Deplated, rusty metal parts... what to do

[Siouxzan]

Okay, one thing led to another tonight and now there are parts all over the place.

I recently fell in love with and purchased an old crusty Model A single shot. Wanted one. Found one for $25. Couldn't resist. It will be worth it in the end. I keep telling myself that.

I haven't even figured out how it works yet (well, in actuality it doesn't work). I started reverse engineering it and cannot believe some of the things I've found. Mud wasp tubes, lots of dead beetles and such, a live arachnid that we don't see much around here (and being a brown recluse, one we don't care to see much), what I think used to be candy, something that might be hair... oh, the utter horror of it all.

But I digress (sorry, I do that).

There are a lot of metal parts that I'm used to being plastic. Most of them have the plating all but gone and have rusted to one degree or another.

How do you folks deal with that? Should I bead blast it and treat it with something? Would it be a bad idea to paint it (my gestalt says that would be stupid in the ball runs)? Am I destined to dig out and fire up the old nickel plating supplies and really go wild with this project? If so, I'll have to have the spinners and teeter totter that's visible through the window plated gold.

Since this thing apparently spent part of its life at the bottom of the ocean, I have to wonder why the cell is hardly water stained. I think it's a miracle.

And, lastly, will I ever get this thing back together?

[mudfud]

where's the pix?

I asked about metal parts here, decided just to steel wool them and lightly oil the outsides of the pieces only (where there's no ball contact). I even considered painting the insides of the tray with some of the rust blocking acrylic paint (oxidized to black), but decided to keep things stock, instead.

curious to see your machine.

[SphereJunkie]

[digital1]

I wondered about a car wax on ball paths? I don't think it would get on the balls. If you buff it well. Bad idea???

[mudfud]

cleaning rusted metal parts

this one looks like painted parts

Early 50s Monako Single Shot

jacksea did a fantastic job on his metal parts (sharmoni's machine)

Restoration Challenge: 1950’s Nishijin Single Shot

[DrDark]

I wondered about a car wax on ball paths? I don't think it would get on the balls. If you buff it well. Bad idea???

A GREAT IDEA!
We wax the cells without problems. Why not the bare metal?

[Siouxzan]

where's the pix?

I asked about metal parts here, decided just to steel wool them and lightly oil the outsides of the pieces only (where there's no ball contact). I even considered painting the insides of the tray with some of the rust blocking acrylic paint (oxidized to black), but decided to keep things stock, instead.

curious to see your machine.

I posted some pics a couple weeks back and you guided me to your Seashell video. I never did figure out all the workings of the thing-- just couldn't wrap my head around it with everything jammed up. So many questions (like what's that flip up ramp thingy on the entrance to the bottom tray?).

Anyway, my main interest is in protecting the metal from further damage, but I also like the idea of new and pretty (hence the replating consideration at this point).

[GB_Jax]

cleaning rusted metal parts

this one looks like painted parts

Early 50s Monako Single Shot

jacksea did a fantastic job on his metal parts (sharmoni's machine)

Restoration Challenge: 1950’s Nishijin Single Shot

The metal on the Monako was cleaned with sand blast and clear coated. I did not do it - Brian at pachinkotuneup.com did the work. He is GREAT at getting these these looking like brand new. May be worth checking out - he is working on the 40s machine that I traded for from mudfud.

[pinball wizard]

car wax might work,i would be curious as to what others would say about it.i would never apply paint or oil to surfaces in contact with the balls,though.if you have the equipment for replating those parts,that would be the way to go.

[mudfud]

have any of you tried the spray on "chrome" paints?

I want to make the hub caps on the citicar look better, but I won't pay the money to have the reChromed. dupli paint, or something like that, has spray on, and there's a very expensive killer paint (sp?) but it has a special primer and clear coat so that one can's worth of painting costs $120

thought maybe i would use a grey/aluminum flat color

powder coating is an option, too, but more money than I want to spend.ß

[pinball wizard]

i have used "chrome" spray paints in the past , but was disappointed in the end result .yes,the cap on the spray can was chrome plated plastic,and was supposed to represent the contents of the can ,but in reality , it looked exactly like flat aluminum paint when dry .i guess you get what you pay for .maybe modern paint technology can make something closer to chrome ,but nothing can replace the real thing .
______________________________________________________
how about using semi gloss trim black on those hubcaps,mudfud ?it won't have the chrome look ,but it is made to spray on directly over chromed surfaces ,and was used a lot in the 1990's to give cars a more modern look ?just a thought,it might look nice.

