Silver edges on LWB signal lenses

[jaudette3]

Many years ago my Porsche mentor had a list of rules. One of the most important ones was “Never throw anything away.”. I’ve observed this rule faithfully even when it seemed ridiculous and I have benefited many, many times as a result.

It’s a shame to see so many otherwise nice original Bosch LWB signal lenses rendered useless due deteriorated silver trim edges. Are these trim edges chrome or some type of silver paint? Has anyone ever come up with a way to refresh them? Can they be chrome plated?


Copied from a current ad

Also, has anyone repainted the black trim edges with any success?

Thanks,
John

[NorthernThrux]

Black trim is easy using a gloss paint. Surface prep and careful masking is important because you want a thin coating and a very clean cut line. I mask with thin clear packing tape, not painter's tape. Never done it on Porsche lenses, having spent a lot of money to get NOS ones, but I have done it on restored Triumph turn signals and such on my motorcycles.

Silver is harder because you need to have a proper reflective surface and that's hard to do with paint.

Ravi

[raspritz]

Plastic parts are plated by dipping the entire part. Would have it been technically and financially feasible for Bosch to have chrome- or silver-plated only the edges of an odd-shaped piece of plastic, in commercial quantity? I doubt it. I bet it's high-quality chrome or silver paint, which deposits a layer of real metal on the surface. I have "re-chromed" quite a few NLA plastic and metal parts using chrome paint, and so far, nobody has noticed the difference. I think I'll try it on a set of tatty '69 tail light lenses and see how it comes out.

Rich

[jaudette3]

The worlds Silveriest Paint

I ordered THIS to experiment.

[mfitton]

The worlds Silveriest Paint

I ordered THIS to experiment.

John, the link does not work.

[Arne]

John, the link does not work.

John missed a ':' in the link. Try this one - https://www.culturehustleusa.com/pro...df229286&_ss=r

[NorthernThrux]

Notice how you can’t see reflections in the world’s silveriest paint? Fail!
The silver trim is mirror reflective when new. Reflects like a cross between chrome and aluminium.

[Arne]

Dunno. Notice how their samples were not on polished surfaces. Even the factory silver looks duller on the back side. It might look different when painted on the inside of a clear transparent, polished surface.

[72targa]

Not an expert in any way on this...but isn’t this the process used?

https://www.dual-metallising.co.uk/g...m-metallising/

[raspritz]

Not an expert in any way on this...but isn’t this the process used?

https://www.dual-metallising.co.uk/g...m-metallising/

I don’t think so.