65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Classifieds => Vendor / Seller / Buyers Feedback => Topic started by: Loren At 65GS on February 12, 2016, 06:46:34 PM
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I have a friend that will air brush the colors on the hood ornament.
The colors have been matched from a NOS ornament. There is no plating done mind you, just the re-color.
It is a very time consuming task in masking. After colors are applied, a UV inhibiting clear coat is applied.
Here are pictures of one done for me. Re-coloring service $ 120.00 plus shipping
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Great news Loren! Please provide information on how to go about this.
:thumbsup:
Chuck
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Dear Loren, Chuck, and caregivers to the "crown jewels" of our 1965 Buick A-bodies
I have a friend that will air brush the colors on the hood ornament.
The colors have been matched from a NOS ornament. There is no plating done mind you, just the re-color.
It is a very time consuming task in masking. After colors are applied, a UV inhibiting clear coat is applied.
Here are pictures of one done for me. Re-coloring service $ 120.00 plus shipping
Oooh!, this is *VERY* interesting! Let me take a look at the condition of the OEM hood ornament I've got, but this is something I've been dreaming of!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Loren - Like like nice work. I would be interested in having two of them done.
Dwaine
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They just keep getting better.
I had him do another one and like the saying goes " practice makes perfect".
Jessie has asked that I be a middle man.
If you have a hood ornament to be re- colored, My shipping address is:
Loren Alexander
1270 Cedar Lake Ln
Firth, NE
68358
Turn around is expected to 2 - 3 weeks.
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick packrats . . . .
If you have a hood ornament to be re- colored
Yes I do, but . . . . . . there is just one problem!
First, I have to find it!
Stay tuned!
Cheers, Edouard
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Loren - Like like nice work. I would be interested in having two of them done.
Dwaine
Ok, here are pics of the two that were done. I think they turned out pretty good. Thanks Loren.
Dwaine
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Dear Dwaine and 1965 Buick caretaker of the automobile "crown jewels."
Ok, here are pics of the two that were done. I think they turned out pretty good. Thanks Loren.
Thanks for sharing the photos. Indeed they look very nice! I really need to move up the restoration of my hood ornament so I have it painted as well.
Thanks for the nudge!
Edouard
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I have a friend that will air brush the colors on the hood ornament.
The colors have been matched from a NOS ornament. There is no plating done mind you, just the re-color.
It is a very time consuming task in masking. After colors are applied, a UV inhibiting clear coat is applied.
Here are pictures of one done for me. Re-coloring service $ 120.00 plus shipping
Loren:
So just send you the hood ornament and a check for $120? Obviously, we will get the exact same ornament back?
Thanks
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Loren:
So just send you the hood ornament and a check for $120? Obviously, we will get the exact same ornament back?
Thanks
[/quote]
Yes, you receive back the ornament you send. I suggest a picture be taken before sending the ornament to me.
I ship it back in a USPS small priority box. That runs $6.80. Total comes to $126.80 for lower 48 states
Keep in mind that there is no work done to the chrome. The shields are recolored in place on the ornament.
Many years ago I tried to remove the stamped foil part. Not a good idea.
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick restoration "schemers" . . .
Many years ago I tried to remove the stamped foil part. Not a good idea.
Thanks Loren, good to know. :angryfire: I'll scratch that approach off the list!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Loren:
So just send you the hood ornament and a check for $120? Obviously, we will get the exact same ornament back?
Thanks
Yes, you receive back the ornament you send. I suggest a picture be taken before sending the ornament to me.
I ship it back in a USPS small priority box. That runs $6.80. Total comes to $126.80 for lower 48 states
Keep in mind that there is no work done to the chrome. The shields are recolored in place on the ornament.
Many years ago I tried to remove the stamped foil part. Not a good idea.
Loren
[/quote]I was thinking about removing the foil on the one I have in my closet.but I didnt because it is in nice condition. the foil is mint with no color on it...I also have a pair of repro foils that looks like the one on a repro from poston or cars inc. that mr. T just sold. I may be interested in this when I get back to work
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick caretakers of your car's "crown jewels,"
I have a Poston reproduction hood ornament on my trusty wagon right now. It looks great at the moment, but the paint is know to be of poor quality, so that won't last.
