Rechroming headers in Wellington?

[Dean Chamberlain]

Hi there, my headers are looking a bit tired and could do with a re chrome. Anyone had a good experience with a plating company in Wellington?

[DR650gary]

http://www.zincandchrome.co.nz/

[BIG DOUG]

Do not use the above they are shit,problem is people want cheap chrome jobs and this is what you will get "a cheap job" send them to gisborne and get it done right it will cost you but it will be right.

[swamy]

Have you considered ceramic coating?

Check out this link: http://www.hpcoatings.co.nz/ExhaustHeatManagement/tabid/32279/Default.aspx#HiPerCoat

They do a polished finish, which I went for. It is not as shiny as chrome but more durable.

[jellywrestler]

Do not use the above they are shit,problem is people want cheap chrome jobs and this is what you will get "a cheap job" send them to gisborne and get it done right it will cost you but it will be right.
ditto to that

[Dean Chamberlain]

Thanks for the advise! this system makes a lot more sense than Chrome.

[DR650gary]

Thanks for the advise! this system makes a lot more sense than Chrome.

I had it on a previous header and it lasted well, but it can scratch if you are rough with it.

Chrome looks the best when new and polished but on the last three bikes I have had Titanium, stainless and stainless. Ti looked the absolute best and was easy to clean with the right gear and no threat of rust ever, stainless can brown off in some cases and can also react to cleaning product and heat.

The cost of the ceramic was not far off the cost of a stainless header, if you have access to a friendly fabricator.

Depends on the bike and how long you plan to retain it.

I have never used Valley Platers but knew they were the only ones left in our region. I am sure if you specified a quality level and agreed to a fair price for it, they would be as likely to give you what you paid as much as any other tradesman.

Cheers

[F5 Dave]

just be aware the HPC coating will look like alluminium & require constant polishing to make it appear chrome-like.

[BIG DOUG]

I had an fxr harley and hpc ed the top end in satin black,I sold the bike in 98 and still see it around and it still looks the same good stuff and was talking to a powdercoating friend of mine and he has just got some 600deg matt black powder in so he wants me to rip my pipe of so he can try it

[jellywrestler]

I have never used Valley Platers but knew they were the only ones left in our region. I am sure if you specified a quality level and agreed to a fair price for it, they would be as likely to give you what you paid as much as any other tradesman.

Valley platers have recently changed hands and I thought I'd give them a shot.
Took a handful of parts in to be zinc plated and a few to be chromed.
It was knock off time for them so I didn't stay long but told the guy I wanted my bits 'perfect' The bits had been on a bike for thirty years and he said perfect was a big ask, I agreed but I think he then understood that I wanted the best job possible, and new what the limitations were.
No price was mentioned nor asked for, I wanted a standard .
I emailed him that night asking him to inform me when he'd stripped the chrome so I could do some detailing work on them and he rang and said that once stripped there was no need, they had come up better than he thought they would.
Time frame was nearly up and i was over that way called in my stuff was ready but still on the wire so he hadn't seen it, he took it off and we had a look, beautiful chrome but buff marks everywhere! This process while time consuming is dead simple, buff then go to the next size down repeat until it's smooth, there was no way it was acceptable, he offered to do it again.
Nobody rang so a month or so later while over there I called in again and came back with this pile of SHIT.
He apologised saying he didn't understand my standard the first visit yet still comes back with rubbish work like this.
I hate bagging tradesman but this is simply unacceptable when it has been redone folks


note two parts, one shows buff marks and the other shows where the wire used to hang it has overlapped some of the job and therefore chroming has missed this area. First time round he pointed out how they'd avoided this happening by putting a 6mm bolt in the hole (correct size) but not the next.

[F5 Dave]

When you say changed hands, they were bought out by one of their customers as they didn't want to lose the chromer virtually next to them. There appeared to be a few munters working there & I guess they just don't care as long as there is money for drugs or whatever. Heck used to be a time people took pride in their work.

And some still do of course. Seek them out & pay them whatever they ask.

[jellywrestler]

And some still do of course. Seek them out & pay them whatever they ask. yep and the other plater I'm using has had my stuff since early october 2010!
It's not that simple Dave, some have a long turnaround time which makes it hard when you've got a project on the go, some can't chrome over Aluminium, one of my requirements and then there's the freight cost both ways...
I went back to give them a shot locally, two shots actually as the work needed re doing

As for munters working for them, that's the modern world it's not a pleasant job but when a customer walks in who wants a quality job done and spends time discussing it you'd think the boss would set that one aside for his own special attention, ESPECIALLY THE SECOND TIME AROUND when he's had to stand and explain the poor job that was done

[BIG DOUG]

I'll say it again send it to gisborne,there are motorcyclists who work there and understand what you want and they chrome alloy but it will cost, quality normally does.