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danny_
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:38 pm 
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adamstuart wrote:
They weren't chromed, they were painted.

Never come across a chromed 850 grille..

Unless i'm very wrong?


Mine is chrome.

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Morris 1100
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:56 pm 
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1275LS
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:04 pm 
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John Smidt wrote:
Timbo wrote:
John, I think you're right. Something I read said that its actually silver.

This is worth a watch.

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/spray-on-chrome/1232328/

Tim


Yes Tim ,
That is what I am talking about It would be My guess that the metal used is Aluminium, judging by the colour
Back in the old days They Used to put an aluminium coating on plastic parts.
Like the speedo surround on the XP falcon etc
back then the process was done in a vacumme


It most certainly is silver. It goes on as silver nitrate (?) and they apply a second chemical to remove the nitrate component and leave nothing but silver on the surface. I'm an engineer not a chemist but I am sure someone out there who knows more chemistry than I do could give us a more accurate run down.

When you look at the videos it is a clear liquid followed by a clear liquid. The first one is silver nitrate.

Pretty clever I reckon.

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graham in aus
 Post subject: Re: chrome plating
PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:34 pm 
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Went back to the start of the thread and it's been said already:
drmini in aust wrote:
Very early (1st batch of) 850s sold here in 1961 had painted grilles, but from then on they were all chromed.
I have a chromed one here, it's not bad looking from outside but on the inside the chrome is lifting away in places.. :cry:
I'd get it rechromed, but not for the silly money they now ask for.


They were not highly polished before chroming, too intricate (as J Smidt said) hence somewhat flat chrome appearance, but it is chrome neverthess!! 8)

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Morris 1100
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:49 pm 
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The BMC parts book from about 1969 describes it as ..
Quote:
GRILLE-RADIATOR-[Chrome Plated] ARA138
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drmini in aust
 Post subject: Re: chrome plating
PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:51 pm 
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graham in aus wrote:
Went back to the start of the thread and it's been said already:
drmini in aust wrote:
Very early (1st batch of) 850s sold here in 1961 had painted grilles, but from then on they were all chromed.
I have a chromed one here, it's not bad looking from outside but on the inside the chrome is lifting away in places.. :cry:
I'd get it rechromed, but not for the silly money they now ask for.


They were not highly polished before chroming, too intricate (as J Smidt said) hence somewhat flat chrome appearance, but it is chrome neverthess!! 8)


Adamstuart,
I know this is true `coz I wuz here back then, and you wuzn't. :P
Back in 1964 I had a 1961 850 with painted grille and the Pommy tube frame seats, my mate had a 1962 850 with the Oz seats, and his grille was chromed from new. So was my cousin's 1963 850 bought new.

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Mike_Byron
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:08 pm 
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I was around back then also and had a succession of minis. They were chromed bar the early pommie ones.

But having said that they wern't a mirror like finish either.

Mike
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adamstuart
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:29 pm 
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I knew some were painted, how ever due to the finish on the 'chromed' ones, I assumed they were all painted.

I guess the fact the chromed ones aren't exactly chrome like I am used to threw me.

The more you know!

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drmini in aust
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:37 pm 
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adamstuart wrote:
I knew some were painted, how ever due to the finish on the 'chromed' ones, I assumed they were all painted.

I guess the fact the chromed ones aren't exactly chrome like I am used to threw me.

The more you know!

850 door handles (diecast zinc? alloy) were chromed too. Unfortunately the passage of 50 years has seen the chrome deteriorate the same way as on the grilles (when moisture gets under it).
It is so damned expensive now to replate stuff properly, after you find a quality plating shop that hasn't succumbed to the EPA. :cry:

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John Smidt
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:01 pm 
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The 850 Grille was made from bright steel, and was plated straight up ( the term we used for chrome plating without polishing first )
The Main reason that Chrome plating on Zinc based die cast becomes pitted is because
it unlike most other metals had to be copper plated first before nickle and chrome,
The life of the plating depended on the thickness of copper deposited first, as an electrolisis between the copper and the zinc caused the metal to pit and it then pushed the nickle and chrome upwards,
When the parts were originaly made they were cooled rapidly this had the efect of having fine grained outer and coarse grained inner,
When it needs to be replated the process is much more work than was needed
when first plated

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danny_
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 5:28 pm 
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The clear coat has finally dried and i fitted the grille today.
Image
It's not a perfect grille but it does the job.

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Morris 1100
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 5:31 pm 
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That looks very neat. I like it. :D
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Kennomini
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 5:51 pm 
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Will the clear coat go yellow over time?

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danny_
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:20 pm 
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Kennomini wrote:
Will the clear coat go yellow over time?


I hope not :/
I used 2k clear coat.
If it does i will just get it sand blasted and either paint it or coat it in clear.

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Morris 1100
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:27 pm 
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danny_ wrote:
Kennomini wrote:
Will the clear coat go yellow over time?
If it does i will just get it sand blasted and either paint it or coat it in clear.

That is just the thing, if it doesn't work you have only lost a bit of clear coat and you can try something else.
Half the fun is the experimenting.
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