Board Logo

Re-chroming question
Bizarre - June 5th, 2011 at 11:30 AM

I got a brazillian front euro bumper re-chromed.

Got it back the other day and it is all peeling on the inside.
Out side looks good, but the inside is rubbish
The inside looks like a thin layer of hot dipped gal that is just peeling and bubbling

is this normal??

I have had to grind this heavy skin off that is bubbling and loose in places otherwise it is jusy going to rust

The indicators are a pain to clean around.
Using a wire wheel but I can not get in there.

I am giving it an etch primer and hammertone. Did this to my other ones and they have been fine outside for like 5 years.


68AutoBug - June 5th, 2011 at 12:10 PM

as the outside is the important part to be rechromed they don't do the back of the bumper....

otherwise it would cost You more......

what did it cost to have Your bumper rechromed?

spray behind Your bumper with light grey primer or silver...

cheers

LEE


vw54 - June 5th, 2011 at 01:37 PM

yep thats normal give it a rub back and paint it liker u did before


Yogie - June 5th, 2011 at 02:53 PM

When I got mine done, they said the chrome doesn't adhere to the curves on the back as well as it does to the front (outside). I painted a silver POR15 coating to the inside with a paint brush and it has lasted well for more than 8 years now.

Yogie


waveman1500 - June 5th, 2011 at 04:27 PM

I've always painted the insides of my bumpers black. They look fine that way and it doesn't look like a failed attempt at a chrome job. Just a normal wire brush (not on a grinder) and then painted on with a brush works for me.


Lucky Phil - June 5th, 2011 at 07:50 PM

I just painted the inside of my bumper with killrust primer and then killrust 'aluminium silver' colour.
Looks ok but maybe a little tacky.
I will probably try black next time.


vlad01 - June 5th, 2011 at 10:15 PM

Yes! that is the right thing to do ^

chrome is current density sensitive so it does not plate recessed, nooks, enclosed areas etc....

so yep, thats normal for a bumper chroming and why VW painted the inside at the factory.


psimitar - June 8th, 2011 at 07:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Yogie
When I got mine done, they said the chrome doesn't adhere to the curves on the back as well as it does to the front (outside). I painted a silver POR15 coating to the inside with a paint brush and it has lasted well for more than 8 years now.

Yogie


They told you crap then cos don't matter the curves it has it depends on how it's prepped so the copper and nickel bond well with the steel/base metal.

If they use the latest methods then a clean plain steel surface can be nickel plated and then chromed without the need for copper but the older method requires the use of copper for the nickel to adhere too ;)


vw54 - June 8th, 2011 at 08:08 AM

yes preparation is a must when chrome plating an item

Also for inner surfaces you woul have to make an anode to allow the chrome better throwing power to the surface when in the chrome solution

I usually polish all the sharpe edges before getting a re chrome done then paint the inner surfaces with Wheel silver paint makes for a nice job


Aussie Dubbin - June 8th, 2011 at 11:39 AM

VW54 is on the right track. Imagine you are trying to chrome a bumber that has lots of bends and nooks and crannies, The annode needs to mirror as best as possible the shapes of the material being chromed. If the annode cannot get close then the 'throw' of chrome is not as hard or consistent... hence crappy chrome. Also they need to prep the bars so do you really want to start paying the chromer to strip, copper coat and polish and then try to make an annode fit closely to the back of the bumper along its lenght?


helbus - June 8th, 2011 at 06:09 PM

I'm sure they could finish inside the bar to a shiny polished finish for double the price.


grumble - June 8th, 2011 at 07:33 PM

Buggered if I know any better but I had my Ghia bars rechromed at Hamilton Chrome and the inside looked pretty good,when I refitted the bars I painted inside with Tectyl as a precaution tp prevent any future problems.