chrome?

[johnakay]

has this board changed. not been on it for quite awhile anyway can any of you chromer guys explain this and what the cause.the chromer blames the black stuff off the weld. I polished this thoroughly. no marks what so ever.
I did 7 of them all polished the same and came out ok bar 2....

[kev edwards]

I guess you are making these from scratch John, well looking at these there is a plating issue, from the pictures it looks like the nickel is going down fine and the chrome is having a problem possibly with oil/grease/wax contamination, it looks as if the areas have been masked, but as the pictures are one dimensional it's a job to tell if there is a problem with the steel tubing, are they made from different batches?

[johnakay]

yes from scratch.no wax is used now.
I do what the chrome folks use.
1st GLU-TITE SIZING COMPOUND
2nd SATEEN GREASELESS GRITTED COMPOUND (BROWN)
believe it or not it look scratched to death but it comes out nice.
they've all been fine till the last 2 deliveries most are fine just the odd couple that goes like this.
I don't normally do racks in chrome but customers request so if I'm already going then I'll get them done other wise no.

https://www.heritageabrasives.co.uk/pro ... und-brown-

[kev edwards]

I mean the wax could be coming from the platers as it is often used to mask off, it would appear that the problem is within the plating side of it, the nickel or chrome tanks may possibly have been contaminated or even the De-ionized water used to rinse off between may not be pure enough or have grease contamination, but that aside the items should not have left the shop like that, i would have de/re-chromed them, the welding slag if left on just wouldn't plate up and the missing would be on the welds, the platers quality control should pick anything up, chrome is generally pretty good at overcoming some contamination unless it's grease, oils or wax and possible water contamination.

[johnakay]

exactly my though but he was having none of it just blaming black stuff on the welds.
thanks for your replies much appreciated

[needaz1100r]

1) that isn't over the weld!
2) what "black stuff" off the weld? Get him to explain what "black stuff" exactly comes out of the weld (I'm presuming they are Mig welded looking at the weld).
3) he should have alkali dipped them to ensure no grease, wax etc, because you can't do that to the standard he needs at home.
4) he should then have acid pickled them after alkali dipping and before plating, if he knows of a wax that will withstand all that can I know the name of it please?
5) a professional outfit should stand by what they do, there is very little cost in stripping and re-chroming them for you.
6) he needs customers, you have a choice where you go.

[kev edwards]

Stopping off waxes are out there along with tapes and varnishes, all impervious to alkaline baths and the acid pickle which more than anything kills the alkaline residue enabling rapid rinse off with DI water, i am sure they do a fair job but something is contaminating the work surface between the nickel and chrome which narrows it down to the rinse offs between the two tanks, if it was the initial degrease that had a problem the Nickel would not take in places and that would show up as flash rusting in the bare patches, there is not much cost material wise in de/rechrome it's the time it takes and the cost of treatment and disposal of byproducts that are costly these days, all that aside John the problem is in the plating shop and they have blown smoke up you ass.

[johnakay]

smoke up my ass.lol
I've been getting these chromed for over 10 years so I have a good idea.
taking it back for him to redo.
in the last year he made nearly £3000 if not more.
I'm coming up to 66 this year and this sort of hassle I can do without.
I'd be quite happy to start selling in bare metal but punters wont.lol
currently I'm the only one who make and sell rails and rack for most 2 strokes.
Suzuki sell their grab rail for the GT750 @ £195 and mine for £98,racks Suzuki £255 mine £165 . am I to cheap?
as of now racks in bare metal from £100 and £115 for the GT750 plus postage.