phototone
Well-known
There has been discussion on this forum regarding painting a classic RFDR camera, and needing to strip off the chrome plating either by sandblasting or sanding, or chemical removal.
I was wondering if anyone has had any experience in having the top and bottom plates re-chromed? I have a couple of Leica IIIc's that have terrible chrome on the top and bottom plates, corrosion, flaking off, etc. Otherwise excellent cameras, and with re-chroming would look just fine. I know how to remove the top plate, and of course the bottom comes off and disassembles easily.
Could I entrust these precision stampings with a regular chrome plating establishment?
Has anyone had any experience with this? I really don't mind that the new chrome might be more shiny, and I would rather have them chromed, as originally produced, than painted black.
All the web sites I have found discuss stripping the chrome off and refinishing the camera in a paint. Not one that I have found discusses re-chroming.
Gene McCluney (Phototone)
I was wondering if anyone has had any experience in having the top and bottom plates re-chromed? I have a couple of Leica IIIc's that have terrible chrome on the top and bottom plates, corrosion, flaking off, etc. Otherwise excellent cameras, and with re-chroming would look just fine. I know how to remove the top plate, and of course the bottom comes off and disassembles easily.
Could I entrust these precision stampings with a regular chrome plating establishment?
Has anyone had any experience with this? I really don't mind that the new chrome might be more shiny, and I would rather have them chromed, as originally produced, than painted black.
All the web sites I have found discuss stripping the chrome off and refinishing the camera in a paint. Not one that I have found discusses re-chroming.
Gene McCluney (Phototone)
T_om
Well-known
I do not know where you are located, but most large cities have companies that can do this for you. Look in the phone book under "Metal plating".
Contact any old car restoration groups in your area. They will know where the best chrome shops are located.
If you have no success there, contact your local gunsmith. He will have a source for not only chrome plating but nickle plating ( a MUCH better alternative IMHO) also.
Good luck,
Tom
Contact any old car restoration groups in your area. They will know where the best chrome shops are located.
If you have no success there, contact your local gunsmith. He will have a source for not only chrome plating but nickle plating ( a MUCH better alternative IMHO) also.
Good luck,
Tom
R
RML
Guest
T_om said:
I'm fairly certain most non-USAtians won't have access to a local gun smith.
Backward lot we are.
phototone
Well-known
Well, I am located in Arkansas. There is at least one general purpose plating company here.
I know the camera parts are not technically plated any differently than other chrome plated brass parts, yet they are more delicate, and I was wondering if anyone had actually DONE this, or rather had it done to their cameras, as an alternative to stripping the chorme and painting?
Phototone
I know the camera parts are not technically plated any differently than other chrome plated brass parts, yet they are more delicate, and I was wondering if anyone had actually DONE this, or rather had it done to their cameras, as an alternative to stripping the chorme and painting?
Phototone
A very intriguing suggestion to consider! I prefer nickel as well but hadn't thought of it in connection with cameras. Nickel avoids the very cold look of chrome with a tinge of warmth. Isn't nickel plating usually the step prior to applying chrome anyway?T_om said: