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Author Topic: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles  (Read 2113 times)

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John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

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Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« on: November 28, 2017, 01:25:20 PM »

Have any melnetters tried getting these restored, rechromed, or any other such measures?

SJ
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playandteach

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2017, 04:39:44 PM »

I know someone local who sent his accordion grille away for rechroming. He was delighted with the result, said it only cost £60. So if that's the sort of money you're happy to pay I can get a number.
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Theo

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2017, 05:12:27 PM »

You can buy a new grill for a Hohner two row for about half that.
If you do go for me plating, think carefully before going for chrome. Most older instruments are nickel pated rather than chrome.  Chrome can look to brash on a vintage instrument.
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malcolmbebb

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2017, 06:30:12 PM »

I would imagine that a quiet chat with a local plating firm would yield some lower figures.

However, you need to look at the preparation. Plating won't hide the the rust holes and marks, they will still show,so you will need to get rid of the rust in the holes first. This would need to be done chemically.

Then you'd need to fill or reduce them and prepare the surface. I've heard of thick copper plating being used as a primer filler, don't know what else might be used. You'll then need to polish it down to the finish that you want, bearing in mind that every imperfection will show. The final plating is very thin.
I prefer bright nickel plating to chrome anyway.

If a firm took a badly pitted grille and restored to "as new" for £60 I think that would be a very good deal, if you wanted to keep the original grille.
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rees

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2017, 06:58:22 PM »

I would imagine that a quiet chat with a local plating firm would yield some lower figures.

However, you need to look at the preparation. Plating won't hide the the rust holes and marks, they will still show,so you will need to get rid of the rust in the holes first. This would need to be done chemically.

Then you'd need to fill or reduce them and prepare the surface. I've heard of thick copper plating being used as a primer filler, don't know what else might be used. You'll then need to polish it down to the finish that you want, bearing in mind that every imperfection will show. The final plating is very thin.
I prefer bright nickel plating to chrome anyway.

If a firm took a badly pitted grille and restored to "as new" for £60 I think that would be a very good deal, if you wanted to keep the original grille.

Bang on, Malcolm. Way back in the day a friend of mine chrome-plated a badly pitted Hohner grille for me at his place of work.
The result looked worse than the original. Brashy brash with every pit-mark shining bright!
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Rog

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2017, 12:36:14 PM »

Hammerite is pretty good on rust isn't it?  >:E

Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2017, 04:03:52 PM »

Ooh! You are bad.
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Kimric Smythe

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2017, 05:17:48 PM »

 :neigh:I have had parts chromed and it is not cheap. The expense is the prep work.
 I just wrinkle finished one that was really bad and put a nice metal mesh fabric behind it to good effect.
« Last Edit: December 17, 2017, 05:19:33 PM by Kimric Smythe »
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Rob2Hook

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2017, 06:29:53 PM »

I'm afraid I'm with Kimric on this.  Restoration to original finish is not cost effective.  The "negative" version, spraying the grille black and using a contrasting cloth works very well.  If you really want something closer to the original, after cleaning off the rust you can fill the surface and rub it back to a good finish and spray it with car wheel paint - that works well with a dark cloth as well as a more original style natural colour.

Rob.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2017, 10:44:31 AM by Rob2Hook »
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NickF

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2017, 07:42:30 AM »

Has anyone tried powder coating? I've not, but understand you have to be careful with screw-holes and the like as they can get filled in. Not sure the finish would be "appropriate" however...
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Kimric Smythe

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2017, 05:25:49 PM »

Powder coating would fill in the pits alright but is a bit extreme. I have had good luck with automotive paint if I wanted colors or off wights to match some of the old hohner piano grills. Priming and sanding would smooth the pits out a bit too.
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Winston Smith

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2017, 05:33:31 PM »

Being a bit of a Philistine, I'd be tempted to leave the pits in, they're part of the instrument's story after all. I've seen you in the video, Sir John, and I don't imagine that you'd like to be ground and sanded to change the characterful features which you've taken years to develop!
Just a thought.
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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2017, 06:00:42 PM »

Not sure about powder coating but I think Chrome plating is far too bright. Nickel plating is much softer.
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Broadland Boy

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2017, 02:09:39 PM »

Hammerite is pretty good on rust isn't it?  >:E

Not the new formulation Roger  >:(  (OK if you still have some 'old stock')
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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2017, 09:59:41 PM »

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John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

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Re: Restoring badly pitted metal grilles
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2017, 09:58:50 AM »

Best thing to do with Coke.

SJ
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: Hohner Club Modell 1. Bb/Eb, de-clubbed : Early Hohner Pressed Wood A/D : 1930's Varnished wood G/C:  Hohner Erika C/F: Bandoneon tuned D/G Pressed wood: Koch F/Bb; G/C Pre Corso
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