Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB350/400 => Topic started by: mike the bike on November 27, 2016, 06:33:56 PM

Title: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on November 27, 2016, 06:33:56 PM
How much would I expect to pay to have my exhaust clamps rechromed?  I know prices vary,  as does quality but there's a set on fleabay at the mo going for £50.  It may work out cheaper to buy those and flog my old ones.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Trigger on November 27, 2016, 06:51:10 PM
They never come out any good and would cost around £50, me thinks the guy selling those is a forum member.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on November 27, 2016, 07:29:57 PM
What do you mean by that?  Are you saying that rechroming is often unsuccessful?   
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Trigger on November 27, 2016, 07:37:47 PM
Sometimes they don't chrome as well as you think they are going to
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on November 27, 2016, 07:51:14 PM
Can I get solid chrome ones or have mine stainless steel plated? ;D ;D
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: kevski on November 27, 2016, 08:15:38 PM
No such thing as solid chrome, or stainless steel electroplate, your old ones can be stripped and re-chromed but more economic to buy new ones, these look good and most certainly a good price, the second set look poorly done chances are the underlying nickel was not reactivated prior to re-chroming.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB400F-400-Four-400-4-set-of-exhaust-clamps-rechromed-PRICE-REDUCED-/391615364649?hash=item5b2e183e29:g:qn8AAOSwNRdX9fUL

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB400F-400-Four-400-4-set-of-exhaust-clamps-rechromed-/272460112481?hash=item3f6fe36261:g:8qAAAOSwpLNX~MP4
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on November 27, 2016, 08:41:16 PM
FFS.  I was just joking, hence the ' ;D'
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: kevski on November 28, 2016, 06:41:30 AM
FFS.  I was just joking, hence the ' ;D'

Can't see what those tiny yellow blobbs are on my phone, and ask a silly question !
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Laverda Dave on November 28, 2016, 10:29:03 AM
I had my old clamps rechromed but it wasn't long before the finish went off. I think it's because the metal a rough casting and it's very difficult to clean up prior to a rechrome. I've bought new ones for project 400.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on November 28, 2016, 11:29:03 AM
New ones are £26 from DSS.  Thats £104 plus vat plus p&p plus vat on the p&p, call it £200.  What's wrong with the £50 ones on ebay?  I'm no expert but they look OK to me.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB400F-400-Four-400-4-set-of-exhaust-clamps-rechromed-/272460112481?hash=item3f6fe36261:g:8qAAAOSwpLNX~MP4
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Laverda Dave on November 28, 2016, 11:43:36 AM
I would by the £50 ones on ebay and take a chance.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Chris400F on November 28, 2016, 12:17:55 PM
I'm no expert either but looking at the close-up photos the £50 ones don't look that brilliant to me.
Maybe it's the lighting but they seem to have ben a bit rough in places before being rechromed.
If you look at the last pic the mounting hole in the bottom left clamp looks off-centre too, surely not what you would expect of the genuine article.
If it was me buying I would be more tempted by the other set for £75 irrespective of who is selling them.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: kevski on November 28, 2016, 12:51:28 PM
The £50 ones have been poorly prepped hence no full coverage, even brand new the castings are poor and the fins on them don't help with the throwing power in the plating tanks.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: royhall on November 29, 2016, 07:43:29 AM
O no not bike-pusher again. Would rather fit rusty ones than buy off him.

Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Trigger on November 29, 2016, 08:26:49 AM
O no not bike-pusher again. Would rather fit rusty ones than buy off him.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Never had a problem with Neil (aka Bike Pusher) All ways found him and his parts very good, and yes I have met him.

Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Tomb on November 29, 2016, 03:19:02 PM
Would it not be easier/cheaper to just have a set of stainless rings turned up?
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Chris400F on November 29, 2016, 05:29:51 PM
Oddjob, Sounds like a lot of work. What about something like this:
http://4into1.com/ttr400-aluminum-anodized-exhaust-flange-set-silver-cb350f-cb400f-cb550/
or this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB350F-350-Four-Exhaust-clamps-collar-flange-Set-4-/332014838856
The latter work out at around £128 using the figures given for delivery and duties, that's only a couple of quid more than genuine Honda ones from DS (excluding delivery).
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on November 29, 2016, 05:36:34 PM
I want it to look original rather than fit those anodised ones, but I appreciate your input.
I had a reply from Bikepusher and he thinks those 75 quid ones he's selling are only double plated not triple plated.   I've got Friday off so I'll take a trip to the local platers, who assured me that he does triple plating but wouldn't give me a price over the phone.   
If nothing else it'll be nice to get out for a ride.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: kevski on November 29, 2016, 06:14:32 PM
I want it to look original rather than fit those anodised ones, but I appreciate your input.
I had a reply from Bikepusher and he thinks those 75 quid ones he's selling are only double plated not triple plated.   I've got Friday off so I'll take a trip to the local platers, who assured me that he does triple plating but wouldn't give me a price over the phone.   
If nothing else it'll be nice to get out for a ride.

