FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi all

I am just wondering whether a good set of bumpers that people have stripped have contained evidence of copper plating as the base. Mine don't seem to have been copper struck first, just Nickel plated over bare metal.

I am not sure but does anyone know of any inconsistencies of the process and if some states were better at it than others.

hi ,I have just tonight dismantled original bumpers for rechroming and I filed back a few places after knocking out a couple of dents and yes there was plenty of copper under chrome ,Gary

Thanks Gaz, where was your car made mate. Ill have a look at the others I have when I get the chance. I was hoping to be able to use some of the base, but they are very shagged. I should test the bumperettes tomoz, that will tell the story.

My overriders have copper showing in some places. Car is a Sydney build - August 57.

Cheers, Ken

Ill get my other one out of the stripping tank tomoz. ill have a look. thanks.

                                                                                                                         
Deano,the bar may have been rechromed before at some stage, depending on where they have been redone would be a factor as some states do not allow coppering to be done. This would explain the lack of copper on your bars.                                           

Regards Jim

I think Jim is on the money.
I had mine rechromed on my FC wagon about 8 years ago. The chromer said they were original chrome because they still had the copper underneath when he striped them. He tried to strip as little as possible so he could retain the old copper under the new chrome. I asked him why he couldn't just recopper them and he said he isn't allowed to anymore. That was 8 years ago.
Because he didn't strip them completely they came out wavey, so he ended up restipping them properly and doing it again.
Apparently the law had only just changed and they were trying to find ways of keeping the copper.
I know nothing myself about the process, I do remember the conversation because it was an experiment, and because it failed.

Pinky.

Gee I dont know why it is illegal, I havent heard of it, Ill copper strike it myself, I think these are originals though, just very badly rusted throughout. Ill see what the bumperettes are like. I think they tell people this cos its getting rid of the waste that is an issue, but chrome is far more dangerous as a bi product than copper. Farmers put tons of copper in the soil every year to condition it. Doesnt really make sense to me  :P

Delano, I think you are ok in Victoria, I have the name of a place that does restorations & rechroming at home  I'll send you the details when I get back.
Jim

hi,i have taken my bumpers for rechroming and the man showed me the process which jncludes stripping completely,repairing dents ,filling rusted areas with bronze I think he said ,if needed,replating with copper checking and reparing any slight imperfections and chroming,he showed me recoppered EH bumpers he was working on before chroming .This is what I am paying for and expect.This is in NSW