Looking for for a nickel plater of H-1 headlight reflectors

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08-09-2013, 02:36 PM
flatsixcrazy

Looking for for a nickel plater of H-1 headlight reflectors

Hello all.

I'm looking for a nickel platter of H-1 headlight reflectors for a couple of headlight restoration projects. The outfit that will do aluminum deposit coating on my headlight reflectors does not do nickel plating but requires the headlight reflectors to be polished nickel plated. I've search the web but all the places I called do not accept small projects. Please let me know if you can recommend someone that can nickel plate headlight reflectors. Thanks in advance. Andy
08-09-2013, 02:59 PM
RSTarga

Just send them here. Some stuff the Brits just do better.
http://www.vintage-headlamp-restoration.com
08-09-2013, 03:31 PM
mobius911

Member John Audette just put a post in the parts for sale/wanted section that he is now offering a headlight restoration service.
08-09-2013, 03:49 PM
luke-44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobius911

Member John Audette just put a post in the parts for sale/wanted section that he is now offering a headlight restoration service.

I also remembered that but can't find his posting to save my life...can someone help? Maybe a "services offered" section would be a good forum addition?
08-09-2013, 04:00 PM
flatsixcrazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke-44

I also remembered that but can't find his posting to save my life...can someone help? Maybe a "services offered" section would be a good forum addition?

I also knew about John's service but decided to give fun project a try. Thanks.
08-09-2013, 04:18 PM
Scotty B

Andy, pretty much any decent chrome shop should be able to do it. Nickel is the first step in a good chrome job, followed by copper then the actual chrome. If there isn't anyone in your area let me know. There is a pretty good chrome shop in Norfolk called Royal Silver. Give them a call. If you can't take the time to drive down, ship them to me and I can drop them off for you, then ship them back. FWIW I've used them before and the chrome looks great. If you want show work they will do it, but if you don't they need to be told. they are very open to doing whatever level the customer wants

http://www.rschrome.com/
08-09-2013, 04:31 PM
flatsixcrazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty B

Andy, pretty much any decent chrome shop should be able to do it. Nickel is the first step in a good chrome job, followed by copper then the actual chrome. If there isn't anyone in your area let me know. There is a pretty good chrome shop in Norfolk called Royal Silver. Give them a call. If you can't take the time to drive down, ship them to me and I can drop them off for you, then ship them back. FWIW I've used them before and the chrome looks great. If you want show work they will do it, but if you don't they need to be told. they are very open to doing whatever level the customer wants

http://www.rschrome.com/

Thanks for the tip, Scott. I'll give them a call. I'm set to pick up some SWB parts in Norfolk, in a few weeks, and would be able to drop off the parts while I am there. I called Halonplating in Richmond but he said he cannot plate reflectors (I'm not sure why). Andy
08-09-2013, 04:43 PM
Scotty B

Hanlon has a BAD reputation around here. I'd avoid them anyway
08-10-2013, 08:40 AM
chiroracer

I am researching this and it seems like silvering is the correct process,they say chrome only reflects 60%. And nickel I dont know ,doesnt seem reflective.
08-10-2013, 10:03 AM
Flieger

I think they actually use aluminum, not silver. That is what telescope mirrors use.
08-11-2013, 06:27 AM
flatsixcrazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flieger

I think they actually use aluminum, not silver. That is what telescope mirrors use.

This is my correct intention and mentioned re-silver in my OP by mistake. The process I'd like to see is a glass coated vapor deposited aluminum coating, done by UVIRA in WA. The UVIRA technique provides a very high reflective surface with the polished aluminum and then seals it with a glass layer to prevent tarnishing (silver plating tarnishes over time). However, the prerequisite for deposited aluminum coating is a polished nickel plated surface, hence my search for a nickel plater :-). I was pleasantly surprised how much UVIRA quoted for aluminum coating the H-1 reflectors ($150 for the four reflectors). Worst case is to do the nickel plating myself with the Caswell kit and have UVIRA do the aluminum deposit coating.