Chrome Stripping and Replating

[TOOL460002]

Hey! My brother has a local/smaller guitar builder that does great work and I'm thinking about a custom pickguard and knobs for an EBMM Stingray. The pickguard is easy enough, but I want the exact same feel on the knobs, but I want them to have inserts on the top that match the pickguard.

I am trying to see how easy it would be to get some OEM Stingray knobs and drill a bit out of the top, strip all the chrome/nickel, replate it, and then apply the matching color disc on the top of the knob. The concept isn't new but I haven't had anything stripped of anodization/nickel/chrome since my paintballing days and don't know if this is something that's easier to do in small batches these days.

Thanks!

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Hey! My brother has a local/smaller guitar builder that does great work and I'm thinking about a custom pickguard and knobs for an EBMM Stingray. The pickguard is easy enough, but I want the exact same feel on the knobs, but I want them to have inserts on the top that match the pickguard.

I am trying to see how easy it would be to get some OEM Stingray knobs and drill a bit out of the top, strip all the chrome/nickel, replate it, and then apply the matching color disc on the top of the knob. The concept isn't new but I haven't had anything stripped of anodization/nickel/chrome since my paintballing days and don't know if this is something that's easier to do in small batches these days.

Thanks!

Well first, it would probably less expensive to machine up a new knob from scratch, to whatever design and look you want, than to modify and strip the plating off of an existing knob.

If you like the knobs that you have, except that you want to add the colored caps on them, you could do that without disturbing the existing plating. That is, you could put the existing knob in a metal lathe and machine off a flat recessed surface on the top. Done with a little care, it won't chip the edges of the plating. Then you could epoxy in discs of whatever and trim and polish them. That's a reasonable job for someone with a metal lathe and some machining experience.

You can get a small quantity of parts stripped and re-plated, but it's expensive. Most plating shops have minimum orders of $150 to $250. If you took in three knobs to be stripped and replated, that's what it would cost you.

Anodizing (for aluminum) is a different process and usually a different company, but the prices are about the same. They also have minimum orders.

 

[TOOL460002]

Well first, it would probably less expensive to machine up a new knob from scratch, to whatever design and look you want, than to modify and strip the plating off of an existing knob.

If you like the knobs that you have, except that you want to add the colored caps on them, you could do that without disturbing the existing plating. That is, you could put the existing knob in a metal lathe and machine off a flat recessed surface on the top. Done with a little care, it won't chip the edges of the plating. Then you could epoxy in discs of whatever and trim and polish them. That's a reasonable job for someone with a metal lathe and some machining experience.

You can get a small quantity of parts stripped and re-plated, but it's expensive. Most plating shops have minimum orders of $150 to $250. If you took in three knobs to be stripped and replated, that's what it would cost you.

Anodizing (for aluminum) is a different process and usually a different company, but the prices are about the same. They also have minimum orders.

Thx. Gotcha. I was trying to think of a way to mill into plated knobs without stripping things out. I will probably get a few sets so for like 9 or 12 knobs maybe 150 isn't the end of the world. Will see. Thanks. Gave me more to think of.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Thx. Gotcha. I was trying to think of a way to mill into plated knobs without stripping things out. I will probably get a few sets so for like 9 or 12 knobs maybe 150 isn't the end of the world. Will see. Thanks. Gave me more to think of.

I'm a machinist, and I've machined plated parts many times. The trick is to use a sharp point cutter bit to score the plating and cut through it, gently. Plating is hard brittle material, and if the tool bit digs in too fast the plating will break and chip. The nickel plating, which is the second layer under the chrome, is actually the toughest to cut through.

 

[TOOL460002]

I'm a machinist, and I've machined plated parts many times. The trick is to use a sharp point cutter bit to score the plating and cut through it, gently. Plating is hard brittle material, and if the tool bit digs in too fast the plating will break and chip. The nickel plating, which is the second layer under the chrome, is actually the toughest to cut through.

I'm not sure how much metal work this particular builder does. Thanks for the info. I remember wanting to get my 98 Shocker chromed out but got convinced to go nickel due to toughness. I'll give the dude a chance but perhaps I outsource the metalwork part of the knobs... Will see... Thanks!

 

[Reedt2000]

What finish is the bass? Could make wooden knobs with the PG material inset in them. Finish them the same as the bass? What custom PG material? Anyone already making knobs with that it them? Or could you get metal knobs with a different material inlaid, remove that material, and replace it with what you want?

 

[BadMonk]

Yeah, chrome plating is terribly expensive and it takes time and materials. I know from rebuilding motorcycles. Much of that is driven by environmental issues because chroming is not enviro friendly.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Get some metal knobs that have a dome already on it, pop off unwanted dome piece, glue in new piece.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Forgive me If I misunderstand what you are looking for but.... This company Q-Parts makes knurled chrome knobs with various insert caps. I called them directly and asked them to leave the center accent piece loose, which they agreed to do because they come from their foreign source unassembled. I made some walnut inserts with MOP star inlays, not perfect, but I was pretty happy with the result. They have them in chrome, gold and black IIRC.

