Jeffrey Day Posted July 19, 2012 Report Share Posted July 19, 2012 (edited) Hey everyone! I have a question. I am restoring my 30+ year old bmx bike and I need some help. Most of the goodies on the bike are coming very clean with Mothers Mag Wheel polish and good ol' elbow grease. But unfortunately, the wheels have been the hardest hit by father time. The hubs are fine. And the spokes and nipples are a lost cause and will be replaced. But the Araya 7X rims, which are chrome plated alloy, are all pitted, flaking and generally look terrible. I would rather reduce, reuse and recycle(no pun intended) and re-chrome just the rims. I have called a bunch of places in my area with little success. And the success that I've had has been an astronomical amount of money to do the work. So my question is : Does anyone work in the chrome plating field or have any contacts in the field that I could get ahold of to help me with my pet project? Much appreciated! Edited July 19, 2012 by Jeffrey Day spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckmann AG Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 There is (or at least their sign is extant) a plating joint of some type in Dover. Don't recall the name, but can look into it. Unless of course you already have knowledge of such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowrider Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 Unless you are doing museum restoration replating is not really a wise option financially speaking. New old stock may be available with a search of older established sporting good stores or interweb. Mold makers "machine shops" may know of specialized buisnesses that do this type of work but not known commercially. Any buisness that does plating in now subject to reems of enviromental concerns so cost will always be the deal breaker. ( Professor Beckman word of the day "extant" i had to look it up.) If your mind isn't expanding your dying. I learn something new everytime i log onto bomber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C5 Golfer Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 Hey everyone!I have a question. I am restoring my 30+ year old bmx bike and I need some help. Most of the goodies on the bike are coming very clean with Mothers Mag Wheel polish and good ol' elbow grease. But unfortunately, the wheels have been the hardest hit by father time. The hubs are fine. And the spokes and nipples are a lost cause and will be replaced. But the Araya 7X rims, which are chrome plated alloy, are all pitted, flaking and generally look terrible. I would rather reduce, reuse and recycle(no pun intended) and re-chrome just the rims. I have called a bunch of places in my area with little success. And the success that I've had has been an astronomical amount of money to do the work. So my question is : Does anyone work in the chrome plating field or have any contacts in the field that I could get ahold of to help me with my pet project? Much appreciated! Just an idea... go to this site and check out plating at home with Electroless Nickel. it would look very nice if you prep the surface nice. can be bright or satin -- I think your choice. appearance wise not much difference in chrome or nickel. http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/nickel-plating-kits/electroless-nickel-plating-kits.html I do a lot of design for clients that we use electroless nickel.. we like it. ( it is done at a plating shop -- not this home process ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 Check with your local Harley-type shops. Some of those guys chrome plate everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 I looked into getting some car wheels chromed recently. I was told that because the process is so toxic, there are very few places in the US that chrome anymore and if you can find one, it will be very expensive. Electroless nickel does look nice and I think it is pretty durable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.T. Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 As others have already said, it will be hard to find someone to re-chrome plate your rims. Electroless nickle is an option, but will be slightly more amber in color than chrome plating. The easiest option would be: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u6d8eKvegLI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
refried Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 call this place, 1-800-394-7008, they do plating for a wheel company called Rally America (you could try them too). Here's another http://www.deterscustomfinishing.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big canuck Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 What kind of bike are you restoring????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Day Posted August 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I am restoring my 1982 Kuwahara Laserlite BMX bicycle. So far, I've only had to replace my bottom bracket bearings. And figure out what to do with my rims. I will need new to replace the spokes and nipples once I decide what I do with my rims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Day Posted August 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 My old school bmx bike. Before I've done any work to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big canuck Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Cool bike Jeff, I had black and gold factory Kuwarara, then graduated to a Haro Freestyler, bought one of the replicas Haro put out a few years back. loved bmx. Rode the 24" wheel quad angle to the park with my three year old daughter today after reading this thread. Post pics when you're done! Went to the 2013 Cannondale dealer launch about 4 weeks ago in Deer Valley (booooo!!!!! I know) and I was having breakfast with a guy, it turns out to be Hollywood Mike Miranda!!!!! Good luck with the project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Jeff, Sweet ride! Brings back some good memories. We used to ride our BMX bikes from town to town, stopping only at every 7-11 to fuel up on sugar. Dude, you so need some "Tuff Wheels" and Oakley grips. Just make sure you get home in time to watch Night Rider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Day Posted August 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Jeff, Sweet ride! Brings back some good memories. We used to ride our BMX bikes from town to town, stopping only at every 7-11 to fuel up on sugar. Dude, you so need some "Tuff Wheels" and Oakley grips. Just make sure you get home in time to watch Night Rider. Yeah we too would ride over to the next town which has, and still has, a bmx track! Fuel of Champions, a can of Coca Cola and a candy bar! Tuff Wheels? Please...they were too heavy for my taste! They did look cool though! And yes it's rockin' Oakley B-2 grips right there in that picture! Not that you can see it in the pic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Jeff, have you considered powder coating? Bought an old car recently and the owner had chosen to powder coat the bumpers rather than chroming them again. They are growing on me. Just a thought. Perhaps even a catalyzed paint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy T. Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 Jeffrey, This is the place where the company that I work for gets plating done. Check out the web site and it even has an estimator feature. http://www.bendplating.com/ Good luck, Randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowboardfast Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Cool bike. If your rims are pitted too much they will not look good if you get them replated? The old plating has to be removed completely before they can be replated. Plating work is expensive because the metal has to be returned to smooth condition before plating is re done. I know what is invovled because I work in the band instrument trade and have toured a plating plant that does this. I am not qualified to do plating work. Plating has to be removed with chemicals . It would be cheaper to buy new rims if you can find them? Replating will not hide flaws if they cannot be removed? You might be able to find rims as lots of people are restoring old bikes and some parts are available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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