I've been tempted to send in a hood ornament to have Loren's airbrush artist paint it, but the only ornament I've got is in this condition:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GLGCZdv/0/XL/i-GLGCZdv-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Hood-parts-needing-rechroming/n-dF6hm9/i-GLGCZdv/A)
The back is only in slightly better condition:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-jdktTBW/0/XL/i-jdktTBW-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Hood-parts-needing-rechroming/n-dF6hm9/i-jdktTBW/A)
I sent these photos to Jimmy Canfield of Custom Metal Finishing Indiana (http://www.chromeplatingin.com/index.html) as Wheelz had recommended. He thinks he can rechrome the shiny parts without effecting the surfaces that need to be painted. Unfortunately, Jimmy is a popular guy and he has an 8 week backlog. So I won't be able to send this hood ornament out to be painted for a while.
I'll report on how well this attempt at rechroming works out. Jimmy's first guessitmate for the cost of rechroming the hood ornament and base was less than $100. If this process works out, it should be possible to get a reasonably good looking hood ornament for around $250. Considering how rare these things are, that would certainly be better than nothing.
I'll keep everybody posted of how this project unfolds.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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There is decal available for the front side, foil type. Cars Inc.
http://www.oldbuickparts.com/cart/buick-logo-decal-buick-tri-shield-logo-p-24642.html (http://www.oldbuickparts.com/cart/buick-logo-decal-buick-tri-shield-logo-p-24642.html)
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Has anyone tried one of the decals? Seems worth a try for $5.50.
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About 6 years ago a guy on ebay had both sides, I bought them and they still look good. Would be great if we could find out who makes them and see if they can make the other side
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Dear mid-60s Buick caretakers of a car's "crown jewels,"
The hood ornament that I would like to have painted has arrived at Custom Metal Finishing Indiana. However, Jimmy reports a potential problem:
The ornament topper has aluminum inserts on both sides that will need to be removed. Unfortunately we can't guarantee that they will be usable after removal. Many times they are thin and during the heating process to get them out they can warp and sometimes break. We will do our best to salvage them for you.
I decided to let them give it their best shot. It appears that while they don't always succeed, they have a procedure that is reliable. If there is any outfit that can successfully rechrome a hood ornament, these guys should be able to do it. They are charging $70 for this job, so the total cost to restore a hood ornament would be less than $200. If it works out, that isn't outrageous and sure beats trying to hunt down a really nice used one - never mind an NOS one if there are any left.
Stay tuned!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Keep the post updated Edourd,I think there are more than a few of us needing this piece. I thought about boiling it to see if it would fall apart,but I was scared. I have a decent original,but I want to restore it. Let us know how it goes,Dan
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Should have bought that one of V8 Buick site for $40 and used it as a test.
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Dear Dan, Jim, and mid-60s Buick keeper of a car's crown jewels,
Keep the post updated Edourd,I think there are more than a few of us needing this piece.
I promise will do!
Should have bought that one of V8 Buick site for $40 and used it as a test.
The concept is reasonable but in this case I think it would be a mistake. It is clearly a risky process. The more degraded the hood ornament, the more likely the procedure will fail. The best hope is for a hood ornament in relatively good condition. So there was no "dry run" for this procedure. You need to get a hood ornament in as good condition as you can and . . . . . hope da' patient survives the surgery!
Cheers, Edouard
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There was a post here saying the tri-shield insert is very similar to the foil inserts on seat belt buckles, which are avail as a repo.
I have no idea how the inserts are attached to the ornament.... I'd guess they are glued in. If so, a bath in an ultrasonic cleaner filled with solvent may be able to dissolve the glue. But ultrasonic action may also pit the aluminum.
Maybe heating it would work. Try putting it in a toaster oven.
I'm going to need one someday, but my 65 project needs a LOT more before it gets to those detail items.
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Dear Loren and mid-60s caretakers of our Buicks "crown jewels,"
As reported earlier, I sent my decent but weary OEM hood ornament to Custom Metal Finishing Indiana (http://www.chromeplatingin.com/index.html). They arrived on Saturday, but I didn't have time to take a careful look until today - WOW! Here is the before view of the front of the ornament as posted earlier:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-VJXr2Lf/0/XL/Used%20hood%20ornament%20-%20front%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-VJXr2Lf/A)
Here is what the front of the ornament looks like now:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-b49tCT2/0/XL/Rechromed%20hood%20ornament%20-%20front%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-b49tCT2/A)
Sorry the photo is a little bit out of focus but the restored luster is obvious.
