Chrome finish that actually works? Is it possible
 

Hey all,

In the midst of a restoration, I've realized removing rust sucks. It sucks nuts. I have a nice set of chrome handle bars and a sissy bar that are covered in rust and need some revival, but as I've tried all the solutions on the web and none have worked, I'm getting kinda desperate. As a last ditch effort, I've used a combo of steel wool, tin foil, and sandpaper and gotten the rust relatively smooth, and I was gonna repaint the chrome with chrome spray paint. After testing the paint on an old seat post, I've realized the Dupli-Color Chrome spray paint dosent really have the mirror finish I want. It looks more lk a crappy silver aluminum finish, definatly not was I was looking for. Does anyone have a solution to getting a real chrome finish for metal? Anything helps, thanks.

There is a fairly new chrome spray on coating that is only offered through pro applicator shops https://www.google.com/search?q=spra...nology&ie=&oe= for cars and is cheaper but is not nearly as durable as real chrome. It may work for you if the parts don't get treated too rough in use. There are also do-it-yourself nickel plating kits and how-to videos on You Tube but not easy or real cheap but still cheaper than chrome plating.

Powder coaters claims to be able to replicate chrome. I'm not sure how well but powder coating is dirt cheap.

buy new pieces on ebay.

seriously... if you don't like the cost of rechroming, just get new bars.

i have not found a decent "chrome" paint... and once chrome is pitted, it will continue to show rust... the chrome never rusts, it just gets holes pushed through it by the rusting of the steel below it...

ape hanger or sting ray type bars are 20 to 50 bucks... sissy bars are 20 or so.

If you have used steel wool & sandpaper wow steel wool is not too bad if done lightly it will knock off worst of the rust, once you scratched it with sandpaper, sounds like a replacement item. You have to remember if you remove rust from chrome you often end up with black patches, which are in same ways worse. I've just cleaned a load of rusty chrome steel racing mud guards up amazing how much came off with suitable polish, but it left black areas.

The good "chrome" powder coats are more expensive than the basic colors. They require a more controlled application process and usually need clear coating as well.

Have you priced dirt lately? Real estate ain't cheap. They're not making it any more.
Jon

I agree with just buying new. The original equipment is not valuable or worth the effort if it's rusted.

Yea I get what your saying on that note that it is easier to just get new parts but that's kinda not the point. I'm restoring the bike I'm not looking to ride it, so if this was say a different project I would defenitly just buy new bars. But the point in restoring is to get it to the most original shape possible, and even if the new handle bars look like the most original, they are the farthest from the actual original handlebars. That's the only reason I'm really trying to find some solution to preserve the old bars.

There is no low-cost, high-quality, durable, DIY chrome substitute on the market. Powder coat will get you close but will cost as much as the replacement parts. With retro bikes being popular these days, there are a lot of replacement parts for old Schwinns and similar bikes on the market.

You are comparing apples to oranges. Chrome is an actual metal alloy chemically bonded to the metal materials below it. Paint is a coloring agent adhered to the outside. The chrome can be polished; the paint can be polished, but only to a lesser extent.
Do a quick video search of a chroming process, to see what I mean about the differences.

To get your paint to shine up, you will need to: apply, sand very smooth with HIGH grit (like in the 1000s), apply, buff (repeat the last two until you get the finish you want) The buffing to a shine works better with a clear coat, however you still need each layer to be ultra smooth.
You'll be hard-pressed to get them to look exactly the same, especially if they are right next to each other.