Chrome alternitives?
- Thread starter mrdouble
- Start date
kenfyoozed
Member
what about clearcoating after the polish? They clearcoat some polished aluminium. Dont know if it would work?
honda123
Member
I assume that you are talking about aluminium. Alu looks great polished . But one down side is that it needs constant polishing to stay nice if it is not clear coated. It will not rust but will pit if not maintained. Chrome on the other hand speaks ( shines ) for its self. If you were to take the same part and have one chromed , and the other polished , I think the chrome one would cost less. Polishing is very laber intensive. And will always need maintenance.
If you were to take the same part and have one chromed , and the other polished , I think the chrome one would cost less. Polishing is very laber intensive. And will always need maintenance.
This illustrates a common misconception about chrome. Pieces must first be free of all traces of old plating and rust. For previously chromed pieces that means a trip to the stripping tank. Then the part must be metalfinished and polished before receiving the first strike of copper. The copper gets polished to a near-mirror finish, or if the item is pitted, it may take multiple strikes plus sanding/metalfinishing between them before final polishing. From there is gets 1-3 strikes of nickel. The last step is a quick bath in chrome, the shortest part of the process. Chrome is clear, but it gives nickel a blue/white look instead of the yellow cast of nickel plating.
The point is that the lion's share of the cost of plating is the metalfinishing/polishing. Chrome plating is like the thinnest, most flaw-magnifying, paint imaginable. Thus, polishing alone will cost less, but won't save much cash. It is possible to polish steel to a mirror finish and a good urethane clearcoat should last years, with occasional waxing.
Racer, your a dead nuts on. I have talked to a couple people about rechroming, it dosnt sound like something I want to do not (to much money and shady business people) . My uncle had a grill chromed couple years back, 800 dollars and it lasted about 2 years and rusted FAST.
Anyways, I may just have to buy "good chrome parts" on Ebay or something if I cant find a decent alternative to chrome.
As for clear coating polished metals, can this be done to bolt on parts?
Anyways, I may just have to buy "good chrome parts" on Ebay or something if I cant find a decent alternative to chrome.
As for clear coating polished metals, can this be done to bolt on parts?
There's nothing wrong with rechromed parts. In fact, the work is usually better than OEM. They simply plated clean stampings. Chrome must be kept waxed as the the plating isn't a continuous surface, but rather, a series of overlapping microscopic "scales". That's why, when you see rust coming through the chrome, it's shot; oxygen has penetrated all the way down to the base steel and that's where the rust is coming from (and spreading).
Not every chrome shop is shady and most are expert polishers. Unfortunately, they're being regulated out of existence and that's driving up the cost.
Not every chrome shop is shady and most are expert polishers. Unfortunately, they're being regulated out of existence and that's driving up the cost.
There is an alternative to chroming...powdercoating. There are several versions of "chrome" powdercoats available in a variety of shine intensities. It's a 3-step process and a bit more spendy than standard powdercoating, but it's pretty nice. It doesn't look exactly like chrome, more like polished aluminum. I'm resto-modding a '71 right now and I'm having the frame, swingarm and wheels done that way, with everything else gloss black. I should have it done by the Spring...complete with 140cc engine ...SC
...SCEastwood sells a home powdercoating kit, all you need is an oven, air compressor, regulator, and a timeer.
Their "chrome powder" looks great on smaller parts but would look obviously fake on fenders, handlebars... Eastwood recommends clear powdercoat be used over the chrome for durability, kinda dulls the lustre of the chrome powder finish.
Great stuff, I use it regularly.
Their "chrome powder" looks great on smaller parts but would look obviously fake on fenders, handlebars... Eastwood recommends clear powdercoat be used over the chrome for durability, kinda dulls the lustre of the chrome powder finish.
Great stuff, I use it regularly.