REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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RonHolly
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REFINISHING OLD CHROME

#1

Post by RonHolly »

My timing belt covers are really bad looking and was wondering what methods you have used to remove the old chrome. I will probably just paint them. I did a web search and there seems to be many ways to do this and maybe some have been tried by forum members. Here is a list of the ones that I'm considering.

1. Cola soak overnight 2. Bleach soak 3. Break fluid wipe 4. Over cleaner
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

#2

Post by sunnbobb »

none of the above if it is real chrome. Only reverse electrolysis removes chrome.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

#3

Post by Sagebrush »

Are they chrome or are you just assuming they are? OEM covers were clear coated aluminum and will polish nicely once the clear is removed. There are quite a few after market chrome covers out there though and by now the chrome is usually flaking from the aluminum base. There have been a few attempts to clean up the chrome ones but its very difficult to remove all the old chrome and any left on will just flake off in the future and will generally degrade any kind of paint job you attempt.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

#4

Post by ericheath »

Any Walmart carries "aircraft stripper." It's the snizz. Less expensive in the long run than the other methods you've listed. Here it's around $7 a can. Spray it on, wait a few minutes, blow it off with and air hose. O'reily's and the like sell a different brand that is probably a tad better. Click on Sunnbobb's name or check out his posts on polishing aluminum in Shoptalk. It's work, but can be done. Less work is to send them to him if they're aluminum.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by Whiskerfish »

ericheath wrote:SNIP It's work, but can be done. Less work is to send them to him if they're aluminum.

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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by RonHolly »

Sagebrush wrote:Are they chrome or are you just assuming they are? OEM covers were clear coated aluminum and will polish nicely once the clear is removed. There are quite a few after market chrome covers out there though and by now the chrome is usually flaking from the aluminum base. There have been a few attempts to clean up the chrome ones but its very difficult to remove all the old chrome and any left on will just flake off in the future and will generally degrade any kind of paint job you attempt.
Sure looks like chrome flaking off to me! Shiny mirror like flakes.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by delling3 »

If it is flaking then it likely is chrome, and the covers are likely aftermarket. The stock covers came from the factory in polished/clearcoated aluminum as previously mentioned. They are available relatively cheaply on ebay. If you want the stock look, I would suggest starting there. If not, paint or powdercoating is an option.

The tops on my carbs were chromed. I sandblasted them and used hammerite paint for them. I had my valve covers and timing belt covers ceramic coated with a high-lustre silver ceramic. I went this route because I didn't want to worry about polished aluminum.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

#8

Post by duke182 »

Sand blast and then sand sand and sand some more. Then sand and prime and spot fill imperfections. Sand a little more reprime wetsand then topcoat witj chosen color.
After clearcoat sand(cut) and buff.
After a few weeks polish again then wax.

That should give you some of the best looking painted covers in wingdom.

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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by robin1731 »

An industrial sand blaster can do a decent job. And works well enough to paint/powder coat over it. But like Sunnbobb said the only way to really remove chrome is to take it a chrome palter and have them remove it. Under the chrome is copper and nickel plating. So that needs to come off too.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by Norbert R »

robin1731 wrote:An industrial sand blaster can do a decent job. And works well enough to paint/powder coat over it. But like Sunnbobb said the only way to really remove chrome is to take it a chrome palter and have them remove it. Under the chrome is copper and nickel plating. So that needs to come off too.
Agreed. I had one chrome valve cover that I sent to an electroplater - they used acid/chemicals to remove all the plating. Got it back amazingly clean, not the slightest hint of any residual plating. It was a nice uniform matt finish, extremely smooth, with made this the easiest of all my ali parts to polish as a result. Dirt cheap too, and no textured finish like you'd get from blasting.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by sunnbobb »

We won't touch chromed parts, sorry. As for having the chrome removed, it is much cheaper to just buy some used covers and polish them. Bin the chromed ones.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by rcmatt007 »

sunnbobb wrote:We won't touch chromed parts, sorry. As for having the chrome removed, it is much cheaper to just buy some used covers and polish them. Bin the chromed ones.
agreed
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by robin1731 »

rcmatt007 wrote:
sunnbobb wrote:We won't touch chromed parts, sorry. As for having the chrome removed, it is much cheaper to just buy some used covers and polish them. Bin the chromed ones.
agreed

Yeah, I should have added that. I did have some parts dechromed once. I didn't have any other choice with what it was. Taking the chrome off was as expensive as having them chrome plated. All the chemicals used in that industry make it pretty unfriendly to the environment. Regulations makes the price pretty high.
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

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Post by rcmatt007 »

"chrome" plating is rather interesting. copper is layed down first to have a smooth surface, then nickle, and finally chrome.... the silvery look is the nickle
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The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
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76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
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Re: REFINISHING OLD CHROME

#15

Post by robin1731 »

rcmatt007 wrote:"chrome" plating is rather interesting. copper is layed down first to have a smooth surface, then nickle, and finally chrome.... the silvery look is the nickle

I like stopping at the nickel part myself. Has a different look and holds up better than the chrome.
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