Here is the corresponding before view of the back:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-mg7g4Vf/0/XL/Used%20hood%20ornament%20-%20back%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-mg7g4Vf/A)
Here is what the back looks like now!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-khNmWsP/0/XL/Rechromed%20hood%20ornament%20-%20back%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-khNmWsP/A)
Now the observant will immediately surmise that something rather important is missing - the Tri-Shield inserts that supposedly are impossible to remove. Well look here:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-V6DR7Wr/0/XL/Tri-Shield%20inserts%20separated%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-V6DR7Wr/A)
I don't know how the crew at Custom Metal Finishing Indiana managed to do it, but there are the inserts cleanly removed from the ornament undamaged!
So phase-II of this project is having the Tri-Shields painted. Loren, should I do anything to inserts before sending them to you? Does your airbrush artist needs them mounted back in the ornament to paint them or would it be easier to paint them before reassembly?
As my friend pointed out, the hood ornament is like the crown jewels of your car. Until now, it sure looked difficult to have a like new hood ornament. Well, that might have just changed!
I'm definitely extremely pleased!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard,
I will ask him about doing them prior to mounting.
I'm surprised and relieved that they were able to remove the inserts without damage. Wonder what was used?
Looks like they did a great job on the plating.
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick detail preservers,
I will ask him about doing them prior to mounting.
Thanks, if you have any ideas what I might do to polish away some of the tarnish I'd be glad to try it. There are all kinds of non-abrasive polishes out there, but I have a feeling they leave behind substances that would interfere with the paint.
I'm surprised and relieved that they were able to remove the inserts without damage. Wonder what was used?
No kidding! I was worried when Jimmy at Custom Metal Finishing warned me that they might not survive. I suppose they are pros at this sort of thing and whatever they use isn't legal for us amateurs. There is a toxic disposal fee included with their work.
Looks like they did a great job on the plating.
Definitely I agree. Wheelz was singing their praises, but it was no hype!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick detail-oriented types,
I was about to send the hood ornament inserts over to Loren so that they could be painted, but they looked a little dingy. So I stopped by a local jeweler and asked them to see what they could do to polish the inserts a little. Here is what they looked like before:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-V6DR7Wr/0/XL/Tri-Shield%20inserts%20separated%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-V6DR7Wr/A)
Here is what they look like now after a little time on a polishing wheel:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-Bq4XVXH/0/XL/Hood%20ornament%20inserts%20after%20polishing%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-Bq4XVXH/A)
The picture isn't perfect but you can see that the stag and cross are now nice and shiny aluminum. There is still some tarnish, but it is in the areas that will be painted.
I managed to have found some photos of NOS hood ornaments and as far as I can see, these inserts are shiny aluminum and look quite different from the surrounding chrome. So to my eyes, this looks correct. Any dissenting opinions? Anything else I should consider doing to these inserts before packing them up and sending them to Loren for painting?
Cheers, Edouard
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Edouard,
I think that will do the trick. When the final coat of clear is applied, it will make a big difference.
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s detailed oriented types,
I think that will do the trick. When the final coat of clear is applied, it will make a big difference.
I can't be sure, but comparing to the NOS photos I have it looks very close. It was kind of a shock. I didn't realize how far off the Poston reproduction really is!
Tomorrow is looking busy but I'll try to ship it out to you!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I can't be sure, but comparing to the NOS photos I have it looks very close. It was kind of a shock. I didn't realize how far off the Poston reproduction really is!
Tomorrow is looking busy but I'll try to ship it out to you!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
[/quote]
One of our members sent me a hood ornament to have redone. It was a Poston reproduction. The shield inserts were partially coming off. The insert was so thin, lacked definition of the details and the shape had become somewhat distorted. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to it.
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick caretakers of the automobile "crown jewels,"
I just dropped off the hood ornament inserts at the UPS store, so you should be receiving them early next week!
I can't be sure, but comparing to the NOS photos I have it looks very close. It was kind of a shock. I didn't realize how far off the Poston reproduction really is!
