Is This Bumper Sellable, or Junk?
February 24th, 2013, 04:08 PM
#1
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Is This Bumper Sellable, or Junk?
I've been trying to sell this 65 Cutlass rear bumper for $25 as a core. Somebody just told me they thought that the rusty bumpers are not re-chromeable. Anyone know for sure? I'd rather recycle it to scrap metal than be flogging a dead horse.
Thanks
P.S. I'm not using this thread as a sales tool, this is only informational.
Thanks
P.S. I'm not using this thread as a sales tool, this is only informational.
February 24th, 2013, 05:11 PM
#3
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It doesn't have any holes in it, just surface rust, but it is a little deep in some spots. the fellow I was speaking to today told me cores with rust just go into scrap metal. Maybe it's too much work to smooth the bumpers out once the rust starts eating into them. I don't know if the chrome would fill the small depressions, or if the shops have a way of dealing this sort of thing.
February 24th, 2013, 05:33 PM
#5
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To chrome plate a surface, it has to shine like a mirror first, before the chrome goes on.
If it's slightly pitted, it can be ground and polished (which, done badly, is the source of most of the crappiness of crappy chrome jobs), but if the pits are too deep, it may not be worth the trouble, or may cause the finished piece to be too thin.
- Eric
If it's slightly pitted, it can be ground and polished (which, done badly, is the source of most of the crappiness of crappy chrome jobs), but if the pits are too deep, it may not be worth the trouble, or may cause the finished piece to be too thin.
- Eric
February 24th, 2013, 05:50 PM
#6
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Location: southeastern Michigan
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Take it to a chrome-plating shop and ask them.
The condition of the backside of the bumper doesn't matter, I don't think, as long as the bumper is not rusted through, because no chrome is put there.
I think the degree of rust on the front side is what matters. If it's not too deep, it can probably be sanded smooth. If it's too deep, the metal will end up too thin as Eric says. But the definitive answer will come from a shop that does this every day and not us folks on here, none of whom has ever rechromed a bumper in our lives.
The condition of the backside of the bumper doesn't matter, I don't think, as long as the bumper is not rusted through, because no chrome is put there.
I think the degree of rust on the front side is what matters. If it's not too deep, it can probably be sanded smooth. If it's too deep, the metal will end up too thin as Eric says. But the definitive answer will come from a shop that does this every day and not us folks on here, none of whom has ever rechromed a bumper in our lives.
February 24th, 2013, 06:24 PM
#7
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A good chrome plater would make it rust free to start then fill in the blemishes with copper until it was perfect. The copper plating could take several coatings until everything was filled in. I've seen parts in much worse shape than your bumper get redone. Just depends how much money you want to spend.
This site explains the process very well. http://www.paulschrome.com/
This site explains the process very well. http://www.paulschrome.com/
Last edited by TripDeuces; February 25th, 2013 at 06:23 AM.
February 25th, 2013, 04:47 AM
#10
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A good chrome plater would make it rust free to start then fill in the blemishes with copper until it was perfect. The copper plating could take several coatings until everything was filled in. I've parts in much worse shape then your bumper get redone. Just depends how much money you want to spend.
This site explains the process very well. http://www.paulschrome.com/
This site explains the process very well. http://www.paulschrome.com/
Enjoyed the link, too. Thanks.
February 25th, 2013, 06:47 AM
#11
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Good chrome costs money, there's no way around it. I made the mistake of getting a bumper from out west. Not sure if it was Desert Valley Auto Parts or Desert Dog. Either way, the chrome was decent but the bumper wasn't straight. It had been pushed up in the center like many are. For the $700 I spent I basically got nothing. I might be able to straighten it some way but I'm still going to need to rechrome it and repair another dent since my buddy backed into it with his truck 
I knew there was a reason I built that garage
I knew there was a reason I built that garage
February 26th, 2013, 12:52 AM
#14
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February 26th, 2013, 03:02 AM
#15
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I carried my 71-2 Chevelle front bumper up to Carlisle to sell to the bumper guy, I had talked to him at past meets. Before carring it into the fairgrounds I stopped and asked him about it, he had said ~$25 in the past. It was straight and very little rust. He said he would give me 10-15 bucks. I decided it wasn't worth the effort to carry it onto the grounds. So it went to the scrap yard. Sorry, but maybe a 65 Olds is rarer then my 71-2 Chevelle.
February 26th, 2013, 05:01 AM
#16
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Actually, I have three rear bumpers for my 442. I don't really want to spend any time on this. Just wanted to know if it was worth anything to anyone, and I think it's probably worth very little. If I have so many, probably so does everyone else. Maybe it's the front bumpers that are getting hard to find. Only had two fronts, and one sold. I suspect this will be joining bkeese's bumper in the bin.
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