Hard Chroming in PE

[HeyYou]

I'm restoring an early 80s Tommasini and the forks need re-chroming.

 

Unfortunately (!) I live in the Knysna Plett area, so will need to send them away for chroming.

 

Anyone know of a good hard chrome company (if there is one) in PE?

 

In George?

 

Anyone have any advice, recommendations?

 

Appreciate it.

[quintonb]

Not sure hard chrome is the way to go, we use hard chrome on shafts, etc in the engineering world. Great wear resistance but I gets built up quite thick on the surface and then ground to the desired size. Decorative chromium, or flash chroming would be the answer. I believe one of the best guys are in Cape Town called "glitorama" or something like that. I am sure they have done work for a few guys on the hub. From my understanding they seem to be the guys to use.

 

Also something to take note of, the re-chroming process means the old chrome needs to be stripped off. This is usually chemically done. The problem here is steel frames are silver soldered at the lugs, the aggressive chemicals can break down the silver solder. Just double check with the chrome guys. But I have heard this could be an issue.

 

Will be following this thread closely as I need my colnago master forks to be done.

 

[HeyYou]

Thanks QB.

 

I bought this bike new in 1985/6, with 600 Tricolour. The forks were sandblasted 10 years ago, when I was a noob in this collecting game, old chrome is gone.

 

But I'll certainly explore the 'Glitorama' option.

[Flashfozzy]

A hard chrome and polish would work on the fork stentions, if there are seals running on it. To rechrome the old chrome must be completely removed. Sandblast will not do that. Requires chemical strip or grind.

I can sort it out in Jhb if you Don't win down south. Pm me for cell number

[PeterF]

A hard chrome and polish would work on the fork stentions, if there are seals running on it. To rechrome the old chrome must be completely removed. Sandblast will not do that. Requires chemical strip or grind.

I can sort it out in Jhb if you Don't win down south. Pm me for cell number

 

I think this a steel road fork and not a mtb suspension fork.

[Skylark]

Hard chrome is the correct solution for motobike forks, I'd ask on one of the local bike forums for a reputable spot, it's expensive.

Doesn't really matter where they are as you can courier it there and back, shouldn't be much more than R150 each way.

 

Oops I see it's for a bicycle, hard chrome def not needed. But use a reputable chroming place and specify you want well prepared and thick chrome plating, you pay for the microns of chrome they apply and if they use a base plating to prepare the surface and make it more durable.

[V12man]

you do get a chrome look paint if you are nervous about stripping them - no idea who does it in sa, but seen it in dubai, and it was spectacular - whole car... Very kitch, but technically brilliant.

[Skylark]

you do get a chrome look paint if you are nervous about stripping them - no idea who does it in sa, but seen it in dubai, and it was spectacular - whole car... Very kitch, but technically brilliant.

 

That was probably a chrome look vinyl wrap not paint or chrome itself?

[quintonb]

 

 

That was probably a chrome look vinyl wrap not paint or chrome itself?

I have chatted to a few paint guys regarding the chrome look paint, all say it's a nightmare to paint. You have yo get someone who has the right equipment and who has done it before. So I have been told anyway.

 

Living along the coast chrome doesn't hold up well, so any decent alternative is always something to consider. Although not original on a classic/vintage bike.

[V12man]

That was probably a chrome look vinyl wrap not paint or chrome itself?

 

Nope - paint - shop who did it showed me how they did it - mostly prep work - and a special water based paint - which will be trickier to deal with than 2 part solvent based paint - definitely need a booth and dryers to do quality work.

[Hairy]

Chrome with a clear coat over for a better life span along the coast.....or keep the fork clean and polish as if it were a car?

[HeyYou]

Found

http://glitterama-electroplating.co.za/

 

anyone know them???

[quintonb]

Thats them.

 

I am sure I saw somewhere that "BMC" Bicycle Maintenance Company has used them and they are like a few blocks away. Maybe someone can confirm that.

 

http://www.bicyclerepairs.co.za/?page_id=30

[HeyYou]

I've sent them an email, I'll let you know what they say.

[Skylark]

Keep in mind you can ask for thicker more durable chrome plate, costs more as well, chroming is quite a fine art and the more prep they do and the more chrome they plate on the more durable and rust resistant the end finish will be. Copper plating or some form of base plating before the chrome is apparently the best way to make it last.

[HeyYou]

Thanks all for the input. I've emailed Glitterama and a couple of others asking if they can do.

 

Will post answers.