I have a mountain bike that I bought in 86.' Except for all the rust and corrosion on the frame, the bike is in good shape. The frame is coated in "Black chrome" It looks pretty cool without all the corrosion, but now....not so good. So what needs to be done is, have that chrome removed and then paint the frame. Might as well put some modern forks on it while I'm at it.
What is the best way to remove chrome? Anybody do this before?
Have access to a sandblaster?
Quote from: alfisti on April 28, 2011, 09:27:34 AM
Have access to a sandblaster?
this. If you know someone that does powder coating, you might be able to get it cleaned up pretty easily.
so chrome is just a coating, it's not bonded to a metal?
I know dumb question...
I have a pair of old timer chrome megaphone that just didn't look right, but hell if i can take the chrome off and get them coated with something else.... hmmm
I don't know if there are different methods for chroming metal, but I've had objects that rusted and the chrome flaked off, exposing the metal underneath. I used a wire wheel to remove the rest and then painted with rustoleum.
Quote from: alfisti on April 28, 2011, 09:27:34 AM
Have access to a sandblaster?
Yea I have a simple siphon type sandblaster but I would rather have someone else do it. Maybe the powder coating folks...
And my chrome isn't flaking yet so I think it would come off rather stubbornly.
Quote from: Raux on April 28, 2011, 09:39:09 AM
so chrome is just a coating, it's not bonded to a metal?
I know dumb question...
I have a pair of old timer chrome megaphone that just didn't look right, but hell if i can take the chrome off and get them coated with something else.... hmmm
Yes it is a coating.
It is usually applied to copper or nickel which is bonded to the underlying metal.
Depending on the blast set-up it can be difficult to remove.
My bike is red, I want to strip it.. might see if heman can do it for me.. uavebt asked yet.. too much damn rain
Quote from: ducpainter on April 28, 2011, 10:25:00 AM
Depending on the blast set-up it can be difficult to remove.
+1
Based on my experience, older (read better) chrome can be particularly hard (if not impossible) to remove via blasting. Sometimes all you'll do is sort of peen the surface, which
might be enough to be able to paint.
Black chrome may be easier to remove though....
How cool would a copper plated monster tank be?
Gives me an idear!
I used to know a girl that could remove chrome....
only trailer hitches tho.
/reports to ban yourself.
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Quote from: JEFF_H on April 28, 2011, 02:57:47 PM
I used to know a girl that could remove chrome....
only trailer hitches tho.
/reports to ban yourself.
You know my ex?
Quote from: bobspapa on April 28, 2011, 03:29:21 PM
You know my ex?
Why is she your ex? How bad could it have been. Chrome off a trailer hitch!
All trailer hitches and knob polishers aside...
de-chrome it is a reverse of the chroming process....the old bike I am working on a prior owner had chromed the cases...supposed to be polished aluminum
when I went to the local chromer to have the right parts plated I brought along the parts to be unplated and polished
if you have someone in your zone that does chrome take it there
I agree with RAT... do it chemically.
Now that's the kind of advice I'm looking for! Chrome plater here I come.
Quote from: D Paoli on April 29, 2011, 07:08:37 AM
Now that's the kind of advice I'm looking for! Chrome plater here I come.
Be prepared to pay. I dechromed/rechromed the rims on my first Honda resto. only to find out that I could buy brand new ones for a fraction of the price. I know that's not your situation but just the dechroming process was very coslty.
I don't know about the rest of the country, but where I live in NY, the EPA restrictions are very stringent and the few chrome platers in my area price accordingly. They explained to me that to strip the old chrome is pretty much the same "step" process, just in reverse. Chrome>>Copper>>Nickel. Hopefully you'll have cheaper shops near you but I paid out the nose. Also, the local shops gave me attitude because it wasn't a sizable job. make the beast with two backs them. Below is a link with some useful info.
http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html (http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html)
Quote from: rgramjet on April 28, 2011, 02:31:48 PM
How cool would a copper plated monster tank be?
Gives me an idear!
I have a picture of an old Triumph chopper with a copper tank and some other copper bits. Looks awesome. I'll see if I can find the pics. If you like copper, check this out. http://ahbald.blogspot.com/2010/09/for-sale-1965-shelby-cobra-copper.html (http://ahbald.blogspot.com/2010/09/for-sale-1965-shelby-cobra-copper.html)
BTW: An idea is good but an idear is even better! ;D
And thank you for that. Good info.
Maybe not so fast down to the chrome shop.
Quote from: D Paoli on April 29, 2011, 04:57:33 PM
And thank you for that. Good info.
Maybe not so fast down to the chrome shop.
