Summary for thin layered chromed part Discussion
thin layered chromed part: Norman Slutzker asked whether a brand-new motorcycle muffler could be given a heavier chrome finish on the outside and ceramic coating on the inside, since the original chrome blue-dyed from heat. The reply from Ted Mooney said the existing chrome cannot simply be built up; the part would need to have the chrome and nickel stripped and then replated. He added that it might be possible to add more nickel and then chrome over the existing nickel, but that is uncertain and "touch and go." On the ceramic side, he said he did not know the feasibility, but because of the high temperatures involved, the ceramic coating would need to be done before the nickel and chrome plating. The practical takeaway is that the order of operations matters, and full stripping/replating is the safer chrome option.
Q. I have a brand new pro-pipe motorcycle Muffler that has never been used therefore has no carbon contaminants inside it.
My desire is to ceramic coat the inside of the pipe and if possible add a heavier Chrome layer to the outside as the original pipe I have blue dye out within a couple of months from Heat and inadequate Chrome plating.
I’ve read your article and still not positive if this can be put back into a tank to have a heavier chrome finish put on to it and also which process I should have done first the ceramic coating of the inside of the pipe or additional Chrome being put on the outside of the pipe if at all possible.
The muffler I have the still in the original Factory wrappings and totally uncontaminated.
Please advise.
Norman Slutzker
Motorcycle hobbyist and Builder of motorcycles – Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601 United States of America
July 22, 2018
A. Hi Norman. You can strip the chrome plating and the nickel plating under it, and re-do it. But you cannot build up onto the existing chrome plating without stripping it; you might possibly be able to add more nickel plating and then chrome plating without stripping the nickel plating but it’s touch and go.
Sorry, I don’t know the feasibility of doing ceramic coating on the inside, but due to the extreme temperatures required, you would have to do that before the nickel and chrome plating. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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July 2018