[Healeys] New Fasteners or Refurbished

[john spaur]

I started out using stainless steel in some locations then I started 
re-plating original nuts, bolts and washers because some are unique. 
Nuts with circles on the flats, bolts that I could tell were 
originals by the markings and specially sized washers. In some not 
very visible areas subject to rusting, I used stainless steel. I also 
used some SS fasteners in the engine compartment too. I mixed things 
up a bit. I have been using a Caswell plating kit to zinc plate. A 
restorer I talked with recommends clear cadmium but you need to send 
that out to a plater. He just loads everything into a box and sends 
to somewhere in southern California.

John

At 04:33 PM 11/20/2011 -0800, mark lapierre wrote:
>I just watched a video about refurbishing old nuts, bolts and even washers to
>reuse on restorations and general maintenance on our cars.    The fasteners
>were tumbled clean and then zinc plated.
>
>At what point and in what areas is it not a good idea to reuse these
>fasteners.  I have mixed
>emotions on which way I would want my total restoration handled.  If I was
>paying the big bucks
>then I would expect  to have new hardward used.
>
>  Seems like there would be a failure issue or a stretching of the threads
>coming into play here after 40 some years.
>
>Is the old style British hardware with the circles on the heads still
>available new anymore or is it necessary to use old hardware to get the
>original look?
>
>I guess my point here is that I am very surprised that old hardware is used on
>high dollar
>restorations.   Curious how other restorers handle this issue.
>
>Mark