SOHC.co.uk Forums > Project Board

Polishing rusty chrome

<< < (2/2)

Ken4004:
Hi Kevski

That’s what I have been concerned about removing too much chrome, like the sound of the WD40 and foil, I suppose it easy to get carried away to achieve fast results.

It’s a shame so many chrome companies have closed down because all of the strict regulations, I would like to get an exhaust re chromed but I have heard that they are reluctant to take on exhausts because they don’t want their tanks contaminated with carbon debris.

I am going out to China next month so might see if I can find a place out there it’s got to be cheaper, I have a chain guard I would like to get re chromed.
I have tried to email several chromers but their so busy unless it’s a big job they are not really interested, have been waiting for CMSNL to produce some more after market ones.

K2-K6:
My understanding of it has been the visible rust is from base material corrosion (as noted in previous posting) passing through the chrome (ostensibly immune to corrosion) in appearing on the top layer.

Something very gentle, if you have a circular random orbit sander, for DIY perhaps ? A dense wool pad fitted to that, then use a caravan or acrylic bath cleaner paste (both in super fine abrasive, effectively) then keeping the pad dampened with a little water while you polish is very effective. 

A suggestion, given that it's corrosion coming through the chrome, and if its substantially poor anyway  ....  use of a rust "converter could arrest that corrosion prior to stating a polish routine. Perhaps a longer lasting stay of execution from chemical conversion would be successful.

royhall:
Whatever you try the rust will eventually return. It's due to a poor chroming job that skipped the copper plating part. Nickel and chromium are slightly porous so without the copper the base layer of steel will always rust through. Pay cheap gets a cheap job.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

K2-K6:
I was considering it more in context of trying to at least best halt or save an original part from further deterioration, at least to conserve what exists at that point.

I did think that was the focus of original post and question though.

Ken4004:

--- Quote from: royhall on November 15, 2025, 06:34:33 PM ---Whatever you try the rust will eventually return. It's due to a poor chroming job that skipped the copper plating part. Nickel and chromium are slightly porous so without the copper the base layer of steel will always rust through. Pay cheap gets a cheap job.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

--- End quote ---

So are you saying that the original chrome from Honda was a bit hit and miss when it came to the  plating  process or as you say they took a short cut and missed the copper plating base layer ?

Or maybe they used the plating chemicals for too long and some of the chrome parts had a sub standard finish when  the chemicals past their best !

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page