Give'em a call first. I was stubborn in that I needed to have the original DID rims on my bike and I pushed the issue to get them rechromed at any cost. I think these jerk-off chrome shops near me knew they had me by the balls and ran with it. I think they try to discourage you from coming back with little bits and pieces of your projects. Maybe you might have better luck with someone in your area.
Quote from: speedknot on April 29, 2011, 04:35:23 PM
I have a picture of an old Triumph chopper with a copper tank and some other copper bits. Looks awesome. I'll see if I can find the pics. If you like copper, check this out. http://ahbald.blogspot.com/2010/09/for-sale-1965-shelby-cobra-copper.html (http://ahbald.blogspot.com/2010/09/for-sale-1965-shelby-cobra-copper.html)
BTW: An idea is good but an idear is even better! ;D
That Cobra is so badass I can't even stand it. Copper Monster tank, just as badass!
Quote from: speedknot on April 29, 2011, 04:24:40 PM
Be prepared to pay. I dechromed/rechromed the rims on my first Honda resto. only to find out that I could buy brand new ones for a fraction of the price. I know that's not your situation but just the dechroming process was very coslty.
I don't know about the rest of the country, but where I live in NY, the EPA restrictions are very stringent and the few chrome platers in my area price accordingly. They explained to me that to strip the old chrome is pretty much the same "step" process, just in reverse. Chrome>>Copper>>Nickel. Hopefully you'll have cheaper shops near you but I paid out the nose. Also, the local shops gave me attitude because it wasn't a sizable job. make the beast with two backs them. Below is a link with some useful info.
http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html (http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html)
Who did you use? that evil old lady at Nassau Chrome in Mineola?....true strap-on prices.
I used Rick at V-Twins on Hamilton Ave in Oyster Bay. He does the chrome work at his shop over in NJ 3 days a week
516-922-5059...shop hours are 3pm onward
For the header pipes on my resto project it was 90 bucks a pipe to de-crud them (and they had major crud) de-chrome them and rechrome them
Maybe he is cheaper because his chroming operation is in Joisey
When you are doing piece parts there are no economies of scale and the same part new (if you can get it) will usually/always be cheaper if it was mass produced
Quote from: RAT900 on April 29, 2011, 08:58:22 PM
Who did you use? that evil old lady at Nassau Chrome in Mineola?....true strap-on prices.
I used Rick at V-Twins on Hamilton Ave in Oyster Bay. He does the chrome work at his shop over in NJ 3 days a week
516-922-5059...shop hours are 3pm onward
For the header pipes on my resto project it was 90 bucks a pipe to de-crud them (and they had major crud) de-chrome them and rechrome them
Maybe he is cheaper because his chroming operation is in Joisey
When you are doing piece parts there are no economies of scale and the same part new (if you can get it) will usually/always be cheaper if it was mass produced
Aye. Good recommendation. Yes, it was the evil hag at Nassau Chromium. There was another plating shop in Bellport that was run by a young guy who was very arrogant and pretty much told me it was a waste of time to restore old Japanese bikes. It's no wonder why he's out of business. I had come across a few shops in NJ but I wasn't about to make the trip. I have a nice set of 4 into 1 pipes for my CB400F that I will want to get chromed so I'll look Rick up when I'm ready. Thanks again.
You're welcome. Rick does good work, is old school/old time Harley (you may have to apologize for the Japanese thing :))
He can use the business, he came highly recommended by a family in town
that does concours-grade vintage Ferrari restorations as a side hobby
to their diesel motor business and industrial on-site power generator business
Rick is a block over from Billy Joel's little personal museum
I am happy with his work
Quote from: Speedbag on April 28, 2011, 12:20:51 PM
+1
Based on my experience, older (read better) chrome can be particularly hard (if not impossible) to remove via blasting. Sometimes all you'll do is sort of peen the surface, which might be enough to be able to paint.
Black chrome may be easier to remove though....
I don't think you can remove chrome by sandblasting without seriously damaging places on the base metal. I think you're right that all you need to do is sandblast the chrome enough to roughen it to provide some tooth for the paint to stick to. Maybe DP knows for sure.
Quote from: Langanobob on April 30, 2011, 06:10:58 AM
I don't think you can remove chrome by sandblasting without seriously damaging places on the base metal. I think you're right that all you need to do is sandblast the chrome enough to roughen it to provide some tooth for the paint to stick to. Maybe DP knows for sure.
I don't think you'd damage the base metal unless it was sheet metal, and then it would probably warp a bit.
I've had success blasting to roughen and using epoxy primer for adhesion.