MINI
WORKSHOP TechI
f you’ve spent a fortune restoring the
bodywork on your Mini, the last thing
you’ll want to do is re-fit pitted and
tired looking chrome and brightwork.
On many models, you can still buy
bumpers and the majority of bright
finished components brand new off theshelf. But for those working on early or
rarer models, or where it’s vital to the
car’s integrity that all original
components are retained, the parts may
need to be repaired and replated.
Chrome plating is a very skilled
operation. It requires industrial levels ofequipment and an enormous volume of
various chemicals, but the electro
chemical process of plating the metal is
the last in a long line of operations, all of
which need to be completed to the
highest standards if the final finish is
going to be up to scratch.Doug Taylor Metal Finishing is very
much a family run business, and they
take a huge amount of pride in every job
that comes through the workshop. Head
of the family is dad, Doug, who set up
the company in 1981 - the company now
has three generations working thereMIRROR FINISH
including son, Nick, the plater, daughter,
Lorraine, and granddaughter, Zoe, who
deal with every thing from answering the
phones and dispatching orders to
working on the shop f loor at the busiest
times. In the polishing shop, you’ll find
long term employees John and Ky.NO TANKS
Needless to say, refinishing a metal
component - whether it’s a ferrous or
non-ferrous metal - is a very time
consuming business. Parts will be
scrutinized before they are accepted for
refinishing. This shouldn’t deter you as
it’s amazing how far gone a piece can be
before it’s irredeemable. “We won’t take
exhausts and silencers - we can’t risk
contaminating the tanks,” explainsRestoring the shine on your bumpers and brightwork is a job for the
experts - we visit Doug Taylor Metal Finishing to see how they do it.
Words and Photography Gerard Hughes“The finish has to be flawless or it will
show in the finished job”
CONTACT
Doug Taylor Metal Finishing Co
Unit 10 Knightcott Industrial Estate, Banwell,
Weston-super-Mare. BS29 6JN.
Phone: 01934 820454
Email: [email protected]MINI
WORKSHOP TechI
f you’vespenta fortunerestoringthe
bodyworkonyourMini,thelastthing
you’llwanttodois re-fitpittedand
tiredlookingchromeandbrightwork.
Onmanymodels,youcanstillbuy
bumpersandthemajorityofbright
finishedcomponentsbrandnewofftheshelf.Butforthoseworkingonearlyor
rarermodels,orwhereit’svitaltothe
car’sintegritythatalloriginal
componentsareretained,thepartsmay
needtoberepairedandreplated.
Chromeplatingis a veryskilled
operation.It requiresindustriallevelsofequipmentandanenormousvolumeof
variouschemicals,buttheelectro
chemicalprocessofplatingthemetalis
thelastina longlineofoperations,allof
whichneedtobecompletedtothe
higheststandardsif thefinalfinishis
goingtobeuptoscratch.DougTaylorMetalFinishingis very
mucha familyrunbusiness,andthey
takea hugeamountofprideineveryjob
thatcomesthroughtheworkshop.Head
ofthefamilyis dad,Doug,whosetup
thecompanyin 1981 - thecompanynow
hasthreegenerationsworkingthereMIRROR FINISH
including son, Nick, the plater, daughter,
Lorraine, and granddaughter, Zoe, who
deal with every thing from answering the
phones and dispatching orders to
working on the shop f loor at the busiest
times. In the polishing shop, you’ll find
long term employees John and Ky.NO TANKS
Needless to say, refinishing a metal
component - whether it’s a ferrous or
non-ferrous metal - is a very time
consuming business. Parts will be
scrutinized before they are accepted for
refinishing. This shouldn’t deter you as
it’s amazing how far gone a piece can be
before it’s irredeemable. “We won’t take
exhausts and silencers - we can’t risk
contaminating the tanks,” explainsRestoring the shine on your bumpers and brightwork is a job for the
experts - we visit Doug Taylor Metal Finishing to see how they do it.
Words and Photography Gerard Hughes“The finish has to be flawless or it will
show in the finished job”
CONTACT
Doug Taylor Metal Finishing Co
Unit 10 Knightcott Industrial Estate, Banwell,
Weston-super-Mare. BS29 6JN.
Phone: 01934 820454
Email: [email protected]