Chrome in a can revisited(with pics)
 

Spring is here so I have to get the rides in shape! I have all of the parts and frame gathered, cleaned and ready to be reassembled on the LeJuene. But the fork ends in their previous life lost their chrome and someone put some gray paint on instead.

So...... I'm going to try the Duplicolor Chrome paint and see how it works out. I stripped the ends down and put on some primer yesterday. I will sand and reprimer today. When I get it finished I will post pictures.

Neat. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

I dont think youll like the way it looks. not really like chrome, more like silver paint. post some pics though

If it comes out OK I'd experiment with putting clear over it to protect. Experiment on a scrap piece of metal or something to make sure the clear doesn't react with the fake chrome paint. I've seen this paint look halfway decent when used on bumpers, but it doesn't seem to be very durable and soon gets all nasty. It never seems to dry completely or something and you can put your fingernail right into it even weeks/months later. Usually it just turns a dull grey color (which just might be what you have on there now).

Quality of such spray on chrome products vary. And varies on how they must be applied. Some of the most convincing looking chrome sprays require you prep the base layer with a high gloss black finish. The chrome overlay uses the base to reflect.

I would suppose that a smaller area like on the fork ends would be the most convincing too as the larger the area the more it would be evident that it wasn't very mirror-like. At least until they started getting beat up.

Unfortunately the reason why bike makers chrome the fork ends is for durability since that is a high-damage area due to stuff being thrown up from the road at it and constant removal and re-installation of the front wheel for locking it up and setting the fork onto the cement next to the bike rack or signpost. Fake chrome paint would be even more fragile than regular paint and not nearly as sturdy as real chrome. It might look right, but it'd be exactly backwards.

In my opinion, it will look phony. When presented with such a problem, I choose to just paint the entire fork one color. True, it will not look as nice as the chrome plating did, but at least it will not draw attention to itself.

Again, just an opinion.

Trying and spectacularly failing is in the job-description of the C&V bike wrench!

I say go for it. The bigger the fumble the more fun it is! It's not like these bikes are worth a whole lot of money or anything. Or at least that's the kind of C&V stuff I do!

I'm doing it strictly for the C & V cause! Someone's got to do it. There is a good plating shop locally so if it doesn't work out then it will be sent there. But at least we will know.

The Richmond VA shop is this one: http://www.hanlonplating.com/

I called them a month or 2 ago. Seems like they quoted me around $50 to do the fork ends. So I might be contacting them after an epic fail!

Most Chrome sprays tell you not to clear over them. Believe the instructions on the can. :)

Take a look at Alclad II. Designed for realistic metal finishes on models and displays so I don't know how durable it is but it does seem to produce a pretty good chrome finish. Does require you use their gloss black "primer".

you have my blessing.

so, just the fork ends?

Just send it to a motorcycle chrome shop.

I got the fork done. I still have not found my camera so this is a cellphone picture. I have other pictures, but the phone only has one battery bar so I will add others later.

http://s1110.photobucket.com/albums/...t/Fork%20redo/

OPs pic above:

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/...redo/Fork1.jpg

By all accounts is looks different than simple silver paint. I'm anxious to see this with a bigger better pic.

Big +1...everyone sees my successes. Not many see the failures, although I try to minimize them :)

I just put in a long winded analysis but the site said I needed to refresh and I lost it. So I will try again.

The time out for posting on this site can be a PITA. I find it's safer to copy your entire entry before hitting the POST button. Or type it elsewhere then paste. Lost numerous posts in the past, so you're not alone.

Same here....anything long gets done in Word first. It's a danged shame.

I found the way to get around the timeout is to reopen the thread in another window while keeping your window open. Then sign in, refresh the second and copy your post from the first window.

Second attempt at analysis.

I am very pleased with the way it came out. It does not have the smooth baked finish of say a new bumper. It has the finish of the "chrome alloy" rims that you see on most of today's new automobiles. It is just as shiny, just not as mirror smooth. It looks like the Stronglight crank arm and the Campy RD in the picture. If you look at the picture, you can see the reflection of the pedal, the FDs and the hub on the right fork blade. Very nice.

If it turns out to be durable and maybe can accept a clear coat, then it will be a huge success for MY needs. The bike is a low to mid level LeJuene that will be a daily rider not a show piece. No mistaking it for a rechroming. But I'm only going to touch up the original paint on the frame and fork. So....... one could argue that a rechroming would stick out more and would look less authentic with the old paint than this. This definitely passes the 5 feet test and looks good up close. One thing I like about the primer and paint is that it does not eliminate the original visual flaws that were there with the dropout brazing. It looks authentic.

The primer and paint used is Duplicolor Rust Fix and Instant Chrome Finish respectively. The primer drys to a high gloss black finish. One negative is that the primer can did not have an adjustable nozzle. It emitted a stream pattern instead of a fan pattern. It was hard to prevent runs and sags from happening. Read the directions on the primer label or you will get runs and sags. The paint went on really well.

Final analysis: If it turns out to be durable then this will be a good alternative for spiffing up the beater/commuter class of bike. If the bike is valuable and you are doing a repaint then get the parts rechromed. But.......if you are just trying to spruce up a ride, get yourself a piece of metal and test it for yourself. Then give it a try. I think you will be suprised!

I really want to see a better picture!
it looks good from a preliminary analysis, Do you think it would work well for small applications, maybe lugs?

Also if you dont have a match to that stronglight NDS crankarm, I think it may fit my needs.

I used to get that, now I check the remember me box. Hasn't happened since.

I always have it checked. Anything real long regardless of checkbox....I'd be afraid of my browser dying :)

I added some more photos. This is the best I can do until I find the &%##@0* camera.

http://s1110.photobucket.com/albums/...t/Fork%20redo/

One of the pictures I took in front of a rim on my Mazda 5. The fork finish is very similar to the rim's finish.

certainly looks like dull chrome rather than glossy silver.
Have you tried a light wet-sanding on it?

I haven't tried anything yet. I painted it this morning and let it dry all day.