Window Latch Refinish

4-Shipp · Post by **4-Shipp** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:59 am

The chrome plating on my window latches looks terrible. My initial thoughts are to re-chrome or powder coat. Any ideas or suggestions?

Bruce

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:08 am

What type window latches do you have?

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:26 am

Chrome plating has become so expensive that I believe I'd powder coat them myself at home. Check the recent link here about home powder coating some vent tubes.

4-Shipp · Post by **4-Shipp** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:28 am

It is a '53 B model with the long over center window latches/levers doohickeys.

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:42 am

I believe they were originally polished, not chromed.

bsdunek · Post by **bsdunek** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:11 pm

They may have varied through the production period, George. Mine look like there is plating as it appears to have started 'flaking' around the edges. I have thought of 'de-plating' them and polishing. The easier alternative is to paint them with some very durable paint.

PilotMikeTX · Post by **PilotMikeTX** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:31 pm

blueldr wrote:Chrome plating has become so expensive that I believe I'd powder coat them myself at home. Check the recent link here about home powder coating some vent tubes.

Yep. I'm about to powder coat my fuel selector thingy. Not the handle (because I don't have red powder--yet) but that ashtray looking thing with the placards on it. Just have to figure out how to make some real purdy placards...

Of course, you can also do the plating at home too... www.caswellplating.com

Curtis Brown · Post by **Curtis Brown** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:12 pm

You can buy a new fuel selector plate thingy for cheap as I recall when I did it. I just can not remember where I got it from... probably Spruce.

pojawis · Post by **pojawis** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:05 pm

Got my placard for the fuel selector thingy from Univair, I think. Genuine reproductions for the era. Comes with the little numbers so one can display the correct fuel amounts. Covered it with a thin plexiglas covering (1/8"?) so it stays easy-to-read. Used existing hardware to attach. Still looks nice after 12 years or so.

PilotMikeTX · Post by **PilotMikeTX** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:49 am

Curtis Brown wrote:You can buy a new fuel selector plate thingy for cheap as I recall when I did it. I just can not remember where I got it from... probably Spruce.

Yeah, but then I couldn't powder coat $*@# in my garage. And that's no fun. It looks like the hobby stores now have water transfer decal sheets for ink jet printers, so no more "label maker" placards.

The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Window Latch Refinish

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