[mudfud]

that's what I had read, too, that the chrome paints look, at best, like aluminum, but that would be fine for this application, since people hardly notice my hubcaps when I drive by in the citicar... hey what was that???

semi gloss black might be cool. the rims are white now, so there would be black (tire), white rim, black hub cap and silver hub cap center...

[Siouxzan]

that's what I had read, too, that the chrome paints look, at best, like aluminum, but that would be fine for this application, since people hardly notice my hubcaps when I drive by in the citicar... hey what was that???

semi gloss black might be cool. the rims are white now, so there would be black (tire), white rim, black hub cap and silver hub cap center...

I've always been a fan of stock rims painted satin black with cheap chrome trim rings and chrome lugs. Looks mean.

[Microbus99]

Chrome paint wont work well on hubcaps. It wont have a hard enough finish to protect itself from road debris. As the wizard said it just doesnt look like chrome and will "cheapen" the look of your rims.

However powder coating is a very good idea. Its very hard and can take a beating. Many wheels are powder coated. Of course this will cost a bit more then a can of paint.

Hope you're having fun with your new toy Chewy!

[Cystic]

You could try brush on plating. I have read great reviews replating trim on old cars.

Are you sure its Chrome or is it Nickel?

You need a solid bar(wand) of the base metal, a synthetic sponge(shamwow) and the solution for the right metal. Plug it into a 300mA 5vdc wall wart and replate away.

$40 to $60 for the base setup.


I scrub the rusty bits of the frame with water and aluminium foil. Then just live with the warts. But I may try the replating solution sometime later this year.

[JACKSJE4]

You need ... the solution for the right metal.

Can you elaborate on that? I have tried plating old dull pachi pieces with dismal results. Perhaps I am not using the right solution.

These are the kits I have tried:

Eastwood Co. - Electroplating System Tin Zinc
Caswell Inc. - Plug N' Plate Brush Plating Systems

Any help would be appreciated!!

Jeff

[dattia]

I haven't even figured out how it works yet (well, in actuality it doesn't work). I started reverse engineering it and cannot believe some of the things I've found. Mud wasp tubes, lots of dead beetles and such, a live arachnid that we don't see much around here (and being a brown recluse, one we don't care to see much), what I think used to be candy, something that might be hair... oh, the utter horror of it all.

But I digress (sorry, I do that).

Digress? Silly... we had a thread here for posting exactly that kind of stuff!

[mudfud]

OK. I did some internet research and decided to buy "liquid stainless"

I had seen this stuff a few months back and was hoping to find a project to try it on. apparently, you paint the stuff on and can change the color of your kitchen appliances with it.

I figure a slight dull silver, rather than perfect chrome, is more appropriate for banged up citicar hubcaps anyway.

so, since I bought enough to paint a refrigerator or range, once I paint the hub caps, I will try a bit on some pachi parts. will post progress.

[Cystic]

Can you elaborate on that? I have tried plating old dull pachi pieces with dismal results. Perhaps I am not using the right solution.

These are the kits I have tried:

Eastwood Co. - Electroplating System Tin Zinc
Caswell Inc. - Plug N' Plate Brush Plating Systems

Any help would be appreciated!!

Jeff

You need the proper plating solution to match the wand and what you are plating. I.E. Tin wand and tin plating solution to plate tin, stainless steel wand and chrome solution for chrome, stainless steel wand and nickel solution for nickel.

The tin/zinc will be dull coloured unless carefully polished to sort of a shine. I would not use it on a frame.

What kit did you use from Caswell?

I do not know what the frames are plated with, maybe someone else here knows for sure.

I find this group to be of help from time to time

Electroplating : A group to help hobbiest electroplaters,or anyone interested in electroplating. All experience levels are welcome!!!!


You may also try some car restoration boards. I came across a site that showed a guy replate damageds areas of a windshield frame using a caswell kit that turned out flawless. Of course I didn't save the URL.