Restoring Chrome

[Deano400]

Having spoken to the local chromer, who said that it would cost about the same to re-chrome my parts as it would to buy new (outside my budget), I decided to have a go at cleaning up the parts myself.
This is what I started with:

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This is how they’ve cleaned up so far. Haven’t polished them yet.

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The question I’ve got is what do I do about the ends?

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Do I knock off the rest of the loose(ish) stuff? Use Rust Converter? Build up with metal filler? Or should I just clean up and use as is? Any tips would be helpful.

Also is it possible to shine up dull chrome? If so what’s the best thing to use?

[Nurse Julie]

Great job you've there John. If it's purely functionality you want, why not rub down and remove as much of the rust as you can, mask off and spray paint the ends in high temp silver paint?.

[Spitfire]

Great job, I would not have thought it possible to get them looking that good, and as Julie has said just clean them up as much as possible then paint using high temp silver paint, if you get leaks then sleeve them with tin can metal or use exhaust sealant from Halfords.
As to dull chrome it looks like you can do that better than me.

Cheers

Dennis

[Deano400]

Thanks Julie, Spitfire.
A bit more cleaning then VHT silver and finish with a polish.
Couple more pics of the clean up.

[marcgannon]

What a fantastic job you've done!
What was your process here?

[Deano400]

Hi Marc,
I used very fine wire wool and loads of WD40. It depends on the chrome though; the chrome on the mudguards doesn’t seem as good as the exhaust so I couldn’t use wire wool as it scratches. For the mudguards I used one of those plastic/sponge kitchen scouring pads. Just test an area carefully before you do any damage. I am doing the bike to ride not show so the result is good enough, takes a bit of time but worth it.

[Deano400]

Had a go at the chain guard today. You can't win them all!!

[Nurse Julie]

Had a go at the chain guard today. You can't win them all!!

There is restoration and then there is resurrection, neither of which will happen to that guard  . Why not spray it black if you don't fancy buying a new one John.
 

[Deano400]

You're right Julie, no amount of WD40 is going to save this. But so far I have rescued the the down pipes and collector, front and rear mudguards, handle bars, points cover and kick start so I think I'm going to spend a bit of money  .

[Nurse Julie]

You're right Julie, no amount of WD40 is going to save this. But so far I have rescued the the down pipes and collector, front and rear mudguards, handle bars, points cover and kick start so I think I'm going to spend a bit of money  .

Yes, spend some money as a treat for all your hard work.You have saved yourself a shed load so far.

[Woodside]

ive had parts like that before on resurrection bikes
ive hit them hard with a flap disc and knocked all the chrome off...down to bare steel
buffed them up then lacquered the said part..
can look ok on a used bike

[Rob62]

Nice job, i do like to see a bit of restoration of the original finish where possible..... looks great. As already said, a bit of high temp silver paint and some exhaust sealant should do the job... I wouldn’t bother with metal filler.