gordonv
Member
Posts: 5763
VRCC # 31419
Richmond BC
|
 |
« on: May 08, 2013, 08:15:08 PM » |
|
I've got an alt cover which has the blistering chrome on it. How would you go about stripping it off
(other than taking it to a chrome platter and have the processed reversed)?
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: May 08, 2013, 09:34:37 PM by gordonv »
|
Logged
|
1999 Black with custom paint IS   |
|
|
|
PhredValk
|
|
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2013, 11:10:31 PM » |
|
Others may tell me I'm wrong, but I think 'chrome' on plastic is a paint. You can't electroplate plastic. Do a Google search.
Fred.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
VRCCDS0237
|
|
|
Disco
Member
Posts: 4899
Armed Man=Citizen; Unarmed Man=Subject
Republic of Texas
|
|
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2013, 12:27:38 AM » |
|
How would you go about stripping it off...? I did one of my alternator covers with the careful use of an exacto knife. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
2000 Bumblebee "Tourer", 98 Yellow & Cream Tourer, 97 Rescue blower bike 22 CRF450RL, 19 BMW R1250RT 78 CB550K 71 Suzuki MT50 Trailhopper .jpg) VRCC 27,916 IBA 44,783 |
|
|
|
BonS
|
|
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2013, 05:11:23 AM » |
|
To chrome plastic a metal is diffused into the plastic and then a normal plating process is used afterwards. this is an interesting link on several ways to remove old chrome. http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Chrome-Plating |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Chrisj CMA
|
|
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2013, 05:26:01 AM » |
|
I looked at that website.........Im not sure I buy all those methods.
I still have my old bubbled alternator cover. Im going to try that cola method and see. I will be pleasantly surprised if that works. I have doubts about washing the chrome off with household cleansers or oven cleaner too.
I think we should run our own version of myth busters on this here website. Try one of the methods and post your results. Im doing the cola and Ill post before and after pics.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Jess from VA
|
|
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2013, 05:49:01 AM » |
|
I have two '99s, one bubbled and melted, the other not. Go figure. Leaving the bubbled one alone, it matches my body and adds character. A new one is not that spendy.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
gordonv
Member
Posts: 5763
VRCC # 31419
Richmond BC
|
|
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2013, 05:31:35 PM » |
|
I was thinking of oven cleaner and was also wondering about the brake fluid, since it works on paint.
I need to finish flushing my brake lines, have already done the reservoirs, and would give me something to do with the left over clean and dirty fluide, before disposing of it.
Coke I hadn't thought of, but what about the rum, should I use the regular 40% or the 151 proof I like better? When do I stop drinking it, 1, 2 or 4 drinks?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1999 Black with custom paint IS |
|
|
|
Bert AKA,Valkaholic
|
|
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2013, 07:19:09 PM » |
|
The only real way to remove the Chrome on one of these Alternator covers is to peel it off. The use of the Coca-Cola and other solvents only remove the Chrome shiny texture. With the Chrome peeling away from the plastic the only method is to peel and Scrape it off. I purchased a new Alternator cover for my Valkyrie from Directline parts at the cost of $35.00.I recently looked at buying another one for one of my other Valkyrie's and the Price is five times the price now. I guess that they were selling too many of these covers (Due to Poor Chroming).They cost $159.41 now. So much for inexpensive replacement Chrome parts.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Life Is A Highway, I Wanna Ride It All Night Long !
|
|
|
|
BonS
|
|
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2013, 07:20:19 PM » |
|
Coke I hadn't thought of, but what about the rum, should I use the regular 40% or the 151 proof I like better? When do I stop drinking it, 1, 2 or 4 drinks?
Until you don't care if the chrome is peeling! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pancho
|
|
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2013, 08:59:05 PM » |
|
As BonS said, the chrome plating on plastic is real chrome electroplating, usually done by making the plastic conductive by getting copper into the surface of the part. The best way to remove it is to reverse the process, but you must insure that the particular plastic is resistant to the alkaline electrolyte that will be used. Here is a bit on it from Caswell plating.
Caustic soda (Sodium hydroxide) mixed in tap water, around 60 grams per litre of water. Get a flat offcut of stainless steel, 304 will do as an electrode plate. and a power supply. Stripping will work fine with less than 1A/sq inch.
