rusted chrome, pitting billet
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rusted chrome, pitting billet
If you have a chrome part that is rusting, do you have to take it somewhere and have it striped before a re-chrome or is that part of the process when they re-chrome something?
Also, if you have a billet part pitting under the chrome plating do you have to have the part striped and the corrosion sanded out? How do you have a billet part re-chromed if you have corrosion?
Friend of mine that lives in Florida had to leave is Fatboy in parking garage for 9 mths while he was healing from a car accident. It was covered but it still didn't keep the chrome and billet from corroding. The chrome is just flaking off of his pully and wheels. Almost everything on the bike that is chrome is rusted and pitted.
Also, if you have a billet part pitting under the chrome plating do you have to have the part striped and the corrosion sanded out? How do you have a billet part re-chromed if you have corrosion?
Friend of mine that lives in Florida had to leave is Fatboy in parking garage for 9 mths while he was healing from a car accident. It was covered but it still didn't keep the chrome and billet from corroding. The chrome is just flaking off of his pully and wheels. Almost everything on the bike that is chrome is rusted and pitted.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,081
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
RE: rusted chrome, pitting billet
Whoa![sm=insomnia.gif] That must be a wet area!
Well, I've done this once and it wasn't bike parts (car rims and other parts).
I was a sand blaster for a place I used to work for and the boss bought those in to me to clean up. Same type of crud you described. I regulated the air pressure to about half way and cleaned all the stuff up for him. He then later had them chromed. They came out great.
I'm sure somene else may have a better solution for you though.
Good Luck!
Well, I've done this once and it wasn't bike parts (car rims and other parts).
I was a sand blaster for a place I used to work for and the boss bought those in to me to clean up. Same type of crud you described. I regulated the air pressure to about half way and cleaned all the stuff up for him. He then later had them chromed. They came out great.
I'm sure somene else may have a better solution for you though.
Good Luck!
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Joined: Jul 2006
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RE: rusted chrome, pitting billet
If your part is rusting I'm assuming it it steal and would have to be stripped down to the steal by the chrome plater. If your experiencing flaking on aluminum parts I'm assuming these were parts manufactured/plated overseas where copper is not the standard. Copper acid or even cyanide prepared parts don't typically flake. The only exception would be for those geniuses that believe masking off certain areas on aluminum parts for bearings etc... and allow moisture to get under their plating and a year down the road you have white oxide.
Your best solution is weigh the cost of plating against replacement and go from there. Good luck.
www.chromethathog.com
[IMG]local://upfiles/15359/DC1100E177364B75A7B1A1253B9956DF.jpg[/IMG]
Your best solution is weigh the cost of plating against replacement and go from there. Good luck.
www.chromethathog.com
ORIGINAL: TM
If you have a chrome part that is rusting, do you have to take it somewhere and have it striped before a re-chrome or is that part of the process when they re-chrome something?
Also, if you have a billet part pitting under the chrome plating do you have to have the part striped and the corrosion sanded out? How do you have a billet part re-chromed if you have corrosion?
Friend of mine that lives in Florida had to leave is Fatboy in parking garage for 9 mths while he was healing from a car accident. It was covered but it still didn't keep the chrome and billet from corroding. The chrome is just flaking off of his pully and wheels. Almost everything on the bike that is chrome is rusted and pitted.
If you have a chrome part that is rusting, do you have to take it somewhere and have it striped before a re-chrome or is that part of the process when they re-chrome something?
Also, if you have a billet part pitting under the chrome plating do you have to have the part striped and the corrosion sanded out? How do you have a billet part re-chromed if you have corrosion?
Friend of mine that lives in Florida had to leave is Fatboy in parking garage for 9 mths while he was healing from a car accident. It was covered but it still didn't keep the chrome and billet from corroding. The chrome is just flaking off of his pully and wheels. Almost everything on the bike that is chrome is rusted and pitted.
[IMG]local://upfiles/15359/DC1100E177364B75A7B1A1253B9956DF.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 4
From: Columbus, OH
RE: rusted chrome, pitting billet
Rust and corrosion removale is part of the plating process. The rusted parts may be easy to repair if the rust it light enough, it may only require the chrome removed, the nickle buffed out and then add some more nickle and then chrome. The flaking on the alum. I would remove all the plating and start over. May be cheap to replace.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 261
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rusted chrome, Caution!!
Any time you have a motorcycle stored in a garage, be absolutely certain there are no swimming pool chemicals in there with it. Chlorine and muratic acid are the common culprits.
I used to restore vintage Corvettes. I often used muratic acid deluted with water to soak rusty bolts and nuts in to remove the rust and corrosion. I would then rinse the cleaned bolts and nuts in hot soapy water to remove the acid. They would look like new.
However, muratic acid and air will rust the s..t out of chrome and metal. I made a mistake and left a pan of muratic acid and water on my workbench. When I came back a few days later, every one of my tools hanging behind the workbench were solid rust. Couldn't even make out the sizes and brand stamped in them. It also got to my tool cabinet. Rusted it too!
I never keep anything corrosive in my garage because that is where my bike lives.
I hope this helps someone in the future.
I used to restore vintage Corvettes. I often used muratic acid deluted with water to soak rusty bolts and nuts in to remove the rust and corrosion. I would then rinse the cleaned bolts and nuts in hot soapy water to remove the acid. They would look like new.
However, muratic acid and air will rust the s..t out of chrome and metal. I made a mistake and left a pan of muratic acid and water on my workbench. When I came back a few days later, every one of my tools hanging behind the workbench were solid rust. Couldn't even make out the sizes and brand stamped in them. It also got to my tool cabinet. Rusted it too!
I never keep anything corrosive in my garage because that is where my bike lives.
I hope this helps someone in the future.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
RE: rusted chrome, Caution!!
Yeah, a good chrome shop will have the removers.
FLA is bad due to the salt air. Gotta keep them dry and garage covers do not stop all moisture.
I messed up some of the light chrome parts on the Ironhorse, may have left some cleaner on while I stored it. But the shops will fix it up when I take 'em in.
FLA is bad due to the salt air. Gotta keep them dry and garage covers do not stop all moisture.
I messed up some of the light chrome parts on the Ironhorse, may have left some cleaner on while I stored it. But the shops will fix it up when I take 'em in.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 4
From: Columbus, OH
RE: rusted chrome, Caution!!
Don't use muratic on chrome, it will remove it.
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