Chroming exhaust pipes?

[jellywrestler]

I'm about to get a set of pipes re chromed but they need a bit of work before hand. Basically normal chrome work has a copper base problem is the copper will bubble on a exhaust pipe so what other metal applications do people use to fill in any pits etc????

[Akzle]

steel. Powder weld gas torch.

[Grumph]

He's right - in an ideal world.

You need to have them/it dechromed first so while you're there talk to the platers/polishers and see what they say.

Depends how much use the bike will get too, for low mileage veterans I've seen bronze used quite satisfactorily.

[unstuck]

Give this a wee perusal.......http://www.classickawasaki.com/plating.htm



This is the time consuming and expensive part: polish away all the rust and imperfections until the item to be chromed is so highly polished that it looks like it is already chromed! Each one of those small rust spots on the item will double or treble in size as the acid eats away the corrosion. These blemishes then have to be totally erased in the polishing process – the very worst cases would require “triple plating” this process involves polishing the metal, plating it in thicker copper, polishing the copper and then plating again with chrome.

[Drew]

I'm about to get a set of pipes re chromed but they need a bit of work before hand. Basically normal chrome work has a copper base problem is the copper will bubble on a exhaust pipe so what other metal applications do people use to fill in any pits etc????

Are these the Roberts chopper pipes bro?

Would you be better off having another set made with nice new steel first?

[jellywrestler]

He's right - in an ideal world.

You need to have them/it dechromed first so while you're there talk to the platers/polishers and see what they say.

well past that stage they've been stripped and repaired problem is it's one thing talking to platers it's another talking to them in the flesh with the goods in your hand, they're all over the country...

[jellywrestler]

Are these the Roberts chopper pipes bro?

Would you be better off having another set made with nice new steel first?

love to but steve himself said it was the hardest job he's done and not keen to go there again....

[Drew]

love to but steve himself said it was the hardest job he's done and not keen to go there again....

I don't doubt Steve's knowledge of how hard it is. But lets not forget, he did it without computer modeling.

Someone like young Sketchy could model it up, to give exact templates for each piece of sheet I expect.

[Grumph]

well past that stage they've been stripped and repaired problem is it's one thing talking to platers it's another talking to them in the flesh with the goods in your hand, they're all over the country...

No good ones left in the lower NI ?

i see a road trip in your future.....

Locally, the guys in Geraldine have a very good rep and I've heard of them doing pitting removal too.

[AllanB]

Triple chrome plating refers to a base of copper, nickel then chrome over top. The longer each process is plated the superior the thickness. I am unaware of any chrome process that deleted the copper first coating. I knew a chromer through a previous job - he is out of that business now but it was bloody handy!

A avenue to try is to contact a local rod club or two - they will be able to recommend a decent chrome company.

A alternative is ceramic coating - they have a chrome like coating now that looks really good. Only weird thing is that it does not colour at all so there is no yellowing or blueing at the ports - looks almost unatural! HP Coatings do this in NZ, web link is down when I searched.

[98tls]

Triple chrome plating refers to a base of copper, nickel then chrome over top. The longer each process is plated the superior the thickness. I am unaware of any chrome process that deleted the copper first coating. I knew a chromer through a previous job - he is out of that business now but it was bloody handy!

A avenue to try is to contact a local rod club or two - they will be able to recommend a decent chrome company.

A alternative is ceramic coating - they have a chrome like coating now that looks really good. Only weird thing is that it does not colour at all so there is no yellowing or blueing at the ports - looks almost unatural! HP Coatings do this in NZ, web link is down when I searched.

+1 on HP coatings,bloke up in Auckland just finished a beautiful fighter style TLS and used them on his Zorst,looks brillant though if your looking for a classic chrome i wouldnt,just not the same.

[jellywrestler]

Triple chrome plating refers to a base of copper, nickel then chrome over top. The longer each process is plated the superior the thickness. I am unaware of any chrome process that deleted the copper first coating. I knew a chromer through a previous job - he is out of that business now but it was bloody handy!

A avenue to try is to contact a local rod club or two - they will be able to recommend a decent chrome company.

A alternative is ceramic coating - they have a chrome like coating now that looks really good. Only weird thing is that it does not colour at all so there is no yellowing or blueing at the ports - looks almost unatural! HP Coatings do this in NZ, web link is down when I searched.

problem is the copper fill will end up bubbling and knacker the chrome. not keen at all on HP coatings it's a work of art and needs the chrome to finish it off to how it was in it's heyday

[BIG DOUG]

What was that spyda,a chopper is a work of art.well well who'd thought.

[Drew]

What was that spyda,a chopper is a work of art.well well who'd thought.

Steve Roberts built, monocoque GS1000 chopper. The thing is beyond belief!

Not like some off the shelf bitsa, chucked together over a couple weeks like most of what's around these days.

[AllanB]

Good chrome will cope with the heat - used to years back in the day and Triumph still run it on their bonnies with single wall headers - it will blue to buggery as it gets hot though. I personally like that look - the bluer it is the harder you have been riding!!!!


Phone these chaps - looks like they have experience. Post if they have a copper alternative.

http://www.classicchrome.co.nz/