Sourcing Chrome Trim Strips

Ron Forrest · Post by **Ron Forrest** » 4 Dec 2022 8:31 am

Hi,

Were does everyone source the chrome trim strips from? I'm reburbing a 79 Zum and would like to replace these as they are damaged on the top edges.

Thanks

Ron

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 7 Dec 2022 3:34 pm

About all you can find in the stores anymore is 1/2 in. Zums, and most other strips are more narrow than that. You might be able to source some of these aluminum strips from one of our steel builders or possibly have a metals supplier cut some the proper width for you.

Mark Lee · Post by **Mark Lee** » 7 Dec 2022 4:29 pm

I recently ordered an aluminum trim strip from Al Brisco for a D10 Carter guitar. Al secured it to a wood dowel to protect it during shipping.
The ZumSteel trim may have different dimensions from the Carter, and I'd suggest that if you order one, get it from a USA address since shipping costs from Canada will roughly double the cost of the part.
If you live near a city, you might check with local metal dealers. It's likely that they may have aluminum flat stock of the correct dimensions. The piece would still need to be polished with a buffing wheel and compound.

Ron Forrest · Post by **Ron Forrest** » 8 Dec 2022 5:56 am

Thanks for the great tips. I've actually contacted a local machine/fab shop and they said they can make them easily for me.

Ron

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 11 Dec 2022 3:11 am

McMaster-Carr.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 12 Dec 2022 12:31 pm

I had a loaf of them that came from Crawford's shop a few years after he passed away. They were long and a masking taped bundle of these were what Bobbe Seymour was cutting -- with a table saw -- when he had his accident. I was not there. As awful as it sounds, I only needed a few for future restorations. I imagine the rest stayed in his shop.

When you order the strips, remember that the idea is that the thickness is not off-the-shelf. It should be slightly proud of the mica you are using. So, if you are using horizontal grade mica or vertical grade mica, or Formica or WilsonArt, the thickness required would be different. It looks silly to have trim strips made for horizontal grade mica on a guitar with thin vertical grade Formica or WilsonArt.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 15 Dec 2022 8:12 am

They are not chromed generally- they are aluminum that is polished.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 16 Dec 2022 5:30 pm

Is the top strip too far gone to tap and file out the dents, wet dry to perhaps 600 the scratches, tape the pieces to a board for support and buff out to smooth and shiny? I use 1x1 maple stock to hold inlay for buffing.

Ron Forrest · Post by **Ron Forrest** » 17 Dec 2022 6:34 pm

Chris,

The original chrome strips are pretty banged up from years of use. I could try to sand them but i don't think i would be able to get it back close to new condition.

Ron

Ron Forrest · Post by **Ron Forrest** » 17 Dec 2022 6:38 pm

Jim,

A local machine shop thinks they can make them for me at a pretty reasonable price. They will be aluminum and I'll polish them out for the final install on the guitar.

They are also going to to make me a new set of pedals for the Zum also. Since its a 79 they are basically aluminum U channel with some machining to get to look like originals. Cant wait to get this back together!!!

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 17 Dec 2022 8:13 pm

You might also ask them if they can polish the strips for you as it's a bit of a pain to do well. I put double sided sticky tape on them and tape them to a stiff board but would be happy to have someone else take it on

. Sounds great and glad a machinist has taken care of you.

Philip Mitrakos · Post by **Philip Mitrakos** » 23 Jan 2023 5:55 pm

, . .

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 24 Jan 2023 9:44 am

My pictures an tips on cutting narrow thin aluminum strips ::: I removed steel players need all there fingers and most of there toes.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 24 Jan 2023 9:53 am

Thanks

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 24 Jan 2023 10:30 am

With all due respect, Bobbe Seymour's cutting my supply of the aluminum strips (all of the JCH leftover supply) on a table saw is what caused Bobbe's accident. Bobbe trusted tape.