.  I think cad is cheaper to plate than chrome, but don't quote me, chrome as more layers than cad.  Hemmings has a bunch of people that do cad plating.
Title: Re: is Cadmium as expensive as chrome?
Post by: mdsalemi on January 16, 2005, 09:04:15
quote:
Originally posted by erickmarciano

anyone know what all the lines would cost to plate?has anyone tried the eastwood kit?

thnaks
Erick

1971 280sl
1962 VW
1954 Allstate vespa
1958 gs150 vespa
1962 gs160 vespa


Erick and Jazn and others,

Yes, "CAD" plating is considerably less costly then chrome, because the materials are less costly and the handwork considerably less.

Note that "CAD" plating as I use it here covers several actual kinds of plating used on steel parts.  CAD plating is protective; chrome plating is decorative though of course both kinds offer some measure of protection as well as decoration.  CAD plating was typically used to protect hidden (like engine bay) items and chrome for visible (bumpers) trim pieces.

The kinds of plating termed as CAD include true cadmium plating, zinc plating, tin-zinc plating, iridite, phosphate wash and various combinations.  It is available in a variety of colors.  I did make a post some time ago about some sources for these.

http://index.php?topic=2532

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
Title: Re: is Cadmium as expensive as chrome?
Post by: Vince Canepa on January 16, 2005, 10:16:33
Advanced Finsihing Systems in Hayes, Virginia can do genuine cadmium plating.  Most folks today want to use zinc.  Zinc looks similar, but is thicker.  This can cause problems when putting things back together.  It clogs threads, etc.  Cad holds up better also.  

However, if you are trying to reproduce the same look and quality as the factory with cadmium, the surface must be carefully prepared.  This may take just as much work as preparation for chrome, with the exception of filling in dents and dings.  If the surface is brought back to the same appearance as original (i.e. bare new steel) the color and clarity will be the same as factory.  If the surface is deteriorated, cadmium can come back from the plater looking rather ugly.  I learned the hard way. Zinc seems to be more forgiving, but is brighter and more "colorful" than the original.

I use cadmium, but I do the prep work.  Even then, it isn't cheap.

Advanced Finishing Systems can be reached at (804) 642-7669.  Their address is 2954 George Washington Highway, Hayes, Virginia 23702.  For reference Hayes is across the river from Yorktown, VA.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex