Wondering is anyone has experience getting items chromed or nickel plated at artarmon electroplating? I have a frame, fork and stem (and maybe some other items) that I want to get re-coated.
I rang up and the bloke was surprisingly helpful, and gave me a rough quote (think I’d be looking at around $150+)
Wondering if anyone has first hand reviews about the finish, service, etc before I take the chance and dip a '63 frejus frame.
Also - in terms of covering threads, will the chroming make threads unusable? Should I mask/fill them with old bolts, or is the covering too thin to make a difference?
I had some antique window furnishings nickel plated, and four '60s light fittings re-chromed (i’m a carpenter/builder, the client was stoked with finish qual) through these guys in 2009-2010, and they came up beautiful.
The window furnishings had plenty of threaded area on it, which remained fully functioning after the process, albeit a courser thread than a bb or hs.
I’m not sure on the chrome plating, but Im sure the guys in shop could suggest on what would be best for protecting the threads.
I have seen in a really worst case, a really fine thread actually been ‘burnt’ or melted in the process?? Such a fine thread didn’t have the durability to with stand the electro plating.
So am I, this bike is a test in patience if I’ve ever had one. Found the frame online about a year ago for a meagre $60, have had a matching fork built, powder coated in a colour I ended up hating and then decided to faithfully restore it.
In the process of finding a head badge, re plating, getting decals, an almost full period(ish) correct campy groupset etc etc.
Currently counting pennies to pick up a set of phil woods to open pros, not specifically correct for the bike, but aesthetically matching anywho.
I wouldn’t ride it on the track mate. Save it for special occasions, the rides everyone takes their golden oldies out on. I’m real happy that you’re taking time and building it right - I got no patience for that kind of thing.
I’ve always been pretty keen on riding it on the track, I can’t say I’m much of a fan of the ‘wall bike’, and I’d love to see all this effort actually go to something that gets used regularly.
Theres also some kind of romantic notion about riding something that is getting on 50 years old against fancy carbon and aluminium shiny things.
One thing I’ve heard about chrome plating is that the chemical reactions involved in the process will cause a frame to rust from the inside out, if you’re not careful.
Apparently the old solution was to give the inside a thorough rinse with water, then leave it out in the hot sun for a day or two to dry it out. Once fully dry, coat the entire inside with a whole heap of fish oil. These days there are synthetic products designed for the same purpose, rust-proofing type sprays etc. There was a thread on here posted by a Canadian guy a while back asking about that stuff.
“Hydrogen embrittlement” is the term. Not just rusting from the inside out, but weakening the steel which could lead to a catastrophic failure.
I was taking to Peter Bundy about refinishing a bike and re-chroming. The acid baths that chromers put parts in is fine for a car bumper bar, because there isn’t any holes for the acid to get stuck in. But with your bike frame, there are holes everywhere, and a quick rince off with water will probably clean out the acid from the inside of your seat tube, but it isn’t going to completely flush your top tube, down tube, seat stays, chain stays.
If you must re-chrome your bike, find a place that specializes in bicycle frames.
If you’re thinking of Blue Chrome they won’t do bicycle frames. They’re a pain in the ass too … I guess any chromer is because bicycles are quite tricky to do (lots can go wrong), they are a shitty size, there’s much prep to do re: faces and threads, they’re hollow which means it’s harder to fully flush them between processes (otherwise they’ll contaminate a whole batch of stuff), the tubing is quite thinwalled so is easily overcooked or ruined if stripping original chrome, bike frames are also a bugger to polish and get into all the nooks and cranny’s without damaging the frame, and there’s fuck all money to be made from them relative to other items.
Really, if it was easy everyone would be onto it but you’re gonna have a hard time finding a place here in Sydney. BTW you need to prep and mask all threads and faces otherwise you’ll ruin whatever tools you use the chase threads or reface anything.
Then there’s something about chromers all dying early or developing from cancer well before the norm and the impact to the environment means the government have a gazillion laws about how the chemicals and handled and disposed of that makes for a high cost of business.
You’re best bet is to find where all the custom motorbike places are getting their chrome done and be really clear about what you’d like done and talk about issues that may arise. For the most I’ve only heard of places in Melbz that have done good work on bike frames and parts.
Done correctly and to top standard I’d be prepared to pay equal to or more than a top class paint job ($300+). I haven’t found a place in Sydney that I’d trust though and don’t like taking risks.
As an aside, contrary to popular belief chrome weighs less than paint.
Well due to a constantly tightening budget and a fear that the process could potentially destroy an incredibly beautiful frame, i have decided that I might just settle for getting the frame 2k painted professionally in its original light champagne colour, and settle for getting the forks chromed (potentially, as i had a quote for only $50 for the forks, and i do enjoy a nice chrome fork).
May even consider star enamellers bbut will try some local detaillers before i fork out the extra dollars.
I used an electroplating mob a few years back to chrome a whole bunch of car stuff. The were in western Sydney, did a great job, but very pricey. some of the parts would have been pretty tricky too. I will have a look when I get home to see if I can find the details and on post here.