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Thread: Pot metal return tray restoration

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    Sandwich Shooter Siouxzan's Avatar
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    Default Pot metal return tray restoration

    I encountered a new challenge in the restoration of my Nishijin Model A single shot from the 50s.

    The return tray/ashtray is pot metal. We all know what that fine material looks like after about 3 days (not to mention 50 years) of oxidation.

    I was going to buff it out and use the same nickel plating procedure that I used on the spinners...

    Late 50s restoration - sacrilege?

    ...but unfortunately this method doesn't work well on pot metal.

    I discovered tonight that pot metal actually polishes up nice and shiny if you work at it hard enough, but I know it will turn grayish black in no time. Has anyone here ever clearcoated over bare pot metal to protect it from oxidation?
    Crazy?

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    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    should be fine??? i can think of no reason why not to??
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

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    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    many years ago I polished and clear coated some larger size military shells made of brass, with the bullets in different metals.

    they still looked good many years later.
    幸運わんわん Luckydog or Yukiwanwan in Japanese

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    Chicken Fried Steak takethecastle57's Avatar
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    Last edited by takethecastle57; 02-16-2010 at 04:57 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
    When things don't go right the 1st time , Step back ,Take a break and come back renewed. RGS

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    Sandwich Shooter Siouxzan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    Ahh, the coconutty miracle cloth.
    You broke me down over time (still suspicious you own the company) and I recently bought 2 of those.
    Pulled one out again last night to test on this.
    It hardly worked at all on the pot metal-- cloth got blacker... and blacker... and blacker... until metal was a dull gray. 00 steel wool worked much better.
    Or are you recommending it for its protectant properties, to be applied after buffing?

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    Tokie Owens Matt L's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    What type of clear coat are you thinking of using? An automotive clear coat should protect it against anything short of a bullet. So you probably wont have a problem with oxidation.

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    Sandwich Shooter Siouxzan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    All the clear coats I've seen so far say to use over paint/primer and not on bare metal. Even one made for wheels.

    I did some test patches last night for durability testing.

    Then while polishing brass nails(1, 2, 3...100...200... 500!) another idea occurred to me...
    I'm using beautiful jatoba wood to rebuild the case and frame for this machine. Perhaps it would look cool to rebuild the return tray with the same wood. But that's such a departure from the original that it might feel naughty. I used to struggle with this (original vs custom) when I rebuilt Mopars.

    The answer will come to me when I should be working or sleeping.

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    Waste not, Want not mudfud's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    I think a custom wood tray would look nice. just keep the old one in case someone wants to return to stock in the future. you kinda have to like that flat aluminum look to like the old trays.

    you could also paint it and then clear coat it. there are chrome paints, stainless paints, etc.
    PachiTalk

    chewy's motto: life is plumbing

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    Eye Shooter TilionMtl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    I wonder.. are they lead ashtray?

    lead was used a lot before and now it's highly toxic, we are supposed to wash our hands after touching lead. Maybe a coating would be a good idea I was not able to clean all the stain in my vintage ashtray. let us know how it end up?

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    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    幸運わんわん Luckydog or Yukiwanwan in Japanese

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    Sandwich Shooter Siouxzan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    Quote Originally Posted by mudfud View Post
    I think a custom wood tray would look nice. just keep the old one in case someone wants to return to stock in the future. you kinda have to like that flat aluminum look to like the old trays.

    you could also paint it and then clear coat it. there are chrome paints, stainless paints, etc.
    The decision has been made. I will recreate the ball return/ashtray with carved wood-- jatoba and maple stripes in laminated 1/4" strips. It's gonna be cool.
    Thanks for the input.
    ______________________________________________________
    Quote Originally Posted by TilionMtl View Post
    I wonder.. are they lead ashtray?

    lead was used a lot before and now it's highly toxic, we are supposed to wash our hands after touching lead. Maybe a coating would be a good idea I was not able to clean all the stain in my vintage ashtray. let us know how it end up?
    Yes. There is typically a fair amount of lead in potmetal. Icky. However, nobody seems worried about the fact that me and other fishermen have spent a lifetime biting down on lead weights, which provides infinitely higher exposure. And I remember rolling a mercury ball around on my tongue for my 5th grade teacher. It explains a lot, like why I have an unexplainable fascination with pachi

    Wait... what were we talking about again? Oh yeah... second door on the left.
    Last edited by Siouxzan; 02-17-2010 at 10:43 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

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    Eye Shooter Microbus99's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    "Yes. There is typically a fair amount of lead in potmetal. Icky. However, nobody seems worried about the fact that me and other fishermen have spent a lifetime biting down on lead weights, which provides infinitely higher exposure. And I remember rolling a mercury ball around on my tongue for my 5th grade teacher. It explains a lot, like why I have an unexplainable fascination with pachi "

    We must be addicted to "Heavy Metal's"

    Insert here ________.

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    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    I've been out of high school for over 50 years and they are still removing asbestos from some areas in the school today

    I'm sure my old grade school was loaded with lead paint and abestos too!!!
    幸運わんわん Luckydog or Yukiwanwan in Japanese

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    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    Quote Originally Posted by Microbus99 View Post
    "Yes. There is typically a fair amount of lead in potmetal. Icky. However, nobody seems worried about the fact that me and other fishermen have spent a lifetime biting down on lead weights, which provides infinitely higher exposure. And I remember rolling a mercury ball around on my tongue for my 5th grade teacher. It explains a lot, like why I have an unexplainable fascination with pachi "

    We must be addicted to "Heavy Metal's"

    Insert here ________.
    really tempting to give u your first...

    but i dont think your ready


    yet!!!
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

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    Eye Shooter Microbus99's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    Quote Originally Posted by Moparformances View Post
    really tempting to give u your first...

    but i dont think your ready


    yet!!!
    Dont tease me like that!

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    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    since you insist
    幸運わんわん Luckydog or Yukiwanwan in Japanese

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    Eye Shooter Microbus99's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    Quote Originally Posted by luckydog View Post
    since you insist

    I'm cool...I'm cool...I wont cry

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    Sandwich Shooter Siouxzan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    I still haven't recovered from the social stigma attached to mine

    That first time is always the hardest.

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  27. #19
    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    Quote Originally Posted by Siouxzan View Post
    I still haven't recovered from the social stigma attached to mine

    That first time is always the hardest.
    i have to be happy with how u got yours
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

  28. #20
    Sandwich Shooter Siouxzan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pot metal return tray restoration

    Good Lord, it's a groaning war.
    I have feelings too, ya know.

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