Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Chrome plating

Hi all, I am making a light bar ( Im tight with money sometimes) its almost finished. I want to know how smooth should it be before I send it of for chrome plating or will the platers blast it etc. I still have to check out platers as there are none local and will have to send it to England, so if you know any good platers in England I would like their details also.

i would say as smooth as possible. the better you make it the less work the plater has to do which will save you some money

Frank

As smooth as you can get it. I'm not big into plating (I stick with polished stainless) but I think they generally just pickle the piece first, then plate. I know Platers in Derby. They normally have a minimum order value around £45 +vat. Surely there's someone in NI that can do it ? Belfast is a big enginering centre.

What they said. I polished mine to a chrome-like sheen before taking it to the platers. Only cost me $35 to get it plated.

Ok, cheers guys. I shall spend some more time with the flapper wheel in the drill. I would have prefered stainless but I can't weld it at present and dont have enough pieces of stainless to hand. Its looking good anyway, I have reloceted the winkers to below the lamps and all the wiring will be hidden except for the short link to the winkers. taken a few pictures as I go and will post when completed.

Belfast used to be a big industrial city, but not anymore Im afraid. There was a chrome plating company that I knew of but have never used, they seem to have ceased trading.

Stephen

If you have to send it to England post it to me and I will take it to a company in Preston who do all my work..

Thanks Ray, I shall continue to clean it up a bit more, then just have to check I can run all the wires through it, should be ok, but best to check. I will give them a ring for an estimate, Its only slightley heavier than a set of bars.

Progress so far, photos are from my phone and the 5" spots are not fitted at this stage, but you get the idea

nice work...Looking at thiese pics I'm tempted to do make one as well. Where did you get the part(s)..

Wow, that is going to be a nice looking piece. I'd think about swapping in some nice turn signals, with the OEM light bar, I'm kind of limited.

That will look nice chromed up Stephen, a talent you kept to yourself eh!

Its not so good in real life, still lots of scores to be seen. The tubular section is 1" pipe mild steel, I was able to put the two offsets in it using an electrical conduit bender and all my weight! at work, ( third attempt, first one was far to wide).
The end housings are 1 1/2 X 1/8 flat bar cut bent and shaped. all mig welded and ground down several times.
The bottom cover also holds the winkers, standard at present, I am ok with the standard ones but I fancy the clear lenses. I have further pics of the construction that I will put togeather when its complete although there are no exact dimensions, its all done to the thickness of a felt pen, about 8 hours work I guess.

Steve,
just going to tell you about a platers in Preston, come recomended and were mentioned in last months Back Street Heroes, but then I saw that Ray had told you about these already.
Oh well, at least you get two recomendations.
Looks good
Chris

Looks real nice post a pic or 2 when you have them plated.

Thanks Ray, Chris. I spoke to aquaplating and will mail it of to them this week, hopefully their return post wont be to expensive or I shall give you a shout Ray

I still have to feed the wires through it just for a check.

Not a problem Stephen, shout away mate its about half hour ride for me and I have some bits n bobs that could do with doing anyway

Ray,
I'm in Caton just north of Lancaster.
Came down to Knott End yesterday to have a chat about the Langdale event.
There were only three bikes there. Thought it was popular on a Sunday.Chers
Chris

Final fitting and check before it goes to the platers.

Are you taking orders?

Only from the wife Nick

Its taken me some time, If I put an hourley rate on it it would be cheaper to buy a mig welder and grinder and have a bash yourself. now perhaps when I retire it would keep me busy,
Could be making them for the 1500 then.