herald 1200 chrome type grill

[Neilriser]

Hi everyone,i have a 1200 chrome type grill which is poor condition,has anyone refurbed one,and if so how? Many thanks Neil

[davidb5964]

Not being an expert but my 1961 has 2 aluminium grills. If yours is the same then an awful long time with soft wire wool and the autosol metal polish.
If they really are shot I do have a couple of spares you could have but they are not perfect.
Dave of Warwick

[Mark Hammond]

I have a good used one (pair of grilles) in exchange for beer tokens.....

Mark

[heraldcoupe]

The 948 & 1200 have a steel grille with two bright anodised aluminium inserts. The 12/50 has a two-piece grille made of two bright anodised aluminium halves.

Anodising is a very hard finish, it needs to be removed before polishing, then the surface re-anodised. Stripping is easy enough using caustic soda (carefully). Bright anodising is theoretically easy enough with simple equipment, little more than sulphuric acid and a power source, however the fumes generated are very corrosive. It's not a process to be attempted in the same environment as anything you treasure.

Cheers,
Bill.

[Neilriser]

Thanks for all advice,my 1200 is a 1968 so i take it its the anodised type? is there companies that will refurb these? Neil

[Casper]

Google up Metal Finishers and try to find someone who will do odd jobs.  It is going to cost.

You would probably be better sourcing some in decent nick unless you are seeking concours standard finish.  They frequently come up on ebay.  

Add the following http://www.winsintltd.co.uk/ to your list of traders and have a word with Geoff to ask if he has any good ones ( he lists them at £12 each, Good Used http://www.winsintltd.co.uk/exterior-trim.html ).

It is possible to do it yourself (and, I guess, without too much in the way of noxious gasses): http://www.frost.co.uk/search/?q=anodis , but again, at a price!

C.

[Bitumen Boy]

Are they actually corroded or just dirty, oversprayed, paint spotted etc? Mine looked bad but came up a treat with some paintstripper to get all the years of crap off them. Obviously you need to remove the inserts and do this off the car, but it's a pretty simple process and you have nothing to lose by having a go.