IM GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR TRIM BUT I'LL BE SELECTIVE AT WHAT WORK I TAKE IN, THIS WILL HELP ME KEEP THE QUALITY THAT I WOULD WANT IF IT WAS MINE , HOPE I CAN HELP. THANKS .Hey folks, testing the water to see if stainless trim restoration is needed very much anymore. I was a watchmaker and a goldsmith for over 30 years and people would drop off there trim to get it fixed because of the tools and good attention to detailed work. If enough people are interested I'll start doing it again since I'm retired. Let me know, likes " don't count. Can also polish valve covers (aluminum) and don't forget the interior trim, stainless only. I'm only doing this for you HAMB guys, charges will be by the hour, I'll be keeping a log book of my time per customer to keep the charges correct, will send estimate first, you can post the pics of what you have first for estimates .Thanks, Michael "BigO"
Reproduction Stainless trim never fits as good as the original and good resto shops are hard to find. There's alot of banged up original trim out there that needs help and we could use a good specialist. I'd be willing to bet you'll be busier now than when you were working! LOL!
@BigO - The guy who did mine was retired, it was a little moneymaker side gig. People sought him out and waited their turn. Only polished in the summer, his buffs were outside under a lean to. Said it was too dirty to do indoors. He was very fair to me, charged for his hours and material. The hourly rate was about half of what a mechanic shop's labor. He told me some charge by the piece or by length. How would you do it? Careful, you might get flooded with work!
Perhaps you might show some examples of past experiences you had in working with these fragile but highly resilient pieces...if you have any... Good luck on the new adventure @BigO...
Shipping will be the factor, shipping both ways may cost more than the polishing work, or get damaged on the way to you. Shipping services seem to hate long and skinny Set up very specific shipping instructions on the inbound. ( I've used carpet tubes. )
I think the demand could definitely be enough to keep you busy. I have quite a bit of stainless trim in need of straightening and polishing. A local guy I I checked in with told me $15 per foot. When you think about all the stainless on a 47 coupe, that adds up.
I plan on charging by the hour, not out to gouge anybody just returning the favors I've received from Hot Rodders over the last 40 years.
Sorry but I have it professionaly done, so few pieces that need that it's easier to just have it done. thanks, Michael
I've used PVC at times and it works great, I just check with store mangers at the hardware stores and they save odd pieces and miner damaged pieces for me. But safe delivery is at the top of my list always. , Michael
I will, and also post my decision on here. Got a lot of PMs since i posted the it. Looking good so far. Michael
I will be charging by the hour and will send estimate after seeing pics of what you need done first, a log will be kept on all jobs so the pricing is correct. Not her to gouge, just offering my services to you guys ONLY.
And by the way, I've had a lot of responses sent i post a few hours ago, looking good so far. Michael
I have been selling good used trim on line and at flea markets.....its a lot of fun and you get to meet a lot on nice people....I am self taught but I learned NOT to do it for customers....you will ALWAYS have that ONE customer who is never happy....I clean and buff my trim to sell only....
After having bought a buffer ( east wood) and learning the basics of buffing stainless, I'd love to have a service like yours close by( I really would rather not package and ship) . Best wish's on your new line of work!!
I just picked up my 39 Merc side trim from my trim guy and dropped off all the rest. My wait was 3 months. He's buried with work. I'd say it could be a nice gig and even better that you can pick and choose your work.
ATTENTION TO ALL HAMBers, I'm willing to do trim that is not mangled but small dent are fine, this is only for HAMBers, send me pics of what you need repaired and we'll go from there if still interested. The HAMB has been good to me and I still want to help you guys out as much as I can. Michael/BigO
BTT, I WILL BE DOING TRIM REPAIR BUT I WILL HAVE TO BE SELECTIVE ON WHAT I CAN WORK ON SO THAT THE QUALITY WILL STILL BE THERE. . I DECIDED TO DO WHAT I CAN TO THANK ALL THE GREAT FOLKS HERE, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A RIDE RIGHT NOW THE HAMB KEEPS ME CONNECTED TO THE HOT ROD WORLD. GOD BLESS US ALL
Yes. Just pm me good pics of what needs to be done, also remember to send all 4 or just 2 of them if your running skirts and are not seen. Thanks for the response Michael
Thanks for reminding me about wheel covers/hubcaps, I also repair headlight buckets, stainless, brass "early 1900s" type. Hope I can help you with your wheel covers. BigO/Michael
Michael, Attached are pics of a set of (5) Lyon aftermarket stainless wheel covers I bought at the Hershey Swap meet about 20-years ago. I've never had a use for them until now and am thinking they'd look good on my '36 Ford coupe. I know nothing about polishing or restoring stainless and at my age, I need to get the car done before trying to learn a new craft. The first (2) covers look really good and should (?) need just polishing. The 3rd cover has some small dents. #4 &5 are in worse shape and someone before me has worked on taking out the dents and sanded the center section. In any event, here are the pics. Thank you, Bob Gaylord Alvaton, KY. Lyon1 by TagMan, on Flickr Lyon2 by TagMan, on Flickr Lyon3 by TagMan, on Flickr [/urlLyon4 by TagMan, on Flickr Lyon5 by TagMan, on Flicer Lyon5 by TagMan, on Flickr
3 of them won't be any trouble, the 4th one down might take longer to fix as long as there are no cracks or breaks. How soon do have to have them?
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