It does not matter whether they are double, triple or quadruple plated if the prep is crap the finish will not last, for things like these they need stripping back in a de-chrome bath and the nickel will need to be removed then some polishing where possible, then a decent coat of nickel as this is what gives it it's protection when chromed, if they skimp on the nickel the chrome wont last, if they want to copper it i would advise against it as copper is soft and when the nuts are done up it will peel taking the chrome with it.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: royhall on November 30, 2016, 07:17:30 AM
Nice to have a member on here that really knows plating. Thanks Kevski.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: kevski on November 30, 2016, 07:44:36 AM
Nice to have a member on here that really knows plating. Thanks Kevski.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Roy, I am a former metalurgical chemist and plate line oppo, so I know a little, enough to get me by, it's a bit of a minefield, but in this game poor prep shows up massively on the finished job, and these clamps are not worth the time involved to re-chrome, the cost of the prep way outweighs the cost of new.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Trigger on November 30, 2016, 09:32:56 AM
Nice to have a member on here that really knows plating. Thanks Kevski.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Roy, I am a former metalurgical chemist and plate line oppo, so I know a little, enough to get me by, it's a bit of a minefield, but in this game poor prep shows up massively on the finished job, and these clamps are not worth the time involved to re-chrome, the cost of the prep way outweighs the cost of new.

Kevski, I noticed that your location is just the other side of Boston from me. Did you move up here to work in a chroming firm ? Since I moved up from Kent I have found it hard in this area to find a good polishing/chroming company. I have found a good chromers in York but, they never like taking on jobs when polishing is involved. Yes, the money is all in the prep work and some of these old bike parts are past the prep stage, especially all the thin, rusty parts.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Tomb on November 30, 2016, 10:31:41 AM
Another method I've used was to shine them up using a wire brush wheel, even rusty ones will shine up well with enough work, then clear coat powder coated them, the heat from the exhaust doesn't get high enough to melt the coat.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on November 30, 2016, 12:46:02 PM
Now that sounds like a good plan,  the chroming isnt too bad bur surface rust is showing.   I'll go for that and see how it works out.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: kevski on December 01, 2016, 10:31:01 AM
Nice to have a member on here that really knows plating. Thanks Kevski.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Roy, I am a former metalurgical chemist and plate line oppo, so I know a little, enough to get me by, it's a bit of a minefield, but in this game poor prep shows up massively on the finished job, and these clamps are not worth the time involved to re-chrome, the cost of the prep way outweighs the cost of new.

Kevski, I noticed that your location is just the other side of Boston from me. Did you move up here to work in a chroming firm ? Since I moved up from Kent I have found it hard in this area to find a good polishing/chroming company. I have found a good chromers in York but, they never like taking on jobs when polishing is involved. Yes, the money is all in the prep work and some of these old bike parts are past the prep stage, especially all the thin, rusty parts.

I am out of the game now, it's a very unhealthy business, in my last place we were only set up to plate certain shapes and sizes of work, if i wanted small stuff done i used to set up a small line in my lab and do my own any thing large like mudguards, stanchions and things of similar sizes easier to buy new or source decent second hand stuff, happy to be away from it.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: MCTID on December 01, 2016, 12:12:31 PM
Having spent many an hour de-rusting, de-painting and generally faffing about fettling my old Triumph over the last few years (still in  a zillion pieces I'm afraid), the splendid Mr Roy Hall advised me to buy a Bench Rotary Polishing machine with Scotchbrite Rotary Discs to polish some of my CB750 K4 engine bits (I buy the discs from - www.thepolishingshop.co.uk whose service is excellent).

Over this last summer I have tried a variety of different grade Scotchbrite Discs and also a couple of Rotary Wire Wheels and I just wish I'd known how effective they were years ago.

Luckily I use the Polishing Machine mounted on a B & D Workmate - outside my garage - luckily because after a mornings work, there is a fine layer of dust and crap over everything within a 20ft range.....not recommended when you are trying to rebuild a bike inside - but that apart, the speed in removing baked on crud, and the quality of finish you can achieve are quite remarkable.

If you are contemplating a rebuild, then you'll find the relatively small outlay on a Polishing Machine and Scotchbrite Discs is a really worthwhile investment.........maybe as a Christmas Present - ho ho ho !

Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: mike the bike on December 01, 2016, 12:52:13 PM
I'd ask Santa for one but I haven't got room to swing a gnat in my shed.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: royhall on December 01, 2016, 02:26:27 PM
"the splendid Mr RoyHall"  I like it! Where you been hiding the last few weeks Mr Alan.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: Trigger on December 01, 2016, 05:58:51 PM
Having spent many an hour de-rusting, de-painting and generally faffing about fettling my old Triumph over the last few years (still in  a zillion pieces I'm afraid), the splendid Mr Roy Hall advised me to buy a Bench Rotary Polishing machine with Scotchbrite Rotary Discs to polish some of my CB750 K4 engine bits (I buy the discs from - www.thepolishingshop.co.uk whose service is excellent).

Over this last summer I have tried a variety of different grade Scotchbrite Discs and also a couple of Rotary Wire Wheels and I just wish I'd known how effective they were years ago.

Luckily I use the Polishing Machine mounted on a B & D Workmate - outside my garage - luckily because after a mornings work, there is a fine layer of dust and crap over everything within a 20ft range.....not recommended when you are trying to rebuild a bike inside - but that apart, the speed in removing baked on crud, and the quality of finish you can achieve are quite remarkable.

If you are contemplating a rebuild, then you'll find the relatively small outlay on a Polishing Machine and Scotchbrite Discs is a really worthwhile investment.........maybe as a Christmas Present - ho ho ho !

You need a respirator on when using those scotchbrite mops, it will do your lungs in. Most professional polishers that use these have a large extraction unit mounted on the back of the machine.
Title: Re: Chroming
Post by: royhall on December 01, 2016, 06:04:03 PM
I would second that. I usually wear a two canister mask and do it outside. That stuff flies everywhere.
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