How to Polish Forks Tubes

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Like to polish my fork tubes to look like chrome.  Saw others have done it.  Id like to know the process you used, how involved and what I need.  Thanks, John

[Momz]

John,
Lets not get too ethnic here. We don't Arab our wheels, or Canuck our brakes, or Wet Back our seats either.

LOL!

[Skinhead]

Basic Steps:

Disassemble forks

Sand off clear coat and machine tool marks on fork legs (~100 grit paper for coarse work, then finer to remove sanding scrathes down to 1000 wet/dry)

Rough polish with emery compound, final polish with alumina (white) compound.

Can clear coat when finished, I didn't clear coat mine.

Can be done over a long weekend.

[Chrome]

Hi John Was having new springs put in my forks awhile ago, took them to my plater and had them chromed.
Easy.No maintenace and still look great. It cost but what the hell
Adrian(Chrome)V

[fudgie]

John,
Lets not get too ethnic here. We don't Arab our wheels, or Canuck our brakes, or Wet Back our seats either.

LOL!

 

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

For the chroming, how much did it cost?  Wether chroming or polishing them, you said disassemble.  Do you mean taking the tubes totally apart or just removing them from the bike?

[Skinhead]

Just remove them from the bike for polishing.  If you want to do the triple clamps, you'll have to remove them as well.  The triple clamps are clear coated, since there is no need to remove the tool marks ( like on the upper fork legs) you can start with finer ~2-320 grit wet/dry paper.  The fewer scratches you make removing the clear coat, the less work you have prior to polishing.  I haven't tried it, but there is some Air craft paint stripper available at auto stores that might work, but like I said I've never used it.  Maybe some one else has and can offer their $0.02.

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

I dont have to worry about the Triples, I just ordered my 6 degree raked trees from Daryl at XF6  .  What do you mean by Tool Marks?

[Chrome]

Hi John My forks were all apart. The chroming bill for uppers and lowers was about 600 CAD and I think it was about 5 to 6 years ago. Must cost abit more now.
Adrian

[Skinhead]

I dont have to worry about the Triples, I just ordered my 6 degree raked trees from Daryl at XF6  .  What do you mean by Tool Marks?

The uneven rings in the surface of the upper fork legs left by the cutting tool when they were turned on a lathe.  When you polish the forks they should be smooth or they'll look like Sheet.

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

I dont have to worry about the Triples, I just ordered my 6 degree raked trees from Daryl at XF6  .  What do you mean by Tool Marks?

The uneven rings in the surface of the upper fork legs left by the cutting tool when they were turned on a lathe.  When you polish the forks they should be smooth or they'll look like Sheet.

I assume this is all done by hand, no dremel, drill or anything?  How many hours do you estimate you spent on each tube?  Got any pics?  Thanks.

[Skinhead]

You are correct, Sir!  All done by hand.  I suppose if you had access to a lathe, you could chuck up each leg and take a flat tool and make a skim pass to remove the tool marks.  I didn't have that luxury, so it was like a date with yourself, all done by hand.  In fact, that's kinda the "stroke" you use (took me a while to get used to the smaller diameter and shorter length than I'm accustomed to).  All joking aside, it can be done in a weekend, just be sure to remove all sanding marks from the previous grit as you go up in paper.  Also make sure to remove the tool marks completely, or they will show when you polish.  Also don't sand the raised sections where the clamps go.  Here's a pic of my results, please excuse the dirt and dead bugs, haven't had a chance to give Cheniqua a bath.



I spent quite a few hours on each leg, ~ 6 each I'd guess.

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Thats pretty funny.  That looks awesome.  Did you do the bottom of the forks also?  Hard to tell in the picture?

[Skinhead]

Yes, they look about the same as the top

[larryh0841]

The aircraft paint remover works great and does not harm the aluminum.  It is available at auto supply stores.
                                                                Larry

[Skinhead]

The aircraft paint remover works great and does not harm the aluminum.  It is available at auto supply stores.
                                                                Larry

Thanks, good to know that.