Re-silvering an M2 or M3?

[digitalintrigue]

Removing the chrome from from the misc. parts is part of the process of painting an M; does anyone know if, instead of painting the brass parts, can they simply be replated with the same satin silver look and feel? This would in theory restore the camera to a like-new finish.

[Ronald M]

Duplicating the satin chrome is a difficult process. I am sure it involves blasting the chrome with correct material to achieve the look.

There are no secrets to metal work and I am sure the right person can do it.

[Never Satisfied]

As far as I'm aware, nobody has been able to replicate the look, hence the reason why old bodies get a painted facelift. There is a trader on the big auction site who sell NOS body parts (do a search for leica parts) for most Ms, except M2s. I think if it's got that ugly you'll have to pick a nice colour from the dulux chart. Andrew.

[JNewell]

Originally Posted by digitalintrigue

Removing the chrome from from the misc. parts is part of the process of painting an M; does anyone know if, instead of painting the brass parts, can they simply be replated with the same satin silver look and feel? This would in theory restore the camera to a like-new finish.

This gets discussed from time to time. IIRC, Tom A has said it basically isn't possible to find anyone who can recreate the same finish.

[Bill58]

I've had some experience w/ re-chroming auto parts and basically if you want a high polished chrome, you gotta have the same underneath and vice-versa. Therefore, if you want a satin finish, the steel or brass- plated steel must be satin.

Apparently, Leica used some special process that gave the metal a certain look before they dunked it in the Chromium. It would be easy to replicate that finish IF we knew what they used (i.e. blasting/ polishing media, grit #/ type, etching chemical, etc.). However, I doubt if they will ever tell anybody.

You could come close, "but close only counts w/ hand grenades, horseshoes and dancing".

[digitalintrigue]

Yes, I figured it was part magic, virtually impossible to duplicate...

[peterm1]

I once knew a dentist (and camera buff) who was experimenting with a mini "sand" blaster that was part of a dentists kit - designed I think to roughen up tooth enamel etc to take a filling and help make it stick. Anyhow he told me that he had experimented with using this to carefully do over old cameras. My impression was though, that he was using it to re-establish a satin finish on rub marks on satin chrome rather than roughening up the base metal after removing the chrome. From what he said it worked but took time and care. You might like to try something like this. But my impression is that satin chrome is a specific finish in itself - not just plain old chrome applied over a slightly roughened metal base. Someone must know the process - remember that back then pretty well all cameras used satin chrome so there cannot be much of a secret to it. I would imagine that there are still specialists who can do it.

[CameraQuest]

Originally Posted by digitalintrigue

Removing the chrome from from the misc. parts is part of the process of painting an M; does anyone know if, instead of painting the brass parts, can they simply be replated with the same satin silver look and feel? This would in theory restore the camera to a like-new finish.

real world, a bad idea.
it will cost a small fortune to have it done properly -- which is a hard thing to do.
and if they screw it up, you have a bunch of useless parts

add to that your time and the tech's labor.

it would cost a lot less to sell your camera
and buy another M in good shape which does not need work.

Stephen

[digitalintrigue]

I haven't seen one of Tom's RapidWinders in brushed chrome, how well does that match the finish of a silver M2 or M3?