One of our members sent me a hood ornament to have redone. It was a Poston reproduction. The shield inserts were partially coming off. The insert was so thin, lacked definition of the details and the shape had become somewhat distorted. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to it.
That is my principle reason for trying to come up with a quality restoration of the Buick factory hood ornaments. Right now my wagon looks great with her Poston reproduction, but I know it won't last very long. Since you had come up with a scheme to repaint the original ornaments, it was up to me to see if there was a way to rechrome them. So we are into phase-II to see if indeed you really can restore these old ornaments to the point we can all be proud of them!
Thanks for providing this service Loren! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/thanks_sign.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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You are welcome !
I'll get those to him as soon as they make it here. He did a set of the Gran Sport emblems for one of the other guys. I think they turned out very well.
Loren
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You are welcome !
He did a set of the Gran Sport emblems for one of the other guys. I think they turned out very well.
Loren
Very well is an understatement. His work exceeded my expectations...highly recommended!
Chuck
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Dear Loren, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick owners who really love our cars! :love4:
He did a set of the Gran Sport emblems for one of the other guys. I think they turned out very well.
Very well is an understatement. His work exceeded my expectations...highly recommended!
Definitely glad to hear it! :thumbsup:
Some things we can get from big companies like OPGI. Still others we'll have manage to make for ourselves as best we can. If we put our resources together we can do what seems to be the impossible! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Angelic_smiley_small.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Here are pictures, although they don't do justice to them. In my opinion, the colors are accurate and they look great. And I understand they get a final coat of UV protectant to keep the sun from fading them.
Better quality than reproductions all the way around!
Chuck
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The Impossible is only a greater degree of difficulty.
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One of our members sent me a hood ornament to have redone. It was a Poston reproduction. The shield inserts were partially coming off. The insert was so thin, lacked definition of the details and the shape had become somewhat distorted. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to it.
Loren
That member sure sounds like me! :icon_biggrin: In my excitement to get the job done, photographing it beforehand never occurred to me. :BangHead:
Oh well, live and learn.
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Boxing one up this week Loren.
Everyone satisfied with the final product?
Thanks
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Boxing one up this week Loren.
Everyone satisfied with the final product?
Thanks
Sounds good Dan.
Review comments have been good.
Loren
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Dear Dan, Loren and mid-60s Buick caretakers of our car's "crown jewels,"
Everyone satisfied with the final product?
The colors have been matched from a NOS ornament. There is no plating done mind you, just the re-color.
Keep in mind that you'll have to accept the quality of the chrome. If your ornament is "weary" the colors will look wonderful, but the chrome will still be weary. I'm in the process of attempting to restore a hood ornament including rechroming:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=2709.msg20695#msg20695 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=2709.msg20695#msg20695)
Loren's airbrush artist has the Tri-Shield inserts right now and hopefully I'll be able reassemble the ornament in a few weeks. The rechroming cost were something on the order of $80-100 (I can't be sure because I had other pieces rechomed at the same time and there is a hazard waste disposal fee that lumped everything together.)
Agreed that almost doubles the cost of the restoration, but that would potentially give you a "like new" ornament.
Definitely not trying to discourage you by any means, but just thought you might want to know about a scheme to make a hood ornament "mor' bettr'" . . . . . .
Cheers, Edouard
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Here's an update for any that might be on the fence about the quality of the recolored emblems. Installed the emblems on the rear quarters of my car today. They look SWEET!
As I said before, highly recommended!
Cheers!
Chuck
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Those look great, so does the Verde Green! How much is it to restore the emblems?
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Thanks Jim. I'll let Loren answer the cost question, since he is the interface with the artist that restores them.
Chuck
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Here's an update for any that might be on the fence about the quality of the recolored emblems. Installed the emblems on the rear quarters of my car today. They look SWEET!
As I said before, highly recommended!
Cheers!
Chuck
OH Chuck , that looks really nice . thats kind of a tease photo , all that green and new emblems . :thumbsup:
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Not meant as a tease John. Motivation, perhaps. Seems like I'm idling right now, but hope to pick up the pace soon.
Chuck
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Chuck , just kidding with ya . It sure does look nice though .
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No worries. I know how much you and I like that green color.
