Lots of manky fixtures and fittings on some of my bikes so I’m curious to use a home kit but are you just paying over the odds for shite you can by cheaper separate? Anyone used one?
I had one a few years ago but what a pain to set up buckets of chemicals an electrical source etc etc. The plating didn't go well either tried to strip the chrome from a BSA clutch arm and was left with just the chrome !!! no arm whoops had to buy a new one. In summary do what you're good at earn the money buy the part
I would just replace with stainless fittings where possible, too much of a faf home plating, you also need to invest in a metal polisher to get a good finish...once you have managed to remove all the original plating.
I’ve all the metal working tools I’ll ever need so that’s why I asked about the kit. As for stainless fittings it’s bushes, spacers, brackets not bolts so back to the original plan... The parts I want to do are not in my face either so the finish can be a class 2.
And dependant on age a lot of parts are now NLA new. Which means a lot more people looking for the parts in good condition.
In that case couldn't you just fabricate the spacers and brackets etc you need from stainless and then polish...that's what i normally do unless i am feeling lazy or they are just too complicated.
A good metal polisher is a damn sight cheaper than a lathe / mill / pillar drill & a set of decent drills for stainless plus the fabrication tools required. Then the cost of the stainless needed to produce the parts.
Good luck then..i had a mate that had a plating shop cant say i would fancy it, hope your wife is forgiving...and get yourself a decent mask as the fumes are not pleasant.
Don’t worry about me. I work with metals for a living. Sometimes the questions needs to stay on track as I have all the answers for the other stuff that’s why I don’t ask them. Sorry to sound abrupt but we’re all skilled in different ways and I know what I don’t need. And as for my wife.....?
That's the ideal way, but it needs to be reasonably local to make it worth while. My nearest would be about 100 miles away, and some dont like doing s/h parts.
@half ton ‘Carefull’ is the word!! I’m similar and like original parts too, although I’m always interested how things are done and to what extent. Refinishing is one of those things and if I can do some small things ‘in house’ then I would rather do it than send it somewhere where it gets done half hearted because a job isn’t large enough. I do use a show winning premium plater but it’s a 4-6 months turnaround and I haven’t enough ‘good’ stuff to give them currently.
Hello, I've used a zinc plating kit which worked pretty well, although it all depends on surface preparation - what you see is what you get! Removing chrome is really for the experts as it produces toxic waste, it can be done but is expensive (£90 to strip a four pipe exhaust system and it took a while). You need to mix the solutions carefully and control the ampage to prevent roughening the surface but it's quick once set up and saves postage etc. Cheers, MikeJ
