BLACK CHROME stock rims
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 3
From: Southeast Wisconsin
RE: BLACK CHROME stock rims
I have a friend that works for a metal plating company in Milwaukee; he told me that they were working on perfecting a black chrome and said that the MOCO had even expressed interest. The way he explained it, their testing has shown that black chrome is very susceptible to corrosion, especially against something he called "salt fog."
I would ask the company you use if their product will hold up.
Just my .02. Good Luck!
I would ask the company you use if their product will hold up.
Just my .02. Good Luck!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,256
Likes: 5
From: Concord, CA
RE: BLACK CHROME stock rims
With regards to the corrosion...
Nearly 20 years ago now, I bought a mountain bike that was black chrome. It has lived mostly outside for those 20 years covered in whatever crap covers stuff that lives outside. My brother rides it quite often. I beat the crap out of it as a kid.
The finish is the only thing that has held up on the bicycle. It still looks as good as it did when I bought it, well except for some scratches. No corrosion, no flaking, bubbling, peeling, etc...
I wouldn't think you will have anything to worry about as far as the finish lasting as long as its a good chrome shop.
Nearly 20 years ago now, I bought a mountain bike that was black chrome. It has lived mostly outside for those 20 years covered in whatever crap covers stuff that lives outside. My brother rides it quite often. I beat the crap out of it as a kid.
The finish is the only thing that has held up on the bicycle. It still looks as good as it did when I bought it, well except for some scratches. No corrosion, no flaking, bubbling, peeling, etc...
I wouldn't think you will have anything to worry about as far as the finish lasting as long as its a good chrome shop.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: NH
RE: BLACK CHROME stock rims
Powercoating is always a good option, which is where I gather they bake the coating on. There is a place here in NH, I think its powdercoatingsolutions.com, which will pretty much powder coat anything on your bike...I never used them, but have seen the work, and it looks very nice.
I think the blacked out look would be sweet on the S Glide...
I think the blacked out look would be sweet on the S Glide...
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 396
Likes: 1
From: Cypress, Texas
RE: BLACK CHROME stock rims
I've been in an industry for 34 years that uses regular chrome, hard chrome, nickel, electroless nickel, and TIN coatings. Every time someone swears they have perfected black chrome they usually loose their butt in a very short period. I don't know what it is about the stuff being black but for some reason it don't work out. If anyone were able to perfect the process I would think it would be Brown's Plating Service. They do a great job and if they can't come up with it, …….. good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
RE: BLACK CHROME stock rims
Black chrome has been around alot longer then anyone realizes. There is no perfecting needed or being researched. The fact of the matter is that it like anything else has it's limitations but had nothing for it's failures in the 80s. It simply fizzled out because of poor demand thats all. There are a couple of us still black plating but only because we have limited the size of our tanks for smaller parts only and increased our prices. Keep in mind that black chrome is less effective with covering nickel as silver chrome. Once the chrome wears just a bit the nickel is apparent and the finish looks more yellow then any silver chrome will ever be. Even more apparent on larger parts.
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