I'd love to see two newly restored Verde Green 65 GS's in Milwaukee next year!
Chuck
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of beautiful hood ornaments,
Yesterday, I got back from Loren the repainted Tri-Shields that Custom Metal Finishing had successfully removed when they restored the chrome on my hood ornament. Today was my first chance to try to take some decent pictures. Honestly I wasn't very successful, but this should give you some idea of how they turned out:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-kH4c3Vn/0/XL/Repainted%20Tri-Shield%20inserts%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-kH4c3Vn/A)
Unfortunately, the camera cannot handle the extremes of light and color. There are some "blotches" that are artifacts of the photo and aren't actually on the Tri-Shields. However, I hope that give you some idea. You can click on the images to get even higher resolution images. I gently placed them into the restored hood ornament and . . . . .
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-DcTL9gt/0/XL/Hood%20ornament%20mock-up%20-%20front%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-DcTL9gt/A)
Again, the camera isn't rendering the restoration extremely well, but I think you can how nice the pieces come together. Here is the back:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-cxcvjND/0/XL/Hood%20ornament%20mock-up%20-%20back%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-cxcvjND/A)
I just sent an email to Custom Metal Finishing asking which adhesive to use for gluing the Tri-Shields back on. Still, that should be a straightforward task. So if you really want to give your 1965 Buick A-body the ultimate look of a like-new hood ornament - this technique clearly yields wonderful results.
Thanks Loren!! :thumbsup:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thanks Edouard for the kind words.
It should look even better once it is back on the hood where it belongs. It did turn out very well.
Loren
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That turned out great!
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Looks familiar......and will look REALLY good on your car, Edouard!
Chuck
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Nice result on mine. Thanks Loren! :headbang:
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Edouard and Dan,
Thanks, I appreciate the kudos, but I'm just the middle man.
My friend Jessie is the man with the patience and talent. Dan A. and I sourced the colors for the hood ornament and the Gran Sport emblems. Then left it up to the artist.
If you like the job on those pieces, you should see the mural work he is capable of.
It is interesting the photo quality difference of the colors of these two ornaments in the postings. They were done at the same time with the same paints. In person, they look identical.
Goes to show that color does not always show true in different pictures on a computer.
Loren
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Dear Loren, Dan, and mid-60s Buick "stick to the job" types, . . .
Jimmy from Custom Metal Finishing suggested that I use a quality automotive trim adhesive like this one from 3M:
http://3mcollision.com/3m-plastic-emblem-and-trim-adhesive-03601.html (http://3mcollision.com/3m-plastic-emblem-and-trim-adhesive-03601.html)
The description says it should work just fine. There is even a link to the Safety Data Sheet:
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=SSSSSuUn_zu8l00xMY_Soxtx5v70k17zHvu9lxtD7SSSSSS-- (http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=SSSSSuUn_zu8l00xMY_Soxtx5v70k17zHvu9lxtD7SSSSSS--)
Alas with my freshman chemistry this is all Greek to me. What do you guys think? Is this the way to go?
Cheers, Edouard
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Looks like the 3M adhesive should work. It is resistant to heat, water and gasoline.
Loren
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Dear mid-60 Buick caretakers of your car’s “crown jewels.”
I wanted to update everyone on the final assembly of the 1965 hood ornament that I have been restoring thanks to Loren and Custom Metal Finishing. The last bit of work was to glue the Tri-Shields to the ornament chrome. Following the recommendation of Custom Metal Finishing, I bought a tube of 3M Plastic Emblem and Trim Adhesive. (http://3mcollision.com/3m-plastic-emblem-and-trim-adhesive-03601.html) However, I noticed an odd pattern in the reviews for this product on the Amazon website:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CCM3J2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1#customerReviews (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CCM3J2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1#customerReviews)
Most of the reviews were really stellar, but there were a few horror stories. So I decided to be careful in my application technique and make a test. I had an old fan with chrome legs. I started out by cleaning a bit of the fan leg with mineral spirits. I then applied a thin coat of the 3M adhesive on a piece of aluminum foil and applied it to the fan. The next morning - I couldn’t budge it! I concluded that this was a viable technique!
