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Message started by thomasoconnor19 on 07/28/12 at 07:56:55

Title: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by thomasoconnor19 on 07/28/12 at 07:56:55

Looking for a good way to remove the chrome finish on some parts and have them look more like brushed aluminum parts.
Id like the upper triple tree to look more like the lower.

Title: Re: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by verslagen1 on 07/28/12 at 08:02:45

Fine sandpaper will do it

Title: Re: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by thomasoconnor19 on 07/28/12 at 09:08:06

5A495E5F404D4B49421D2C0 wrote:

Fine sandpaper will do it

I have some pitting/peeling of the chrome starting on my triple tree....im thinking it will need some type of wire wheel to really remove it all first

Title: Re: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by teabowl13 on 07/28/12 at 09:35:24

That or a sandblaster. That would do a more even job I would think than a wire wheel.

I'm not sure, but I suspect the upper clamp is aluminum underneath the chrome? maybe not, but if so, the chrome will br really hard on the surface, but once the wire wheel cuts through it and hits the softer aluminum underneath, it'll start to take off a lot more material all at once. That'll probably be true to a lesser degree even if it's steel, so just move slowly if you do it that way.

Title: Re: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/28/12 at 10:19:21

I have a friend who has a place down in Galveston, If youre not in a big hurry, Ill bet he would let you ship those bits to him..He can just stash them there for a while,,that chrome will go straight to crap soon enough,,no mo shiny!

Title: Re: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by WD on 07/28/12 at 21:18:21

The chrome bits on the bike are really cheaply done. If you have a bit of pitting, especially with some edge lifting, just peel it off. X-acto knife tip and a pair of fine tweezers. Think Ford "chromed" plastic hubs and grills. Same difference, just aluminum so low grade it is nearly pot metal.

Quickest? Drop it off at the local powder coating shop to be bead blasted. Breaks the chrome without taking the base metal to shredded scrap.

Title: Re: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by Dave on 07/29/12 at 09:01:52

I have some mental problems with trying to remove chrome with sandpaper or sandblasting. The chrome is hard......sandpaper is likely to do nothing but scratch the chrome, and wearing through it with sandpaper is going to flat wear YOU out first.

Sandblasting also is a problem I believe, as the very soft aluminum will erode away quickly once you break through the chrome finish. This will cause the surface to become very uneven as you continue to blast away at the chrome.....while the aluminum adjacent to the chrome quickly erodes.

I have always just taken my chrome to the platers to have it stripped - they do it with electricity the same way it was put on. When I get it back I can weld, grind, smooth dents.....whatever I need to do.

Title: Re: Process to remove chrome finish
Post by verslagen1 on 07/29/12 at 09:07:32

really don't need to remove the chrome, just the polished finish.
a scratched finish may look more stainless steel than aluminum though.