Topic: Reproducing Galvanzied finishes

[J_Speegle]

Its surprising how many surfaces/parts on our cars were originally galvanized. You know the finish - different colored geometic shapes in different gray and silver finishes. A while back I was faced with the need to fix some damaged pieces as well as complete refinishing of some parts for that 69 Shelby I help with.

After talking to a few platers few had the ability to do galvanizing and the new plating didn't resemble the finish that we remember so well or is present on many nice original parts. After having some pieces plated we simply gave up on that attempt and instead played with the possibility of reproducing the finish using paints. It took a half dozen or so attempt with different products and methods but we finally came up with something that seems to work.

What we found is that you can reproduce the finish to look like the original and the method can be used to fix small areas of a galvanized part if it has become damaged from the elements, exposure or wear.

Hope some find this article useful - Enjoy.

Full article can be found in the Library section of this site under all classic years.


Here is an example





Light and contrast not great in this last picture - looks better in person

[CharlesTurner]

Found that hot-tin dipping an item and then using an "antiquing" solution will yield a galvanized look.  Just another method to consider.

I also use the hot tin dip on filler necks and with a combination of glass beading, running through the tumbler and light polish, to get great results.  Tim should be able to vouch how they look!

[cobrajetchris]

I sent some galvanized parts to a galvanizing company that their core business was for roadside guardrails and fence post. The results were a total disaster. I guess like a lot of plating and coatings there are several different types but when I got the parts back they looked nothing like what FORD did. I even stopped by a couple of other plating shops to see what kind of coating was on these parts originally and they also thought it was galvanized. One of the most difficult part of a correct restoration is getting all of the correct plating that was done on the car as there is so many types and probably some obsolete methods as well. JEFF, the parts you did look nice and a lot easier than trying to chase down someone to do it and even if they can are willing to do just a batch of small parts.  CHRIS

[sparky65]

Thanks for the idea.  I think you posted this before because I used a variation of this process on my floor plugs.  Instead of starting with plated parts I painted it one of the shades and let it dry.  Then I played with the layering and daubing.  I cant say it looked as nice but for the plugs I think it was fine. 

[J_Speegle]

Thanks for the idea.  I think you posted this before because I used a variation of this process on my floor plugs.  Instead of starting with plated parts I painted it one of the shades and let it dry.  Then I played with the layering and daubing.  I cant say it looked as nice but for the plugs I think it was fine.

We did an earlier mention in a thread but now that we can add some pdf articles to the Library figured it would not hurt to post a new thread

[67gta289]

I talked to an engineer at Voigt & Schweitzer today about hot dip galvanizing and he says that galvanizing thin stamped brackets and plates is problematic because the zinc is at about 830 degrees F and will warp the bracket or plate.  He also stated that the original parts were stamped out of rolled steel that was already galvanized, which makes sense.  I guess that one of the variations of faux finishing is the only way to go for restoration of originally galvanized parts.