Reviving chrome

Author
Discussion

craigjm

Original Poster:

17,907 posts

199 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
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Im having a bare metal spray on my XJC soon and all the chrome needs doing as its pitted and rusty. Is there a more modern solution than simply rechroming which will take away the risk of it pitting and rusting again?

Thinking something like....

http://www.chromespray.co.uk/gallery.html

b2hbm

1,291 posts

221 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I've not tried it myself but first saw a similar process on Jay Leno's garage, now there are loads of Youtube videos on the process.

From looking around forums there's a feeling it's not so long term for a part which might get rubbed/hit often, say a bumper, but for other parts it had a good press. The big advantage to me was being able to fill and spray pitted Mazak parts which used to get mixed results in a conventional re-chrome process.

There are DIY kits around but I'd imagine you need a professional service/equipment for anything other than a small part.

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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craigjm said:
Im having a bare metal spray on my XJC soon and all the chrome needs doing as its pitted and rusty. Is there a more modern solution than simply rechroming which will take away the risk of it pitting and rusting again?

Thinking something like....

http://www.chromespray.co.uk/gallery.html
They do it at out local powder coating place, from what I have seen its not a patch on proper chrome.

You need 'Kev the Chrome', he's in Fareham, bottom of the A3.

3200gt

2,727 posts

223 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Much softer than real plating, so as previously mentioned not good for vulnerable parts, but useful for renovating parts that don't have a good surface. Cost wise much the same for both processes. One major plus for spray chroming (Hydro chroming) is you can add a tint to the top coat to replicate the original colour as no two real chromer's will get exactly the same colour finish or if you wanted a gold or blue or red tint etc for a custom finish.
I've used it quite a lot on custom bike parts but I wouldn't use it on classics. For this I would get the real plater to silver solder any holes, pits etc then smooth back down before plating. If the part has dents these need to be knocked out first then silver soldered then polished back smooth then chromed. Quite a long and costly process.
I notice you are in London. The guy I use for real chroming is in Wrotham (by Brands Hatch) and for Hydro chroming in Brentwood Essex.

EXKAY120

503 posts

116 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Just noticed you said you use a guy in Wrotham, where abouts is he exactly, as i'm not far from there and would give him a try, is he reasonable with his pricing ?

3200gt

2,727 posts

223 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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If you know Wrotham and was coming from Brands Hatch end, go over the railway bridge and the road turns sharpish right towards Sevenoaks A20. Halfway down on the left is a Kings Estate agent. Turn up the side of Kings and he's around the back of there. He doesn't advertise, or give out his Tel no freely. Proper old school chromer. Most of the work he does is on Aston, Rolls and Bentley renovations. Very good but not cheap!
pm me and I'll give you his mobile no.

3200gt

2,727 posts

223 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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The headlight rim is Hydro chrome and the front mudguard is re chromed. Hydro done at Brentwood real done at Wrotham.



edited for better pic.

Edited by 3200gt on Friday 29th April 10:35

russell_ram

321 posts

230 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Think you should give that to your brother as a wedding present LOL.

3200gt

2,727 posts

223 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Knowing you, you would only sell it and spend the money on a new kitchen or something equally boring tongue out

steely dan

237 posts

192 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I had this problem on a car I restored albeit only on smaller but still expensive items. In particular the rear light surrounds were pitted and blistered looking dreadful.
New replacements were hugely expensive and used ones were just as bad.
I used chrome vinyl wrap .
The surfaces were prepared by carefully grinding away the blistering using a Dremel and then the pitting areas were filled using body filler.
The application was easier than I anticipated and it has been over a year no with no deterioration. If it does lift I'll just apply it again .
As I say , this may help you with smaller items of trim.
I also used it on impossible to replace interior parts too, with just as much success.


This is the OS lamp but was in as bad condition.



Edited by steely dan on Friday 29th April 12:25

3200gt

2,727 posts

223 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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That looks quite nice, where did you source the wrap material?

steely dan

237 posts

192 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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3200gt said:
That looks quite nice, where did you source the wrap material?
I got it off Ebay , 'fraid I cannot recall the seller but after a quick search there are many suppliers of premium mirror/chrome vinyl wrap.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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steely dan said:
interesting stuff. Then you let me play a game...
Oh Wait, is that one of those old Opal Senators. No, not quite. wait, I'll get it in a second...





Right era I reckon, wrong car. maybe its a....


damn it! I almost had it. You ruined my game. paperbag



craigjm

Original Poster:

17,907 posts

199 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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The chrome wrap looks interesting but im looking at bumpers so I guess rechroming is the way to go

skeeterm5

3,328 posts

187 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I think it depends how far gone it is. The chrome bumpers on my old Cortina were looking a tired. I came across an old boy who said get a bottle of coke and some tinfoil, pour some coke onto the area and rub with the tinfoil.

I thought he was winding me up, but I tried it anyway and it does actually work. Not sure about really bad damage but mine had little spots of rust all over it. They now look like new.

S

tortop45

434 posts

159 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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You can still pick up new bumpers and trim for coupes if you look,don,t touch the stainless steel bumpers as they don,t fit.For what it will cost to rechrome parts try to buy new old stock it is out there.....

craigjm

Original Poster:

17,907 posts

199 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
tortop45 said:
You can still pick up new bumpers and trim for coupes if you look,don,t touch the stainless steel bumpers as they don,t fit.For what it will cost to rechrome parts try to buy new old stock it is out there.....
Apparently one of the bumpers is available new and one not. Cant remember which though haha

craigjm

Original Poster:

17,907 posts

199 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
skeeterm5 said:
I think it depends how far gone it is. The chrome bumpers on my old Cortina were looking a tired. I came across an old boy who said get a bottle of coke and some tinfoil, pour some coke onto the area and rub with the tinfoil.

I thought he was winding me up, but I tried it anyway and it does actually work. Not sure about really bad damage but mine had little spots of rust all over it. They now look like new.

S
Big spots of rust all over, Ive seen that trick on ebay, apparently use diet coke because its less sticky. Car is being bare metal sprayed though so I want them to look perfect

steely dan

237 posts

192 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
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A car like yours undergoing the amount of work that you are doing to it absolutely deserves rechromed bumpers , I only offered the above suggestion for smaller items that would reduce or minimise the outlay for the chroming.
Interestingly though , after I showed the finished items I did on my car to some owners at a car show down here they wrapped the bumpers on their Morris Eight and Triumph Mayflower .
The result ,although not to expensive new chrome standards , was eminently acceptable and stood up to the " two metre test " by everyone who looked at them.
I also used it on several NLA interior trim sections on the internal door panels that had suffered fair wear and tear on my car and those are to new condition.
Look forward to seeing your Coupe .

craigjm

Original Poster:

17,907 posts

199 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
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Yeah I think it might be useful for some of the interior bits will look into it cheers. Friend of mine has an 83 635 I'll show him the pics of what you've done