How best to restore ashtray

mickeykelley

mickeykelley

Well Oiled
Sep 9, 2015
4,164
Republic of Texas
First Name
Mickey
Willys Model
  1. Wagon
  2. CJ
Willys Year:
  1. 1955
  2. 1958
I'm starting to slowly start on Wilbur the wagon after getting Willie the CJ going. One of the things I'd like to accomplish is returning the ashtray, which was full of 64 years of cigarette use, etc. I plan to re-chrome the outside, but what's best way to handle the inside. I'd like to take it back to factory look, but I don't think painting is the issue. So suggestions.
 
I sent the inside of my ash tray to the powder coater when I had enough pieces to make the trip. Once coated, I put a piece of felt on the bottom... and it's my change tray... also holds my flash USB drive with 64MB of music.
 
jfcroni said:
I sent the inside of my ash tray to the powder coater when I had enough pieces to make the trip. Once coated, I put a piece of felt on the bottom... and it's my change tray... also holds my flash USB drive with 64MB of music.
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Here's a pic
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Is there a good way to get the front piece off of the box? Mine is very tight and the screws seem soft, I am afraid that I will just tear up the screw heads.

Steve
 
steve.bright said:
Is there a good way to get the front piece off of the box? Mine is very tight and the screws seem soft, I am afraid that I will just tear up the screw heads.

Steve
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Start soaking in a rust penetrating oil; Liquid Wrench, Blaster, et al.
 
Do all the soaking as stated.... if they do break... drill and tap them before you send them in for chrome. You'll likely see a bit of this during the restoration process. Also, sometimes a use part will be cheaper that restoring one that's in bad shape.
 
jfcroni said:
I sent the inside of my ash tray to the powder coater when I had enough pieces to make the trip. Once coated, I put a piece of felt on the bottom... and it's my change tray... also holds my flash USB drive with 64MB of music.
Click to expand...
I did the same thing.
 
I have complete ashtray assemblies that need rechrome if that helps


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In talking to a chrome plater today, he says the insides were originally cadmium platted. He said there is a guy in his town that he takes stuff to for that kind of platting, but he has a $200 Anyone interested in possibly doing a shared process?
 
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mickeykelley said:
In talking to a chrome plater today, he says the insides were originally cadmium platted. He said there is a guy in his town that he takes stuff to for that kind of plotting, but he has a $200 Anyone interested in possibly doing a shared process?
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Look up the hazards of cad plating. You are not even supposed to handle cad plated parts without gloves. Even worse for children. Have it zinc plated to look like cad plating. You could paint it with chrome paint or use silver "Rub n Buff" from an art store like Michaels. The latter is widely used in Rolls Royce circles on concurs cars for hard to plate items.
 
cwdtmmrs said:
use silver "Rub n Buff" .........The latter is widely used in Rolls Royce circles on concurs cars for hard to plate items.
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Really?? The wife has used it on various things over the years, but I never dreamed to use it on something like this. It would certainly be less expensive. I'll have to read up the plating issues. I've cleaned mine out pretty good but they still look horrible and some smell left. May have to blast them to get rid of that or will that create issues?

Does anyone know if the guy is right as to what they were originally? As I recall, they all had that dark, dull gray coloring, from Pontiac to Chevy to Willys to everything I can remember.
 
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mickeykelley said:
Really?? The wife has used it on various things over the years, but I never dreamed to use it on something like this. It would certainly be less expensive.
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Would I lie to you? It is a wax based dye that looks exactly like cad plating and will last for years. It it is good for a $600K Rolls, it is good enough for a Willys.
 
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