Repairing chrome.

[Ady]

Got a frame which is mint but..
The chrome around the seat tube is slightly thinner than the rest.
It has been re chromed by previous owner but I have noticed the chrome is slightly peeling just above the welding around the top section of the seat tube.
Looks like rust behind the chrome making it slightly peel.
It not much approx 2mm .
I have applied rust treatment to it and it has hardened the area and now ok..
I have seen these touch up chrome products or can this area be correctly repaired ?
Bit gutted as I just bought it and the seller said it was perfect..
Any advice would be a help..

[deeman]

AAgh! that's a bit of a gutter!
I am not sure how you would sort that out. I would probably touch it up with primer first then chrome / silver spray to take the eye off it. Or maybe cut a tiny piece of tinfoil and glue in place? 

[Bobby]

Silver leaf from an art shop or wilkinsons done sticky back chrome on a roll ..... I've a roll if you want to try a bit ? 

[oldschoolace]

This is the sort of thing you need


http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replica-Chrome-Brush-Plating-Kit-for-Bike-Car-Boat-/262302017910?nav=SEARCH


Do a bit of research and shop around for the best kit. You are basically electroplating with cotton bud stylee electrodes that you brush fluid on with. It only does thin coats and would need a few applications but if you prepped the area properly it should look good as new 

[Ady]

This is the sort of thing you need


http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replica-Chrome-Brush-Plating-Kit-for-Bike-Car-Boat-/262302017910?nav=SEARCH


Do a bit of research and shop around for the best kit. You are basically electroplating with cotton bud stylee electrodes that you brush fluid on with. It only does thin coats and would need a few applications but if you prepped the area properly it should look good as new 

Bud..
you are a star..
I been googling this and nothing except expensive kits this will be perfect..
Cheers big ears..

[oldschoolace]

No worries bud 

just make sure you do plenty of reading up and watch some YouTube clips and the like so you feel confident in what you are doing

[oldschoolace]

Oh and this is crying out for a stickie so make sure you document you efforts 

[Ady]

Oh and this is crying out for a stickie so make sure you document you efforts 

Bud..
on it like a dog eating hot chips..

[Ady]

Right..
This chrome kit arrived today ..






The kit contains GP1 alkaline cleaner/ Acid etch activator / and chrome plating fluid /
power adapter with clips and two foam tipped + to apply chrome .

I have got a set of haro forks off a gen 2 master with rust and area of no chrome.
So I decided to give it a go tonight before using this kit on the other frame .
Stage 1..
before..
As you can see rust spots and lack of chrome..


Stage 2..
Power sanding with 240 grade to remove pitting and flatting off surrounding area .


stage 3..
after sanding with 240 grade..


Stage 4..
Wet and dry with 600 grade..


Stage 5..
Home made polishing tool..
House brick and cable ties.. as original tool gone back for refund..


Stage 6..
after polishing with sisal mop with black compound ..


Stage 7..
After polishing with colour mop with black and then green compound.

Stage 8..
After polishing with loose fold "g" mop with green compound..
The right side in the pic hasn't been touched to compare each side

Stage 9..
three plastic containers for each bottle..

A) Degreasing area with GP1 Alkaline cleaner.
Warm the bottle with warm water apply solution pour into one of three plastic container with house hold sponge with green scour end type (cut into three sections) leave for 3 mins and rinse well with distilled water (boiled kettle water will do must be cold)
B) Acid etch with activator solution again using new sponge pour into second container apply solution too area to be chromed as this is the activator before plating..
C) Apply plating solution into container three (again pre warmed and shake well) pour into third container ..
D) attach crocodile - type clip to item .
E) Turn on power supply set 5 volts and dab sponge prong into solution and slow brush stokes up and down around area and you will slowly see metal deposited onto object..(took around 6 mins till something started to happen )
F) Rinse off with water..
Before applying plating solution.. 

Just after applying plating solution still wet...

Stage 10..
Start with stage 6/7/8 and a bit of mothers cream polishing to finish off and should look like this..
Again the right side not touched..


I be honest..
There is a very slight difference but not that much with the chrome kit..
Polishing without this kit would bring the same results..
Polishing kits from here..
(don't get the machine as it poo)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281774044831?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Cheap mothers cream.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331462095052?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Chrome kits from here..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262302017910?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
instruction booklet..

[oldschoolace]

  do you think it would be better with more applications?
might be worth giving a penny or something like that a go so it's easier to see the difference? 

[Ady]

I think it needs more voltage..
The current has to pass through the forks so the power to activate the plating solution is hindered I think..
I will try with more current next time as I got to do the right side..

[oldschoolace]

Might have a point there. I'm guessing these kits are designers for smaller stuff like switches, headlight surrounds and that sort of thing. Forks are pretty heavy in comparison

[Ady]

Might have a point there. I'm guessing these kits are designers for smaller stuff like switches, headlight surrounds and that sort of thing. Forks are pretty heavy in comparison

Well bud..
had a go today with repairing the chrome on the seat post but..
It don't work ..
Must be for small items only..
I put onto the high setting 12v (should be 5v)
It did bubble up so power getting to the product and chrome was going black in places.
I even used the wire to cotton bud as advised on the instruction booklet but no joy..
In the end I used my dremmel tool to remove the rust and flatten off to polish..
Looks much better now ..
anyway some pics..
Stripped back with dremmel before polishing ..


using the chrome kit slight blacking of chrome..




Polishing with great results..
Before..

After..


 

[deeman]

Great work Ady...inspirational 

[oldschoolace]

Glad you got it sorted bud. 
Shame the chrome kit wasn't as good as we hoped, could have been a handy bit of kit for us bmx nuts 

[Ady]

I was hoping it would work but was patient with this kit and was used as instructions but no luck..
Just needs more voltage I think..
cheers guys..