Info needed: Re-silvering Headlamp Reflectors

[Lynn Eades]

BTW, Macs sell the cork seal strip that goes in the rim of the reflector. The glass sits against it. That was good.

[Bob Carriere]

In manufacturing regular mirrors the silvering is done on the back side them it it coated (shellack?) to prevent tarnishing. In old antique mirrors the coating starts to deteriorate near the edges.

In fancy optical mirrors the silvering is done to the top surface, so as not to have any distortion from the glass thickness..... these require constant special handling ....again some form of sealer must be applied to prevent tarnishing.

In the cab 11 Chev/Ford headlights and also the 1942/46 Chev headlights the reflector is tarnished silver on the inside and brass "looking" on the back side.

Mac's old catalogue makes mention of plating but do not indicate silver plating or chrome finish.

In any event, where the original 1940 era reflectors plated or "silvered"????

The chemicals for silvering are rather nasty BUT would it be possible to replate them in silver....???? what solution would be required? any lest nasty than "silvering"...... Once plated would the reflectors need extensive polishing with a variety of jewelry compounds on a buffer wheel(s)..... and then sealed??

Since I have a number of tarnished reflectors it sounds like a nice Winter project ..........

I will recruit Grant on the search for the necessary chemicals for silver plating...... plastic tank, DC current and voila!!!!! there goes the family silverware for anodes!!!! or is it cathode?

AS a point of interest, years ago, I purchased a complete cab 11 headlight with the hooded steel lens cover...... when I took it apart I discovered that that bottom half of the reflector had been " hurriedly" painted with flat black paint......so only the top half of the reflector actually pushed light out directly under the external hood.

Comments / suggestions welcomed.


PS<<<<<first road block...plating solution is potassium cyanide...... and improperly used can generate cyanide gas!!!! not a basement project........
..............>>>>>>> still exploring other less lethal solutions ........

[Lynn Eades]

That sounds like a solid road block Bob.

BTW, They were silvered. Check an old one.

[Bob Carriere]

....and chrome "anything" as become a four letter word...... nickel????


Not giving up yet......Grant has found some info I need to read up on.....

We have used strong lye solutions in 45 gallons plastic drums to derust axles with a bunch of DC batteries and chargers...... it works extremely well..... out in the open and not in the house basement...... and we live in a rural area.

Not giving up yet...... the web is a wonderful place to surf on cool evenings.

[Lynn Eades]

....and chrome "anything" as become a four letter word...... nickel????
And lets not forget hydrogen embrittlement........

[Owen Evans]

Has anyone tried this stuff?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-UNUR7NXk

Looks like it may work, but not sure about long term? Think it's probably better to pay out and get it done properly. Besides, my parents told me never to trust a man in a purple shirt!

Owen.

[Tony Smith]

I have a General Electric Carbon-Arc searchlight and the reflector dish is Rhodium plated. There are a few spatter spots from burning carbon rods and I have looked into getting it re-plated, but apparently Rhodium is a rare metal these days worth about 5 times the price of gold.

I found that Auto-Sol aluminium polish does a good job in the meantime to bring up a brilliant reflective surface.