? Filler material for steel under chrome plating

[wayne petty]

a question for the members

is there a filler material to fill carved out pot holes in sheet metal that was chromed...  but has been stripped and is needing to be rechromed but the road rash of pot holes is hindering the process..

something that could be applied with a TIG welder??? or a micro torch.. or even to surface the entire material.. like you would tin something with solder..

that would allow one to smooth the entire surface again..

i know that brazing rod will not work..

but i recall that there were other types of bronze rod..

aluminum bronze.. or silicone bronze..

my thoughts are on chromed stamped sheet metal chevy grills from the late 40s..  but this could be used on later steel parts also..  i know that new ones are usually available..

[tom36]

I had some holes in a pair of bumpers that I had filled with silicon bronze and then had the bumpers rechromed.  Still have the car and the bumpers have held up well.  Tom...

[enjenjo]

I've filled pits in bumpers with brass, and chromed over it no problem. There are solders you can use too. When filling with solder, they usually plate with copper, solder the pits, buff, and replate with copper.

[Digger]

I have used brazing rod many times and plated over it with no problems.
I'm not so sure you can't use body lead or tinning lead and chrome over it. I think  the best shot is to talk to a plater.

[idrivejunk]

As the others mentioned, there may be solders or brazing rod that works fine. Copper plating is the "filler" step in chrome plating, also as mentioned. Is there any reason why you can't put little welds on them?

[1800guy]

I don't have the link, but check out Jay Leno's Garage on YouTube, and then look for the spray chrome story.  They did a chrome hood ornament  that was nasty, and I believe they used Dura-Glas or similar to smooth it out.  Yup - I was doubting too before I watched it.

[wayne petty]

I don't have the link, but check out Jay Leno's Garage on YouTube, and then look for the spray chrome story.  They did a chrome hood ornament  that was nasty, and I believe they used Dura-Glas or similar to smooth it out.  Yup - I was doubting too before I watched it.

here is the LINK..

cool stuff...

i saw justin biebers fiskers karma in chrome finish drive past last week while i was pounding down a jumbojack at  sunset and cahuenga down the street.. wow.. what a finish..

there was one of the chrysler factory build roadsters with that same chrome on it sitting next to sunset and gower studios.. also looked good.. except for the big green sticker on the drivers window where the car had been booted by parking enforcement.   i would imagine that it might also look good on a delorean.. instead of the brushed stainless steel finish..  give it more of the back to the future look.


i get to work on a LOT of cars.. and ask about more.. in person and online.. i got ask by my upholstery mans widow about finishing her husbands project...  but the his grown sons took over the project..  there was a LOT of pits that needed to be repaired in the chromed pieces..

i have not gotten a chance to get over to my favorite chrome shop just over in west hollywood ..  there is new construction next door so its a pain to park..

i sent them a lady i met with a pealing chrome stove top... man.. she called me back afterwards.. they were so glad to see something OTHER than a car part..

thanks for the answers guys.. keep them coming..

knowledge is power...

[Harry]

Silver solder with a small torch.