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TR2/3/3A Top and bottom windscreen trim - TR3A

tmc

Senior Member
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I'm getting ready to take my TR3A bumpers, and trim parts to a chrome plater in Denver. The windscreen stanchions are made of steel, it appears, because my magnet sticks to them. What are the top and bottom trim pieces on the windscreen made of? I thought it was brass, but don't know for sure. The plater says they won't do any plating on "anything but steel".
 
They vary. A very few were aluminum, most were plated brass I believe. The aluminum ones take a special Tenax peg that goes all the way through the frame: if you can't see a slot behind the Tenax peg then it's probably brass.
 
I can't tell you for sure what they are made of but very carefull if the platers can't identify what material a part is. A part could go in the cleaning solution and not come out. My frame is being done as we speek, just wondering what they want to charge you? Mine is costing $245.00 for both pieces.
 
mallard said:
I can't tell you for sure what they are made of but very carefull if the platers can't identify what material a part is. A part could go in the cleaning solution and not come out. My frame is being done as we speek, just wondering what they want to charge you? Mine is costing $245.00 for both pieces.

They haven't quoted me a price on those parts yet They want to see the pieces first. Otherwise, $200 for the bumper bar, $60-$65 each for the overriders/bumperrettes. That includes any straightening, dent removal, etc. that they need, which in my case isn't much. The windshield top and bottom piece "sorta" attract my magnet, which makes them brass, in my book. The stanchions definitely do. I'll bet the pricing is close to what you experienced. We'll see.
 
TR3driver said:
They vary. A very few were aluminum, most were plated brass I believe. The aluminum ones take a special Tenax peg that goes all the way through the frame: if you can't see a slot behind the Tenax peg then it's probably brass.

I think mine are plated brass. I can't imagine why they wouldn't work with them, as part of the chroming process is laying on a brass base before the chrome. We shall see!
 
tmc said:
I can't imagine why they wouldn't work with them, as part of the chroming process is laying on a brass base before the chrome. We shall see!
Actually, I believe it's pure copper, rather than brass (which is roughly 1/3 zinc). I don't know what effect if any that would have on the plating process, but it certainly could change things. For example, I believe it's common to use an acid bath just prior to the plating bath, but acid will attack the zinc much faster than copper.
 
TR3driver said:
tmc said:
I can't imagine why they wouldn't work with them, as part of the chroming process is laying on a brass base before the chrome. We shall see!
Actually, I believe it's pure copper, rather than brass (which is roughly 1/3 zinc). I don't know what effect if any that would have on the plating process, but it certainly could change things. For example, I believe it's common to use an acid bath just prior to the plating bath, but acid will attack the zinc much faster than copper.

My memory isn't what it used to be. Just saw an aside on an episode of "Rides" a week or so ago where they summarized the chrome plating process........but that was long ago as far as my memory banks are concerned!
 
Isn't copper too soft to be used to make a windshield frame? Brass sounds more likely but I'll see if Piggott's Originality Guide discusses this and let you all know...
 
Er, I meant the coating used during chrome plating was copper, not the windshield frame.
 
Took my TR3A parts to the plater (Denver Bumper) today. He was certain the windshield posts and trim were made of brass........been doing chrome plating for many years! $305 for both posts and the trim pieces. $470 for the bumper bar and 4 overriders/bumperettes.
 
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