VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Resilvering Headlight Reflectors

I finally got around to resilvering the headlight refectors on my '26 Chev Touring. I bought a silver "Plug N' Plate Brush Plating kit. This kit consists of a bottle of solution, a wand and a small power source. I was pleasantly surprised how well it actually worked. You first need to polish the reflector really well and then degrease it. To do the plating you simply dip the wand, which is covered with a cloth bandage and is connectoed to the + side of the power source in the solution, and brush it back and forth on the reflector surface which is connected to the - side of the power source. The silver transfers from the solution on to the metal surface. It took only 20 - 30 minutes to do a reflector. I think I have enough solution to do three or four more sets. I've attached some pictures. You can see that the reflectors were down to the brass.

Man that looks real good. I may have to try that on mine as well. You might post the full manufacturers name and web site if you would please.

Excellent Job Arend,

Would love to get the details also.

Cheers

Ray

Here is a link to Caswell Plating it looks like what he posted. http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/brush-plating-products/plug-n-plate-kits.html

Yes, I got the kit from Caswells (Canada). The cost in Canada is $57 plus shipping. The cost in USA is 49.99 plus shipping. The product number is SKU: PNPSLV35. Once you have the basic kit you can buy addition solution and do as many items as you want. You can also buy kits for many other metals. Most are cheaper but gold is more expensive, of course. Silver does tarnish after awhile but I waxed my reflectors with metal wax which they also sell.

Hi Arend,

I would invite you to join the VCCA. When you become a member you could write an article on "How to" re-silver the reflectors for publication in the G&D.

Actually he has already written three articles that were published in the G&D. They were reprints from a club newsletter that the G&D was given rights to print. I agree he needs to be a VCCA member and now that there are other options for membership it might be something he can justify.

I cleaned my 31 reflectors ten years ago with TARNI-SHIELD Silver Cleaner with anti-Tarnish Protector by 3M. They look as good now as when I first cleaned them. I used cotton balls for cleaning and polishing.

Thanks for pointing that out, Chipper. I have not joined up to this point because I felt that the $60 fee for Canadians and other International members was a bit steep. I also subcribe to other forums since I also have an Essex and a Whippet that I'm presently restoring. However I see that you now offer a $30 memebership with electronic newsletter only. This is much more affordable so I'll reconsider.
When I started restoring my '26 Chevy Touring about five years ago, I challenged myself to learn to do every step of the restoration process and to write about each challenge in the club newsletter that I have edited for the past five years. I have completed this restoration and the electroplating and resilvering were the last challenges. I plan to write about these experiences in the near future when I have space. I would be happy to have any of these articles reprinted in your newsletter. I also have two speaking engagements lined up with two different Woodworking clubs where I will be doing presentations on the subject of "Woodworking and Antique Car Restoration". My work on the Chevy will be a big part of that presentation.