Is Studebaker chrome...really chrome...or just nickle plate ? Chrome plating of steel is a three step process.
1. Copper (soft, for smoothing light imperfections and giving the Nickle plate a good base to adhear to.
2. Nickle (soft, the "Bright" part of the equasion, kind of a yellowish color)
3. Chrome (hard, to protect the nickle plate...and give the finished product that blueish tint that most like so well. The thicker the chrome plate, the darker or blue'er the finished surface is.
In messing with my 54 wagon this past weekend, I found the front bumpers "chrome" plate to be VERY soft. I have two other bumpers that I believe to be "not" replated...same thing...soft plateing, same with the rear bumpers.
The bumpers on my other 54 have been replated, they have a MUCH harder plating.
I know that decorative chrome is in the 65/72Rc hardness range. This old Stude stuff isn't even close, more like paint..!
I've read about the Studebaker chrome from different locaals being softer...chrome is chrome.. While there are different chrome alloys, only one is used for "decorative" (automobile usage), and it's all hard, even if it's thin..
I'm guessing that 1, because of the basic color, and 2 because of the apparent hardness (or lack of), that the Stude "chrome" is only a nickle plate with no real chrome on top of it.
It seems that the Stude chrome is the opposite of the hugely hard, Stude blocks cranks and heads...kidding....!
Mike
1. Copper (soft, for smoothing light imperfections and giving the Nickle plate a good base to adhear to.
2. Nickle (soft, the "Bright" part of the equasion, kind of a yellowish color)
3. Chrome (hard, to protect the nickle plate...and give the finished product that blueish tint that most like so well. The thicker the chrome plate, the darker or blue'er the finished surface is.
In messing with my 54 wagon this past weekend, I found the front bumpers "chrome" plate to be VERY soft. I have two other bumpers that I believe to be "not" replated...same thing...soft plateing, same with the rear bumpers.
The bumpers on my other 54 have been replated, they have a MUCH harder plating.
I know that decorative chrome is in the 65/72Rc hardness range. This old Stude stuff isn't even close, more like paint..!
I've read about the Studebaker chrome from different locaals being softer...chrome is chrome.. While there are different chrome alloys, only one is used for "decorative" (automobile usage), and it's all hard, even if it's thin..
I'm guessing that 1, because of the basic color, and 2 because of the apparent hardness (or lack of), that the Stude "chrome" is only a nickle plate with no real chrome on top of it.
It seems that the Stude chrome is the opposite of the hugely hard, Stude blocks cranks and heads...kidding....!
Mike
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