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Topic: Old cast endplates |
Skip Mertz
From:
N.C. (deceased)
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 8:05 am |
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| I'm restoring a cpl early 60s Sho-Buds and on one the endplates have alot of pits (common, I understand with this era casting sometime) they have been proffesionally sanded and polished. I was wondering if there is a way to chrome plate to fill in these pits? |
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Ed Naylor
From:
portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 8:16 am
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| In the past I have solved this problem. You can weld over the spots then resand and polish. This doesn't always work because of the aluminumn content in the casting.Sometimes you can sand them down but, then you possibly expose more "Pits".The "ALMAG" content really determines the "Smoothness" of the casting. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works |
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Skip Mertz
From:
N.C. (deceased)
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 9:08 am
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| Thanks Ed, I think they may have been sanded too much. I'm gonna check with a chrome plater to see what can be done. I also have a frien w CNC machines who I might ask to make new ones |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 9:22 am
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I don't know the answer to your question, but if I were you, I'd find the best plating company in town, and ask them. In my experience, the best platers are the guys who do motorcycle plating.
JB |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 9:22 am
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| Chrome plating will not fill pits, in fact it will make them look worse. One trick I've heard of was to drill and tap a hole in the pit, screw in an aluminum screw, and grind and sand it flush. Another method is to pound an aluminum rod into the hole, then grind and sand it. |
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Ed Naylor
From:
portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 12:18 pm
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| For what it is worth- my advice is to just wet sand w/440 or 600 paper and polish. The expense of having new plates made is unreal and will not be worth it. Lets face it- you have a 30 year old guitar and it won't make that much difference. Ed |
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Skip Mertz
From:
N.C. (deceased)
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 12:49 pm
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| thanks guys |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 25 Sep 2003 4:15 pm
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| With a high-speed buffing wheel, and the right technique, small pits can sometimes be made to disappear. The heat generated by the buffing wheel actually "smears" the metal to fill small voids. The technique requires finesse, and the results will vary somewhat, depending on the the hardness of the aluminum. |
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