Wire the part and wire the plate so the positive goes to the part and the negative to the plate(opposite of electroplating). Turn the power on with the volts down. Bring the volts up slowly until the part starts to fizz and you start to see a yellow colour coming off of the part. This is the chrome going into the solution. even when the chrome is all gone the part will still fizz so inspect it every now and then to ensure all the chrome has come off. It should only take 5 to 10 minutes to strip.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The most expensive things you will purchase, are those things you would not have needed if you had listened and obeyed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROADRUNNER4635
|
|
« Reply #12 on: May 10, 2013, 02:20:24 AM » |
|
just got one from CHAPARRAL MOTORSORTS for 40.73 that's out the door price with shipping
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
jimmytee
|
|
« Reply #13 on: May 10, 2013, 04:02:04 AM » |
|
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: May 10, 2013, 04:03:40 AM by jimmytee »
|
Logged
|
"Go sell crazy somewhere else,we're all stocked up"
|
|
|
|
|
Kep
Member
Posts: 480
My "Mid-life Crisis "
Indiana
|
|
« Reply #15 on: May 10, 2013, 08:49:10 AM » |
|
And after soaking it in Gasoline..lite it with a match..that chrome comes right off !! *** Dont try this at home **** haha
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Raverez
Member
Posts: 699
No good deed goes unpunished
Central New York State
|
|
« Reply #16 on: May 10, 2013, 10:52:38 AM » |
|
Coke I hadn't thought of, but what about the rum, should I use the regular 40% or the 151 proof I like better? When do I stop drinking it, 1, 2 or 4 drinks?
Probably should stop when you're on the floor and still trying to hold on!   |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Bert AKA,Valkaholic
|
|
« Reply #17 on: May 10, 2013, 03:35:49 PM » |
|
Thanks on the heads-up on the Alternator covers. I guess Honda Directline saw that they were selling a lot of these covers and figured that it was a Hot Item and they would make a small fortune by raising the price . I will definitely get one from another source now.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Life Is A Highway, I Wanna Ride It All Night Long !
|
|
|
gordonv
Member
Posts: 5763
VRCC # 31419
Richmond BC
|
|
« Reply #18 on: May 10, 2013, 09:25:49 PM » |
|
I was thinking at the higher price it was worth stripping it and make it ready for someone to paint match to there bike. But with those reasonable prices for a replacement cover, why bother?
Still, if it doesn't cost much, then why not.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1999 Black with custom paint IS |
|
|
|
Buda
|
|
« Reply #19 on: May 11, 2013, 12:54:53 PM » |
|
I used bleach on mine.....took a few days soaking and it helped to scratch the surface of the chrome. Worked for me....still had to use an exacto knife on here and there.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
97 Valkyrie 33344  |
|
|
Fudd
Member
Posts: 1733
MSF RiderCoach
Denham Springs, La.
|
|
« Reply #20 on: May 11, 2013, 01:53:01 PM » |
|
Too late. They are now priced at $159 also. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
 Save a horse, ride a Valkyrie |
|
|
|
jimmytee
|
|
« Reply #21 on: May 11, 2013, 07:31:15 PM » |
|
Too late. They are now priced at $159 also. It wasn't when I posted that  I checked it before posting. Just checked it and saw they jumped the price. Wonder if there was a run on them because of this thread,or maybe they're reading this thread and adjusted price to HDL prices. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"Go sell crazy somewhere else,we're all stocked up"
|
|
|
|
Bert AKA,Valkaholic
|
|
« Reply #22 on: May 12, 2013, 06:05:30 AM » |
|
It looks like Honda will have a lot of Alternator covers on the shelf if they are waiting for me to pay $150.00 Plus for one.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Life Is A Highway, I Wanna Ride It All Night Long !
|
|
|
|
Jeff K
|
|
« Reply #23 on: May 12, 2013, 07:34:31 AM » |
|
We need to find someone that can CNC route out a few. How much more would a billet cover cost?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Grumpy
|
|
« Reply #24 on: May 13, 2013, 05:47:15 PM » |
|
Just get it re chromed, I have 2 that bubbled, striped off the old chrome and sending them to the chrome shop, he quoted me $40 apiece. Damm site cheaper than Honda. There are quite a few shops that will chrome plastic.
Oh, I used circuit board etch to remove the chrome that would not peel off.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: May 13, 2013, 08:24:42 PM by Grumpy »
|
Logged
|
 Life is like a hot bath. It feels good while you’re in it, but the longer you stay in, the more wrinkled you get. |
|
|
gordonv
Member
Posts: 5763
VRCC # 31419
Richmond BC
|
|
« Reply #25 on: May 13, 2013, 08:25:45 PM » |
|
That would have been a great use for my old etching fluid, except I donated about a gal of the stuff to my kids High School, instead of just flushing it, a few years ago.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1999 Black with custom paint IS |
|
|
|
Bert AKA,Valkaholic
|
|
« Reply #26 on: May 14, 2013, 10:30:40 AM » |
|
It would probably be a good idea to gather all of the ones that everyone has replaced due to the chrome peeling, have them Chrome Plated and sell them back to everyone at a reasonable price when their replacements start to peel instead of paying Mother Honda five times the price for one, especially when they are going to peel anyway. Kinda like Recycling them.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Life Is A Highway, I Wanna Ride It All Night Long !
|
|
|
Big Ed
Member
Posts: 333
2001 Standard - 1998 Project Bike
Dallas - Fort Worth, TX
|
|
« Reply #27 on: May 16, 2013, 11:19:18 PM » |
|
We need to find someone that can CNC route out a few. How much more would a billet cover cost?
+1 |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
