Anyone know a good way to removing flaking chrome from aluminum? I'd like to avoid grinding or blasting if possible, but whatever works best.. Thanks, Mike
What about one of those composite wheels? Like this one. I used one just like it on a Moon tank and it came out fine.
you could try this.. works pretty well...lifts chrome off if you leave it for long enough... jus keep yer eye on the aluminum http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp jus do it somewhere well ventilated...and NO smokin round it... this method can give off small amounts of hydrogen gas
You won't remove chrome from aluminum with electrolosys, not that way anyway. Plus the waste is hazardous and VERY controlled. Why not just pay a chrome shop $25 to do it properly and get back a nice wheel you can work with and not have the worries.
Well, it's actually some Harley parts that I'd rather swirl polish or jewel or whatever it's called. I may try that composite wheel out. You can't go wrong for $4.29! Thanks.
Are you sure that it's aluminum? I'm not sure that someone would chrome plate aluminum. It would be a lot easier, and cheaper, to simply polish the stuff. Is it some other pot-metal? Where on the bike is it? --Matt
When I bought my crestliner the aluminum heads had been chrome plated. The guy was tied up with world of wheels. When everyone put please don't touch, he put go ahead and touch. Anyway they were flaking and chrome shop stripped them. Didn't cost much and alot easier and quicker.
Rocker covers and trans cover (not the primary). Dunno, someone told me it was aluminum...I haven't taken them off, yet.
Lots of chromed aluminum on harley's. Trouble is S&S are now using a lot of zinc in their unpolished casings. Super porous, Super Heavy, and shit to work with. Worst casings I have ever seen. Can't comment on their new polished and chrome ones, I haven't worked on the newer ones yet. I figure they must be coming from different casting houses, because the chain case I've just done was like a sponge and weighed more than a primary.
The only way I know to remove chrome from aluminum is nitric acid dip. thats what i do in my chrome shop. and yes there is a lot of aluminum chromed. you can use a roloc wheel but you run the risk of gouging the surface.
Another chrome plater? Sweet. We usually strip aluminum with a sulfuric solution and electrolysis. It won't strip the copper if there is any. I doubt any new aluminum parts will have copper on them anyways. We use Nitric too if the occasion calls for it. It is good to keep options open. One thing to know, is that when people say that aluminum doesn't plate well and has trouble with adhesion, it is a myth. It is all in the prep work. Properly plated aluminum will not peel, no matter how much it is handled.
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