I glued the Tri-Shields in the same way applying a thin coat using a Q-Tip of all things. The Q-Tip was sturdy enough to apply the adhesive without leaving any cotton. However, the 3M adhesive can form filaments which should be removed to avoid defacing the ornament. To make it easier to hold the Tri-Shields, I used 3M Scotch removable mounting squares (http://www.scotchbrand.com/3M/en_US/scotch-brand/products/catalog/~/Scotch-Removable-Mounting-Squares-1-in-x-1-in-White?N=4335+3294529207+3294603480&rt=rud). No I assure you, 3M didn’t pay any promotional consideration for this post! :laughing7: Seriously, I put the squares on a scrap of wood and then secured the Tri-Shields painted side down on the other side of the squares. It was then easy to coat the other side with the adhesive. When it was time to remove the Tri-Shields they came right off without any damage.
I placed the Tri-Shields into the hood ornament before applying some pressure using some wax paper. I was able to easily adjust the final location of the shields before fixing the location with the wax paper. I then allowed the glue to cure overnight. Here is what the ornament finally looks like:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-4fBLJxd/0/X2/Restored%20hood%20ornament%20-%20front%20-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-4fBLJxd/A)
Here is another view of the front more from the passenger side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-RWsht2N/0/X2/Restored%20hood%20ornament%20-%20starboard%20front%20-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-RWsht2N/A)
Finally, here is a view of the back of the ornament:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-thmf428/0/XL/Restored%20hood%20ornament%20-%20port%20rear%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Parts-Search/Used-hood-ornament-after/i-thmf428/A)
I want to apply one more protection before mounting it on my trusty wagon. Orinda Auto Detail can apply a product called Opti-Coat (http://www.optimumcarcare.com/ocoat1.php?li=10). It is a compound that, as I understand it, chemically deposits a layer of Silicon Dioxide (glass). It basically eliminates the need to wax and that is a especially desirable on a complex object like the hood ornament.
Stay tuned! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/tune_in_TV_emoticon.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. I tried very hard to get a uniform angle of sunlight so that these pictures would be more representative of the colors. Even so, you’ll notice that the Tri-Shield colors appear to be different in each picture! While not ideal in terms of representing the paint job, I think it speaks to how well the overall job turned out. The effect of the brand new chrome and the paint is so good that even a modern digital camera has trouble capturing the amount of shine!
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Edouard,
Your persistence and hard work really paid off. It looks really fantastic.
Loren
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Nice work Edouard! Biquette will wear it proudly and be the best looking girl on the block!
Chuck
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That really looks great! Nice job.
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Dear Loren, Chuck, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caretakers of our car's "crown jewels,"
Thanks guys!
What I'm especially happy about is simply coming up with a way to provide a replacement hood ornament that should pass Buick Club of America judging. As my local car buddy has said: "A hood ornament is really the crown jewel of your car." A beautifully restored 1965 Buick isn't complete with without a beautifully restored hood ornament. At least now there is a technique to try to achieve that.
Cheers, Edouard
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I have an ornament I want to re chrome & then recolor. Has anyone figured out how to safely remove the foil Tri shields?
Thanks
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Dear Dan and mid-60s Buick keepers of the car's "crown jewels,"
I have an ornament I want to re chrome & then recolor. Has anyone figured out how to safely remove the foil Tri shields?
I don't know how do to it myself, but I sent my hood ornament to Custom Metal Finishing Indiana for rechroming. They were able to remove the Tri-Shield foils. See this posting in this thread:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2709.msg20695.html#msg20695 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2709.msg20695.html#msg20695)
To see the final outcome - look at this posting:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2709.msg21342.html#msg21342 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2709.msg21342.html#msg21342)
There is one more set of pictures in this posting:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2709.msg21979.html#msg21979 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2709.msg21979.html#msg21979)
If you are patient, I highly recommend sending your hood ornament to Custom Metal Finishing Indiana. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.chromeplatingin.com/ (http://www.chromeplatingin.com/)
If you have any questions - ask! . . . .
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I don't know how do to it myself, but I sent my hood ornament to Custom Metal Finishing Indiana for rechroming. They were able to remove the Tri-Shield foils.
