GC4 Restoration, NOS Piano black rails!

[trentfromtoledo]

Currently working on OS8' GC4, NOS Piano black rails. New Superspeeds, New Pockets Tournament Blue Simonis. Body and legs will be satin black. All metal will be metallic Silver powdercoating. GONNA BE SHARP. final pics after we install!

TFT

 

[gazman100]

Looking forward to your progress.
I love watching someone's journey from start to finish
I hope you don't get "out gassing " on your corner castings when powder coating.
It's the only thing stopping me from using non vein powder coating.
Cheers

 

[rexus31]

Looking forward to your progress.
I love watching someone's journey from start to finish
I hope you don't get "out gassing " on your corner castings when powder coating.
It's the only thing stopping me from using non vein powder coating.
Cheers

After several attempts, it can be done! The powder coater had to run a few pieces several times to get a good finish.

Almost Chrome Powder Coat:

Very close to the original clear anodized finish. I had the extruded aluminum rail trim polished and anodized. I was planning to do the same with the pocket castings but is was cost prohibitive ($900) and the shop told me older castings sometimes rainbow the finish and they could not guarantee the outcome so powder coat it was.

 

[gazman100]

Looks awesome well done !!!!

 

[rexus31]

Looks awesome well done !!!!

Thanks!

 

[xX-Wizard-Xx]

After several attempts, it can be done! The powder coater had to run a few pieces several times to get a good finish.

Almost Chrome Powder Coat:

Very close to the original clear anodized finish. I had the extruded aluminum rail trim polished and anodized. I was planning to do the same with the pocket castings but is was cost prohibitive ($900) and the shop told me older castings sometimes rainbow the finish and they could not guarantee the outcome so powder coat it was.

Nice

 

[trentfromtoledo]

First run, Alien Silver Prismatic powders. Great finish. The secret to powdercoating and the "outgassing" effect is solved by blasting the parts first, then putting them in the oven before coating. Cool, then coat, then bake. I am still not satisfied with the new company, they did a good job, but, its barely a business for them and its ALL business for me. Visiting 2 more shops this week to see what they offer. Prismatic powders has an applicator locator feature on their site!

TFT

 

[rexus31]

First run, Alien Silver Prismatic powders. Great finish. The secret to powdercoating and the "outgassing" effect is solved by blasting the parts first, then putting them in the oven before coating. Cool, then coat, then bake. I am still not satisfied with the new company, they did a good job, but, its barely a business for them and its ALL business for me. Visiting 2 more shops this week to see what they offer. Prismatic powders has an applicator locator feature on their site!

TFT

Looks good! This is hit and miss with the older castings from the 60's and 70's. My coater followed this practice but there were still micro imperfections. Unfortunately, the quality of the castings is hit and miss from Brunswick. The higher quality the casting, the less outgassing.

 

[iusedtoberich]

That combo looks great. It reminds me of the Metro color scheme.

 

[trentfromtoledo]

Looks good! This is hit and miss with the older castings from the 60's and 70's. My coater followed this practice but there were still micro imperfections. Unfortunately, the quality of the castings is hit and miss from Brunswick. The higher quality the casting, the less outgassing.

Yours were the aluminum, first gen ones right? the zinc "pot metal" replaced them quickly for obvious reasons $$$$$. (Side note: Doehler - Jarvis cast them here in TOLEDO!!! Cool story about Ken Hash and his "Brunswick refinishers", that happens to be just a mile from my house.)

I have never powder coated a set of the aluminum ones, they are able to be polished like the anny and cent castings. So are the rail trims.

That combo looks great. It reminds me of the Metro color scheme.

Was a fun project for sure and the client is HAPPY! I love the look: it looks BRAND new.

Blessed to have great clients!

TFT

 

[The_JV]

I have never powder coated a set of the aluminum ones, they are able to be polished like the anny and cent castings. So are the rail trims.

Have you ever considered electroplating...?