Knobs – Q-parts

qparts.com

 

[SoonerBill]

Forgive me If I misunderstand what you are looking for but.... This company Q-Parts makes knurled chrome knobs with various insert caps. I called them directly and asked them to leave the center accent piece loose, which they agreed to do because they come from their foreign source unassembled. I made some walnut inserts with MOP star inlays, not perfect, but I was pretty happy with the result. They have them in chrome, gold and black IIRC.

Knobs – Q-parts

qparts.com

That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Bass or otherwise!

 

[TOOL460002]

Forgive me If I misunderstand what you are looking for but.... This company Q-Parts makes knurled chrome knobs with various insert caps. I called them directly and asked them to leave the center accent piece loose, which they agreed to do because they come from their foreign source unassembled. I made some walnut inserts with MOP star inlays, not perfect, but I was pretty happy with the result. They have them in chrome, gold and black IIRC.

Knobs – Q-parts

qparts.com

First, gorgeous bass. Those knobs would be a quick/easy way to accomplish what I'd like. I just want the other specs to be Stingray knobs, not taller or wider or whatever.

 

[TOOL460002]

What finish is the bass? Could make wooden knobs with the PG material inset in them. Finish them the same as the bass? What custom PG material? Anyone already making knobs with that it them? Or could you get metal knobs with a different material inlaid, remove that material, and replace it with what you want?

Bass is white, so it'll be all white, maple neck, EBMM chrome stuff, and whatever I do with the pickguard or knobs, so wood would be weird on it but I like that concept for looks and shaving weight. The pickguard material will probably be some kind of purple with gold sparkle stuff in it.

 

[Reedt2000]

Bass is white, so it'll be all white, maple neck, EBMM chrome stuff, and whatever I do with the pickguard or knobs, so wood would be weird on it but I like that concept for looks and shaving weight. The pickguard material will probably be some kind of purple with gold sparkle stuff in it.

I meant paint the wood knobs to match the bass. But sounds like @Gilmourisgod had the best solution.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Forgive me If I misunderstand what you are looking for but.... This company Q-Parts makes knurled chrome knobs with various insert caps. I called them directly and asked them to leave the center accent piece loose, which they agreed to do because they come from their foreign source unassembled. I made some walnut inserts with MOP star inlays, not perfect, but I was pretty happy with the result. They have them in chrome, gold and black IIRC.

Knobs – Q-parts

qparts.com

Those Q-Parts knobs are what I was recommending that he do to his knobs. Put the knob in a metal lathe and machine a flat recess on the top. Then make up and glue in a disk of decorative material. It's not difficult to do.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Those Q-Parts knobs are what I was recommending that he do to his knobs. Put the knob in a metal lathe and machine a flat recess on the top. Then make up and glue in a disk of decorative material. It's not difficult to do.

Not difficult for those of us with access to a lathe! or 2, or 3...... The only Lathe i've ever used was the one on my Grandfathers Shopsmith (alas long gone), and maybe the one in Highschool wood shop. It's a notable void in my limited woodworking experience, and non-existent metal working experience. The top recess in the Q-Parts knobs is something like 3/32" deep, and they helpfully provide a little knockout hole in it so you don't have to pry your infill out if it's too tight while you are test-fitting it. (ask how I know this). Although I certainly know better, lacking any 5/8" dia. plug cutters, I bought a cheap set from Harbor Freight. Garbage. Useless. Dangerous to use. So dull right out of the package that sparks were flying off the walnut plug, you can see the burn marks on my photo, and the bit turned that bright electric blue of cheap steel subjected to heat. Who makes some good quality plug cutters, and which type, the three-prong ones or the cylindrical ones with a cutout?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Acrylic Purple Pearl on Dome Knob

Dome knobs are the industry standard. You find them on all major American brands from Fender to imported guitars like Ibanez, and many others. We made ours a tad wider for better grip and tad shorter to be less obtrusive, especially when using a tremolo…

qparts.com

Knobs – Page 2 – Q-parts

qparts.com

They have purple and white inserts, just sayin....
Good quality too, nice thick-looking chrome, deep knurl, solid brass body with set screws

 

[Matt Liebenau]

If you know someone with a wood lathe, or metal I suppose, another option for colors is acrylic pen blanks. That’s what these are. The white one isn’t finished, it was a spare for another set, but you mentioned the body color was white so I stuck it in there.



@Gilmourisgod, I’ve used these plug cutters for a long time, no issues. I forget where I got them, probably Woodcraft or Ace.

 

[TOOL460002]

If you know someone with a wood lathe, or metal I suppose, another option for colors is acrylic pen blanks. That’s what these are. The white one isn’t finished, it was a spare for another set, but you mentioned the body color was white so I stuck it in there.

View attachment 7071773

@Gilmourisgod, I’ve used these plug cutters for a long time, no issues. I forget where I got them, probably Woodcraft or Ace.

View attachment 7071774

Now I wanna take a 3D printing class...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Me too! Actually what I’d really like for Christmas is a small bench top CNC for cutting stuff like fretboard inlays and fret slots. Hand-cutting all those MOP star inlays kicked my a$$.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Now I wanna take a 3D printing class...

That's cheating! Come on, take a Machine Shop class, and learn how to run a lathe. And make some cool knobs as a term project.