I’m wondering what is the best approach for the door striker. I’ve heard polish, zinc, anodized. If I polish them will I remove the original treatment. How did they come originally. I know from removing the later paint jobs there was not original paint on the strikers. Makes sense because they take a beating.
Last edited by ChevyDarren; 03/01/20215:06 AM.
Darren Current Project - 1950 3100 5 Window with a rebuilt 216 and 3 speed trans
Whether that is cadmium plating or not, priming with Rustoleum Metal Etching Primer and painting with Rustoleum Metallic Silver 24 hours later will result in a very good match for that finish.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Polishing unplated steel provides absolutely no corrosion protection but looks nice for a while.
Carl's Rustoleum primer and metallic silver also looks nice but won't last long on wear points like a striker will see.
Thats why my choice would be zinc plating. Done pretty easily.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Just some thoughts.... Kevin is on the right track, zinc plating is the way to go. If zinc plated without any supplementary chromate treatment the zinc will oxidize and turn back to dull gray over time. Ever notice those fasteners in bins in the big box stores..Some are dull gray and might even have a white powder on them. That is zinc plating. Notice that the carriage type bolts are satin silver color. That is zinc plating with the secondary clear chromate treatment like those strikers Brad Allen has. The chromate treatment can also be dyed. Usually yellow for grade 8 fasteners. I like both the dull gray or satin patina *The main reason why chromate treatment might be used is that it promotes enhanced corrosion protection beyond that of zinc.
Last edited by archburycontrol; 03/03/20211:48 PM.
I completely understand that polishing bare steel is going to tarnish. When the strikers were new were they zinc plated? I thought that thought that the strikers was zinc plated and that is why I polished the striker. If they are bare steel, can you suggest a link to zinc plating.
Darren Current Project - 1950 3100 5 Window with a rebuilt 216 and 3 speed trans
Check this thread. Zinc plating I included a link there to the process I used. Also some discussion on how to tell zinc from cadmium plating.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.