Pot Metal refinishing

[Buzzard]

Happy New Year everyone.
Well I'm at that stage of "in for a penny, in for a pound" on my '57 Clipper Wagon. My stainless trim polisher and bumper plater has a problem dealing with pot metal and quoted me an exorbitant price that I can ill afford (the '57 has lots of pot metal). I see in the web links a couple of pot metal restorers and wondered if anyone has any dealings and recommendations for the same.
Thanks again for any assistance.
Cheers, Bill

[52 Ragtop]

I've used Librandi's Plating in Pa. But, if you're looking for cheap, better not call them! They do beautiful work, and they charge for it.
You pretty much get what you pay for, and pay for what you get!

Jim

[rockne10]

I've been happy with Jerry Forrester, LiBrandi's and Pot Metal Restorations in Tallahassee. Todd LiBrandi recommended Pot Metal Restorations when my '53 grill surrounds were beyond his ability. And quality is not limited to these three. Many will receive endorsements.
You will not find a quality pot metal restorer cheap. Government regulation of the chemicals involved have made their craft incredibly expensive. The cheaper providers will just grind out the pits until all detail is lost. Short term savings--long term disappointment.

[kurtruk]

And if you didn't know, Jerry Forrester is a Stude guy on this forum.

[JBOYLE]

Anyone know of a firm that can repair or (more likely) recast a small pot metal part?

A fellow in the Stutz Club has a broken headlight bit....

[Xcalibur]

I too will concur that there is NO cheap AND good pot metal repair, as has been stated. Pro recasting is also expensive (unless prepared to go into the business of selling multiple copies), but for small pieces there are texts that go into great detail how to do such oneself.

[wdills]

I have used Librandi's a couple times and was very happy with the work. The price is not cheap.

[Hallabutt]

Bill,

This is one area that there are no do overs. Once a rare piece is ruined by someone who doesn't know what he is doing the alternatives are far more expensive then if you had done it right the first time! The horror stories abound, but sadly there is no shortage of people willing to ignore the evidence in an attempt to save a buck. Next to a poor paint job nothing will detract, from an otherwise quality restoration, more then poor chrome. You need to ask yourself what you expect from your restoration. Reputation for doing the job right is a hard earned and cherished in the industry, but it can be fleeting. Any platter is only as good as their polisher. The loss of a polisher can be disastrous, so find out who will be doing the work and try to work with him.

Since you are in BC I feel comfortable recommending two platters in the Seattle area:

Queen City Plating in Mukilteo, just north of Seattle is as good as there is anywhere. They have been in business since the 20's. They started in downtown Seattle, moving up north about twenty years ago. They seldom advertise because they don't have to, because the best don't have to advertise. They have done some work for me when other well respected platters had tried and failed. They will work with your schedule and there will be absolutely no surprises. Using Queen City is like buying an insurance policy, but the kicker is the cost.

Art Brass in Seattle can do great work and can turn out Pebble Beach quality chrome. This is where you will have to work with them, however, so that they know exactly what you expect. They are less expensive but you have to accept their schedule. You still might want to let QC take care of any heavily pitted problem pieces or you might want to do some of the labor intensive work yourself to save money.

It's worth a quote from whomever you choose. You could always mail it to them for a quote and maybe pick the parts up on your way back to BC. Good luck-Bill

[Buzzard]

Thanks for the leads, Hallabutt but I might have misled you a little. Although BC is our main home, we winter in west central Arizona (across the Colorado from Needles Calif on Route 66) and that is where the Clipper is being restored while we avoid the snow at home. I called Jerry Forrester but have yet to hook up with him. I am trying to make the car as it rolled out in 1957, not a Pebble Beach piece. I'll post where this leads.
Thanks for the info.
Bill

[acolds]

Studebaker International had some of the front hood and right and left fender chrome pot metal pieces and Packard letters NOS. The headlight door or rims which ever you prefer to call them seem to be easy to find at York and Reedsville. The hood bird I had done by Jerry Forrester looked great when he returned it also fast turn around. Check with motor cycle shops they usually have a shop that does small pieces like antenna masts

[57pack]

Studebaker International had some of the front hood and right and left fender chrome pot metal pieces and Packard letters NOS. The headlight door or rims which ever you prefer to call them seem to be easy to find at York and Reedsville. The hood bird I had done by Jerry Forrester looked great when he returned it also fast turn around. Check with motor cycle shops they usually have a shop that does small pieces like antenna masts

Yes, try SI! I bought both left and right headlamp doors and the Packard trademark grill top pieces NOS.
And they were way cheaper than replating.
I think they may have the left and right turn signal assemblies.
I should have bought them but I replated mine before I knew they may have them in stock.I paid big $$$

[1badstude]

As the saying goes good work is not cheep and cheep work is not good.