Thanks, Edouard. I've used them before - I just sent them an email.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Believe it or not, I never have managed to put the OEM hood ornament that I had restored on Biquette. What stopped me is the silliest of reasons: I wasn't sure what to do about a gasket. Well, the Postron reproduction ornament is staring to get loose, so I have to make the switch. Checking what I've got in my stash of goodies I have 1/16" cork (similar to what Tony used for the antenna bezel gasket,) I have some rubber sheeting that is also about 1/16" in thickness, or I could use styrene sheet has I have done in the past.
Since I have some nice cork, I thought I would use that. Any better ideas? :idea1:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Personally Ed, I'd use some black polypropylene plastic (as in flat smooth el-cheapo mudflaps). With the spring sticking out of the bottom, you'll need to drill a hole into a 2x4 lay the sheet down then the gunsight and trace around it with a new, sharp FUTILITY knife. You could also trace it out and cut with scissors.
If theres a ridge break (bend) use a heat gun to form the final product and maybe some spray glue on the piece to prevent shifting. Thats what I did for my antenna base and similar on my glove box lock. Ha! Actually I used a black coffee can lid, but if yer a purist, use a mudflap. :tongue3: Bill
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Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
I finally managed to pry enough time to complete this seemingly modest task. I still had to do this over a few days. Such are the conditions that prevail these days.
Here is a photo of the components before installation:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-MBJgGSj/0/1071e2cd/XL/Hood%20ornament%20installation%20components-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-MBJgGSj/A)
I don't know if you can still get the shim piece between the top of the hood and the emblem nut.
Personally Ed, I'd use some black polypropylene plastic (as in flat smooth el-cheapo mudflaps). . . . . .
That certainly might work nicely. When I removed the old Postron reproduction ornament I was surprised to see how well the styrene plastic had held up. Here is a picture of the old ornament and the gasket from a few years back:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-TtTSWLF/0/437fd470/XL/Old%20Postron%20reproduction%20ornament%20-%20back-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-TtTSWLF/A)
Here is how the hood looked after removing the old ornament:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-8S7dsLn/0/4cb88064/XL/Mounting%20point%20of%20hood%20ornament%20-%20side-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-8S7dsLn/A)
Even my styrene gasket did a decent job of protecting the paint until the ornament started to wobble.
I decided to make the sentimental choice and stick with cork. I first "tacked" it to the base with CA glue:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-336zHLd/0/b122d97e/XL/Cork%20glued%20to%20ornament%20base%20-%20top-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-336zHLd/A)
Then I trimmed around the edges with a hobby knife:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-g7HsfFk/0/01f352ac/XL/Cork%20gasket%20trimmed%20-%20bottom-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-g7HsfFk/A)
I trimmed a bit further after that picture was taken. Then it was simply a matter of balancing the ornament shaft, shim and emblem nut to tighten everything. I had applied cold galvanizing paint on the exposed metal of the ornament, so rust shouldn't be as much of a problem. Even so I put a bit of silicone sealant on the shaft to impede moisture and act as a thread lock. As a final touch, I polished the surfaces as best I could with Flitz. Here is what the ornament looks in subdued light:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-nNw5Msb/0/2aac01af/XL/Installed%20hood%20ornament%20-%20port%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-nNw5Msb/A)
The cork seems very noticeable in this photo, but of course you have to put your nose on top of the ornament to really see it. However, if you want to be even more "stealthy" you might touch up the cork in the exterior paint color of your car.
Here is a view from the passenger side in the sunshine:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-7wJHCGj/0/9f24452c/XL/Installed%20hood%20ornament%20-%20starboard-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-7wJHCGj/A)
Here is a "head on" view:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-mpFS8VT/0/26c50409/XL/Installed%20hood%20ornament%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Installing-restored-OEM-hood-ornament/i-mpFS8VT/A)
While I was driving around yesterday afternoon, I found myself with some unexpected emotions. It wasn't that the OEM ornament looks "fancier," but it looked more understated and "classy" than the Postron reproduction which now felt more like a "caricature" than a reproduction . While not a big thing, I found myself feeling pleased that I had straightened out another "imperfection" and Biquette was once more a little closer to how she was back in 1965.
Thanks Loren for having this hood ornament re-coloring service! :thumbsup: and thanks everybody for your support of mid-60s Buicks! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Looks great!
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Has anyone had Jessie do a Tail Light Center Emblem? Pictures?
Thanks,