Polishing...

[Hugh Jorgan]

This afternoon, I spent a fair bit of time cleaning the accumulated grunge offa this belt-buckle. It is OT a numbered item, so its value is a non-issue. I am concerned that re-chroming it would loose (fill in) some of the finer details. Thinking therefore of splashing some paint at it and wiping down the highspots to highlight them, whaddya think??

[IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... an0082.jpg[/IMG]

[Bob Lemke]

Anything that can highlight the fine details would be good IMHO.

[Al Husa]

Here is an idea: Never done it myself but used to work in a lab that did it - Vacuum deposition plating. It can be done on small items in a vacuum chamber. The plating is VERY thin only a few molecules thick so the detail will not be lost. Once that is done it could be clear powder coated to provide protection. We used to plate specimens for scanning electron microscopy with GOLD AND PLADIUM -----$$$$$$ (not really THAT expensive cause so little gold was used)

This plating process is the one that is used to "chrome plate" all those little tiny pieces in the model car kits that was all used to build when we were kids.

Pauls Chrome located somewhere in Northern Pennsylvania MAY be able to do this. Paul's advertises on "My Classic Car"
a lot.

Good luck

Cornshuck

on LSD , South of DE Bill

[Kevin Seward]

Another possible option is a process called Electroless nickel plating. In the pump business we would on occasion plate different parts which had to be uniformly built up for balance and various reasons. This process as I recall can be controlled to have only a real thin build up and it isn't overly expensive. The finish color is similar to stainless.

I went on line and found this link to a company that sells kits to even do it your self if so inclined.
http://www.caswellplating.com/electropl ... -kits.html

Later,

HiTec