Pot Metal
- Thread starter 66bluepony
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HistoricMustang
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If they are recromed by a good shop they should last a long time. If they don't do a good job with pitting they will probably look like crap. From what I've read some companies use lead in the pot metal to help with the casting process (think lubricant between the pot metal and die). The lead is what will pit. To fix the pits they need to be sand blasted and filled with either solder or special metal fillers like "metal lab".
Another option would be to have them powdercoated. Eastwood has a couple chrome formulas. I am restoring a 73 cuda for my mom and I am going to try this route first. I will try to remember to post the results.
Another option would be to have them powdercoated. Eastwood has a couple chrome formulas. I am restoring a 73 cuda for my mom and I am going to try this route first. I will try to remember to post the results.
Generally, lead and zinc (pot metal) don't mix. What I've learned from bullet casting, is you can add a small amount of zinc to a lead alloy and get a mix. But anything over about 1% ( if I recall correctly) and you have a mess on your hands. The lead alloy will only absorb that small amount, the rest coagulates in the melting pot and screws up further casting efforts. So, in casting zinc parts, I doubt lead helps at all. Tin helps in casting lead alloys, it lowers the surface tension and you get a finer detail in the small parts, might work the same in zinc casting.ericl said:
I can tell you the mixing properties of lead and zinc ion a sec, let me look up the phase diagram right quick though
hmm whaddaya know, seems to be one of the only major phase diagrams I DONT have in my materials book, and one of the few I cannot readily acces via internet, even though tehre are tons of referances, but they are all in publications Icant access without passwords. :/
hmm whaddaya know, seems to be one of the only major phase diagrams I DONT have in my materials book, and one of the few I cannot readily acces via internet, even though tehre are tons of referances, but they are all in publications Icant access without passwords. :/
D.Hearne said:Generally, lead and zinc (pot metal) don't mix. What I've learned from bullet casting, is you can add a small amount of zinc to a lead alloy and get a mix. But anything over about 1% ( if I recall correctly) and you have a mess on your hands. The lead alloy will only absorb that small amount, the rest coagulates in the melting pot and screws up further casting efforts. So, in casting zinc parts, I doubt lead helps at all. Tin helps in casting lead alloys, it lowers the surface tension and you get a finer detail in the small parts, might work the same in zinc casting.
You might be right. That was 2nd hand info I found on a metal finishing forum while researching how to deal with pits.
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you would be crazy to rechrome the tail light bezels on a '66 mustang. you can buy original chrome parts from states like arizona that look almost new and cost far less than rechromed parts. i've only rechromed stuff for 50's and earlier cars, and thats only because i couldn't find reproduction (or nice original) parts.
