Bumper poll

What type of bumpers

  • Chrome

    Votes: 74 56.9%

  • Stainless

    Votes: 19 14.6%

  • Painted

    Votes: 19 14.6%

  • Proudly showing their age

    Votes: 18 13.8%
  • Total voters
    130
Aok

Aok

Well-known member
Just wondering what type of bumpers members have. My are presently painter ( chrome spray) planning on stainless in the future
 
A little premature as it is still a work in progress, but painted Cream to match the Wheels.
 

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Jeff/Illinois said:
Been told by Model A people who know a LOT more than I do, that SS is brittle and will shatter when hit. It can't take the stress regular steel does.They advise staying with chrome plated steel bumpers...................
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That is incorrect information,

Hot Roll steel, which is probably what a bumper is made from has a Brinell Hardness of 145-150, Stainless on the other hand is Softer, with a Brinell of 91. Stainless is malleable and polish-able. Excellent bumper material.
 
My bumpers were in pretty sorry shape. Since its no show car I straightened them out and used silver hammer finish spray paint. Looks great and very durable.
 
Jeff

just to let you know stainless is not brittle it has nickel in it, it is soft. I have one here that wrapped right a round a tree in an accident now it is only good for a wall hanger . if you are putting together a driver stainless lasts for ever.
 
christian said:
My bumpers were in pretty sorry shape. Since its no show car I straightened them out and used silver hammer finish spray paint. Looks great and very durable.
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i did this too with that hammered paint. im wondering if i should go with the aluminum spray paint...you got any pics of it on the car?

they make brush on aluminum paint right? i need to do the lockrings on my AA and ive already done some of the hubcaps and lugnuts with the spray and looks pretty decent. but i want more durability of the brush on...
 
I bent my SS front bumper, pretty good. Took it apart, straightened it on a 20 ton press polished up, put it back on , and you would never know it.
 
They may have been referring to the use of stainless hardware. It is not for load bearing or high torque applications, since it will stretch and shear under torque load, it might appear to break due to being brittle, but really is softer.
 
I too had to make a decision and decided on chrome. That was in late April or early May of this year. I noticed a spot of rust on the top edge of the front bumper. Its a small spot but I wish I had gone stainless as my car is a driver. Starting to rust in less than three months sucks.
 
klawockvet said:
I too had to make a decision and decided on chrome. That was in late April or early May of this year. I noticed a spot of rust on the top edge of the front bumper. Its a small spot but I wish I had gone stainless as my car is a driver. Starting to rust in less than three months sucks.
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I don't know who chromed your's, but I know a lot of the chrome from the "cheap" countries is very poor and quickly rusts. I would use fine steel wool to clean off the rust, then wipe the bumper with a rag with some Mystik grease on it. The Mystik grease is very sticky and should keep the bumper coated for quite a while. Rewipe as needed. That's what I do with my cutout and instrument panel, except I've been using an oily rag. I try to keep a heavy coat of oil on the instrument panel so people won't feel the need to touch it. I gave my neighbor ride the other day, and sure enough he had to touch it to ask if it was stainless.:eek: Maybe I need to wire it to a Model T coil.:eek::D
 
Original bumpers are spring steel, not hot rolled steel. There are different grades of stainless steel as far as hardness is concerned. The stainless bumpers bend easily and are not the correct length. I had original bumpers rechromed at Berts for my sedan in the ninties and they still look good. I bought new chrome bumpers for my roadster from Smith and Jones. Their bumpers are spring steel and are exactly like original in every way that I can tell, they also had a one year warranty. After eight years the Smith and Jones chrome bumpers still look good as new.
 
Here is Rattle Can Chrome Spray paint. :eek:
Works for me!!:cool:
 

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There is stainless steel tape that can be used on bumpers. I think that JC Whitney still has it. I haven't tried it but have heard that others have.
 
I went with SS because I live very near the ocean in a high salt air environment. I thought SS would be best for my area. SS looks very nice.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
Original bumpers are spring steel, not hot rolled steel. There are different grades of stainless steel as far as hardness is concerned. The stainless bumpers bend easily and are not the correct length. I had original bumpers rechromed at Berts for my sedan in the ninties and they still look good. I bought new chrome bumpers for my roadster from Smith and Jones. Their bumpers are spring steel and are exactly like original in every way that I can tell, they also had a one year warranty. After eight years the Smith and Jones chrome bumpers still look good as new.
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How much of a length discrepancy is there?
 
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