Anodised plastic restoration. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Sideband · 29th May 2008, 3:39 pm

Has anyone got any ideas/tips for restoring anodised plastic? I don't think this is particularly easy and some sort of 'passable substitute' would have to be acheived. What I have is a Philips AM/FM tuner made in 1968 which I bought second-hand for £15 in 1974. It's been in fairly regular use since then but has got rather 'tired' looking over the last few years.

The brushed ally front doesn't look too bad but the anodising around the trim is all but worn off. Having given me something like 34 years of faithful service with only minor problems, it would be good to restore it to back to something like original.

Rich.

Sideband · 29th May 2008, 6:50 pm

Forgot to attach a picture. This shows the worn anodising.

Rich.

dseymo1 · 30th May 2008, 7:50 am

I don't think it's anodised, but plated after a conducting coating has been applied to the component.
There are DIY kits available to do this from scratch, but unless you have quite a lot to refurbish, these wouldn't be cost-effective. Perhaps an approach to one of the people who will plate mobile phones and the like would be fruitful.
A reasonable bodge, on the other hand, would be to cover the trim with bright silver adhesive film, available from decent hobby / craft / art shops.

mastermanx2001 · 30th May 2008, 9:52 am

It looks like that chrome plated moulding is OK on one section, the almost horizontal section is bad. Thought about painting that satin black, not easy over peeling chrome, then thought about covering just (that section) with thin black leathercloth type material, it would have to be cut accurately (not that difficult) so as to look good. The push button knobs are no that bad. I think that the just the leathercloth would tidy it up a lot. Still, it may not be your cup of tea!

Brian R Pateman · 30th May 2008, 12:09 pm

A little while ago we had this (now archived) thread;

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ead.php?t=6175

on the related subject of plastic badges with chrome finish.

Regards,

Sideband · 30th May 2008, 7:06 pm

Thanks for the ideas so far guys

. I'd forgotten that tip using kitchen foil which could be one thing to try and I'll also check out the chrome paint. Maybe chrome paint with varnish...assuming one will not attack the other

!

Rich.

Geoff 555 · 1st Jun 2008, 11:29 am

Hi I guess this might be in the experimental category more than anything else, but possibly food for thought. We were experimenting with plating things such as leaves and flowers and all sorts of things and this was done by coating whatever with graphite powder and putting it into a bath with a copper sulphate solution and a copper plate this was connected across a battery, once copper plated then it was plated with nickel and from memory silver as well. Well it was over 50 years ago so memory is a bit hazy but it did work quite well. I am sure that people much more knowledgeable than I may be able to expand on this.
Cheers.
Geoff.

dseymo1 · 1st Jun 2008, 9:41 pm

Unfortunately, chromium plating is more involved (and hazardous) than copper plating! Plating leaves, etc is great fun, though.

29th May 2008, 3:39 pm	#1
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,571	Anodised plastic restoration. Has anyone got any ideas/tips for restoring anodised plastic? I don't think this is particularly easy and some sort of 'passable substitute' would have to be acheived. What I have is a Philips AM/FM tuner made in 1968 which I bought second-hand for £15 in 1974. It's been in fairly regular use since then but has got rather 'tired' looking over the last few years. The brushed ally front doesn't look too bad but the anodising around the trim is all but worn off. Having given me something like 34 years of faithful service with only minor problems, it would be good to restore it to back to something like original. Rich. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

29th May 2008, 6:50 pm	#2
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,571	Re: Anodised plastic restoration. Forgot to attach a picture. This shows the worn anodising. Rich. Attached Thumbnails __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

30th May 2008, 7:50 am	#3
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Anodised plastic restoration. I don't think it's anodised, but plated after a conducting coating has been applied to the component. There are DIY kits available to do this from scratch, but unless you have quite a lot to refurbish, these wouldn't be cost-effective. Perhaps an approach to one of the people who will plate mobile phones and the like would be fruitful. A reasonable bodge, on the other hand, would be to cover the trim with bright silver adhesive film, available from decent hobby / craft / art shops.

30th May 2008, 9:52 am	#4
mastermanx2001 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, UK. Posts: 366	Re: Anodised plastic restoration. It looks like that chrome plated moulding is OK on one section, the almost horizontal section is bad. Thought about painting that satin black, not easy over peeling chrome, then thought about covering just (that section) with thin black leathercloth type material, it would have to be cut accurately (not that difficult) so as to look good. The push button knobs are no that bad. I think that the just the leathercloth would tidy it up a lot. Still, it may not be your cup of tea!

30th May 2008, 12:09 pm	#5
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: Anodised plastic restoration. A little while ago we had this (now archived) thread; https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ead.php?t=6175 on the related subject of plastic badges with chrome finish. Regards, __________________ Brian

30th May 2008, 7:06 pm	#6
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,571	Re: Anodised plastic restoration. Thanks for the ideas so far guys . I'd forgotten that tip using kitchen foil which could be one thing to try and I'll also check out the chrome paint. Maybe chrome paint with varnish...assuming one will not attack the other ! Rich. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

1st Jun 2008, 11:29 am	#7
Geoff 555 Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 981	Re: Anodised plastic restoration. Hi I guess this might be in the experimental category more than anything else, but possibly food for thought. We were experimenting with plating things such as leaves and flowers and all sorts of things and this was done by coating whatever with graphite powder and putting it into a bath with a copper sulphate solution and a copper plate this was connected across a battery, once copper plated then it was plated with nickel and from memory silver as well. Well it was over 50 years ago so memory is a bit hazy but it did work quite well. I am sure that people much more knowledgeable than I may be able to expand on this. Cheers. Geoff.

1st Jun 2008, 9:41 pm	#8
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Anodised plastic restoration. Unfortunately, chromium plating is more involved (and hazardous) than copper plating! Plating leaves, etc is great fun, though.