exhaust plating
- Thread starter birdseye
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ihandyman247
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you mean like Crome plating ?
Do a bit of a search because there was some discussion about this not too long ago. I seem to recall that once an exhaust has been "used" a plater will not want to do it, probably due to contamination. Might be worth just looking out for a replacement plated exhaust - I picked one up last week for £60 not realising it was the chromed version 
It's very nice though 
Stu.
It's very nice though Stu.
Deleted account 190920001
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Stu is spot on a plater wont touch a used exhaust as it will pollute their plating baths. It doesn't work that well anyway because the headers are thin walled and the heat gets to the plating turning it blue then brown. Bare stainless and some polish if you can be bothered is the better route. In my case I don't want the old sewer look but I am not bothered about it being shiny either so I use a bit fine scotch brite now and again to clean it back to silver. Leaves a nice (in my opinion anyway) brushed stainless finish.
just bought a 2008 bike that has exhaust pipes the colour of cheap chocolate, made a bit worse by two patches of melted on bike cover. Didnt think it would be that easy to get them back to something clean and shiny, or at least half presentable.
BBB61
Registered user
MikeP of this parish might be worth contacting given his skills at cleaning up bikes to a high standard.
Humbug
Registered user
With a bit of effort, a brass wire wheel, various grades of wet and dry followed by some Belgom Alu polish and you should be able to turn something like this:-
into this:-
into this:-
ihandyman247
Registered user
That looks like a great jobWith a bit of effort, a brass wire wheel, various grades of wet and dry followed by some Belgom Alu polish and you should be able to turn something like this:-
into this:-
Delboy777
Registered user
How about ceramic coating ??
Bendy toy
Registered user
These people are happy to do exhaust systems even 2 strokes. The old chrome has to be removed and that also cleans out the carbon and gunk so its a myth that platers wont touch old exhausts.
http://www.ashfordchroming.com/area/chrome-plating/Coventry
The OP's question might be "Can I chrome plate onto stainless steel". According to those below - yes. I read elsewhere to leave out the copper layer and go straight to nickel and chrome.
http://www.bakereng.co.uk/electroplating/chrome-plating/
Why do it? because stainless tarnishes and the only way to bring back bright is to take the pipes off the bike. Chrome will blue in the hottest areas but should stay bright.
Personally, I like the brass/titanium style of a heat patina on stainless but some systems are made from not quite stainless that pits in winter salt so would benefit from chrome.
http://www.ashfordchroming.com/area/chrome-plating/Coventry
The OP's question might be "Can I chrome plate onto stainless steel". According to those below - yes. I read elsewhere to leave out the copper layer and go straight to nickel and chrome.
http://www.bakereng.co.uk/electroplating/chrome-plating/
Why do it? because stainless tarnishes and the only way to bring back bright is to take the pipes off the bike. Chrome will blue in the hottest areas but should stay bright.
Personally, I like the brass/titanium style of a heat patina on stainless but some systems are made from not quite stainless that pits in winter salt so would benefit from chrome.
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