Can't remember why but I was digging into what it would take to get a nickle finish on an aluminum casting. If memory serves it amounted to sanding relatively smooth and then plating in copper first to fill in the imperfections prior to nickle plating.

From the short research I did, it's a process that can be done by a home gamer with minor effort.

 

[trentfromtoledo]

Have you ever considered electroplating...?

Can't remember why but I was digging into what it would take to get a nickle finish on an aluminum casting. If memory serves it amounted to sanding relatively smooth and then plating in copper first to fill in the imperfections prior to nickle plating.

From the short research I did, it's a process that can be done by a home gamer with minor effort.

As a pool player first, I very much dislike chrome or even the polished aluminum because of all the maintenance. Hold on though, I wont lie and say I dont like looking at it, its gorgeous to look at! But, I am part pool player and I know that stuff scratches like crazy!

A friend of mines Dad, was taking his turn as the leader of this local biker gang and we were out at an event at their compound. (not my normal thing, but was wild for sure, I dont drink) He showed us his best bike, it was badda$$ , it was all sleek black and CHROMED OUT> I made mention of how much I liked the chrome and the look,

he turned and looked very seriously at me and said " Chrome don't get ya home" and then went on to explain how much of a pain in the ass the bike was and had runnin issues. He told me about his regular bike and how much more he liked it.


Sorry to go off in left field, but, thats the way I feel about Chrome on a pool table. I wont go into my story about how chroming guys think their time is worth more than Doctors and how they will delay your project by 2-3 weeks minimum!

Have a GREAT DAY!

TFT

 

[The_JV]

As a pool player first, I very much dislike chrome or even the polished aluminum because of all the maintenance. Hold on though, I wont lie and say I dont like looking at it, its gorgeous to look at! But, I am part pool player and I know that stuff scratches like crazy!

A friend of mines Dad, was taking his turn as the leader of this local biker gang and we were out at an event at their compound. (not my normal thing, but was wild for sure, I dont drink) He showed us his best bike, it was badda$$ , it was all sleek black and CHROMED OUT> I made mention of how much I liked the chrome and the look,

he turned and looked very seriously at me and said " Chrome don't get ya home" and then went on to explain how much of a pain in the ass the bike was and had runnin issues. He told me about his regular bike and how much more he liked it.


Sorry to go off in left field, but, thats the way I feel about Chrome on a pool table. I wont go into my story about how chroming guys think their time is worth more than Doctors and how they will delay your project by 2-3 weeks minimum!

Have a GREAT DAY!

TFT

lol... enough said.

I tend to be annoyed by the light my watch reflects while playing. Having big sections of bright 'chrome' could be a nightmare...lol

That said, nickle tends to be a very durable finish. Not going to say unscratchable, but in orders of magnitude more robust then just polished aluminum. Not sure what would scuff up such a finish on a home table, or a one in commerical use.

 

[trentfromtoledo]

lol... enough said.

I tend to be annoyed by the light my watch reflects while playing. Having big sections of bright 'chrome' could be a nightmare...lol

That said, nickle tends to be a very durable finish. Not going to say unscratchable, but in orders of magnitude more robust then just polished aluminum. Not sure what would scuff up such a finish on a home table, or a one in commerical use.

I love the "watch reflecting" comment ya made ! that would def get me too.

TFT

 

[fastone371]

lol... enough said.

I tend to be annoyed by the light my watch reflects while playing. Having big sections of bright 'chrome' could be a nightmare...lol

That said, nickle tends to be a very durable finish. Not going to say unscratchable, but in orders of magnitude more robust then just polished aluminum. Not sure what would scuff up such a finish on a home table, or a one in commerical use.

Aluminum is soft so it will always scratch easier, even if anodized or hard coated. I believe that only steel can be nickel plated.

 

[trentfromtoledo]

Aluminum is soft so it will always scratch easier, even if anodized or hard coated. I believe that only steel can be nickel plated.

good part about aluminum: easy to repolish vs chrome: rechrome is expensive and time. powdercoating IMO is the players friend.

TFT

 

[The_JV]

Aluminum is soft so it will always scratch easier, even if anodized or hard coated. I believe that only steel can be nickel plated.

Yes aluminum will scratch easier than something harder. My point was..., what are you rubbing on your pool table at home that's harder than aluminum.? Whatever it is, it will also scratch, wood, paint, powder coating, etc.

When I was digging into nickle plating aluminum castings, the process preceding the nickle plating was a application of copper plating. I'm guessing first layer of copper provided better properties for the nickle plating.

 

[rexus31]

Yes aluminum will scratch easier than something harder. My point was..., what are you rubbing on your pool table at home that's harder than aluminum.? Whatever it is, it will also scratch, wood, paint, powder coating, etc.

Watches and belt buckles are the most common culprits and yes, you are correct: these items will also scratch other surfaces which is why the aprons on my GCI were beat to hell with scratches, nicks, and dings. Since the restoration of my table, I try to avoid metal objects near the aprons. No pocket chalkers, shirts untucked covering belt buckles and jeans rivets, etc. I'd like to preserve my hard work for as long as I can. It's still a pool table and will get some scars and it already has a couple but no harm in exercising some caution in an attempt to keep it fresh.

When I was digging into nickle plating aluminum castings, the process preceding the nickle plating was a application of copper plating. I'm guessing first layer of copper provided better properties for the nickle plating.

All nickel plating should have a base of copper. If you put chrome on top of the nickel you have "triple chrome plating": copper, nickel, chrome.

 

[trentfromtoledo]

Watches and belt buckles are the most common culprits and yes, you are correct. These items will also scratch other surfaces which is why the aprons on my GCI were beat to hell with scratches, nicks, and dings. Since the restoration of my table, I try to avoid metal objects near the aprons. No pocket chalkers, shirts untucked covering belt buckles and jeans rivets, etc. I'd like to preserve my hard work for as long as I can. It's still a pool table and will get some scars and it already has a couple but no harm in exercising some caution in an attempt to keep it fresh.

All nickel plating should have a base of copper. If you put chrome on top of the nickel you have "triple chrome plating": copper, nickel, chrome.

Heck yeah! This guy aint letting no yahoo's over bangin up his sweet table! I try not to launch into to much of a rant about table maintenance and dont get me started about the ones with kids that have a Centennial or Anny!!! Anxiety for TFT: Leaving a clients house that I just installed a carefully restored Centennial or Anny.. REASON: I know there is at least one or multiple children in that household who are under 10... NO SLEEP TIL BROOKLYN!!! LOL

TFT

 

[fastone371]

Yes aluminum will scratch easier than something harder. My point was..., what are you rubbing on your pool table at home that's harder than aluminum.? Whatever it is, it will also scratch, wood, paint, powder coating, etc.

When I was digging into nickle plating aluminum castings, the process preceding the nickle plating was a application of copper plating. I'm guessing first layer of copper provided better properties for the nickle plating.

My bare fingers will mark up aluminum, especially the lower on the H scale it is. I use a lot of 3003 H12, 5052 H12, and 6061 T651, I tape them up with masking tape until the car is ready for delivery to the customer because of damage your bare hands will do to it. I'm not sure where casting hardness falls on this scale but just from working with it it seems just as soft or malleable.
I was not aware that aluminum could be nickel plated, I would think that this would be the ultimate solution for corner castings or even polished then clear anodized. I don't think out gassing is a concern for either 2 of these process. I think that nickel plating is the same as chrome plating but they stop short of the final step which is the chrome plating. Polish metal, then it gets copper plated, then nickel plated, then if you are finishing in chrome the next step is the chrome plating. If only it was as easy as some believe, just dunk the part in a vat of shiny chrome plating solution=done.