Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Best method to blacken chromed forks on Honda Z50?

Hello. I am restoring a Honda Z50 Minitrail and have been making all of the parts either olive drab green or flat black using a combination of powder coating, gun paint, and do-it-yourself phos and oil kits. I achieved great results on all previously painted parts just by sandblasting off the old paint.

Now all I have left are the handlebars and forks but they are chrome plated. I did not want to paint these parts as they take a lot of abuse. I was hoping I could have them zinc plated black. Can this be done to parts that are already chromed? What would be my best option? Does the chrome have to be removed chemically? Can they just be sandblasted and then zinc plated?

Ken Cenicola
Hobbyist - Madison, New Jersey, USA
March 3, 2010

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Hi, Ken. I don't think black zinc is a suitable exterior finish for vehicle parts, although it might be possible to apply a clear coat after the zinc plating and black chromate. I think a better answer is black chrome plating.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 3, 2010

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As Ted said black chrome. DO NOT SAND BLAST OR ROUGH UP THE FORK PISTONS! If you do they will eat the seals out of forks and the oil will all leak out leaving you with flat, dead forks! Even a nick in the chrome will wreak a fork and those puppy's are EXPENSIVE!

Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
March 5, 2010