Re: [CR] chrome replating question

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

References: <20091111231705.A18D219D8D@ug6.ece.ubc.ca>
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:44:50 -0800
From: "John D Proch" <johnprochss@yahoo.com>
To: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <20091111231705.A18D219D8D@ug6.ece.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: [CR] chrome replating question


I have found with my experience with chrome plating that if there is no deep pitting, the replate job will be beautiful. This is if you know your chrome shop well and instruct them to "Please go light on the grinding, because I do want to be able to read these letters here" while I point to the letters. I have seen many shops work and most of it is horrible, to say the least. Many shops in the US on the west coast and up on the upper east coast that do concours chrome work, such as on elegant show cars, do cost more, but the job will be much prettier than the character down the road. It helps to have references. I remember that I had a chrome job done on a Dawes fork in the early 1970's. After 6 months the chrome was literally blowing off in the wind in large flakes.

John Proch La Grange, Texas

________________________________ From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Wed, November 11, 2009 5:17:05 PM Subject: Re: [CR] chrome replating question

I don't think you'll lose points on the concours for trivalent chrome vs. hexavalent chrome, as nobody can tell the difference. Hexavalent chrome is a known carcinogen (A lawsuit over Hexavalent Chrome poisoning made Erin Brockovich famous and garnered an Academy Award for Julia Roberts in 2000.)

Since hexavalent chrome has been outlawed by the EPA, I strongly suggest you go with your local, trivalent chrome plater in restoring your Chater Lea cranks.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA