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Post by scania on Sept 2, 2014 23:33:13 GMT
Hi Guys, After a bit of research I have discovered that re-chroming companies are both rare and expensive in Ireland where I am. However galvanizing (Hot zinc dipping) companies are both common and cheap here, it must be our wet climate !
Has anyone here ever experimented with galvanizing any parts of a SD or would that be a serious sin ?
I can't see anything wrong with it but I have never heard of anyone doing it, I wonder what are the reasons why it is not commonly done? |
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Post by mansell on Sept 3, 2014 6:07:25 GMT
What parts are you thinking of doing Scania? I know that many restorers use zincing kits for the nuts and bolts with excellent results but not sure about the "finish" when galvanising. If that is of little concern then why not. It'll last a lifetime!
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Post by Harold on Sept 3, 2014 9:17:16 GMT
Galvanising and Zinc Plating (as done on nuts and bolts) are different. Galvanising would be used for more industrial uses, we used it a lot in a place where I worked for external stair cases, hand rails, etc. basically anything metal which was going to be used outside or subjected to damp conditions, most lamp posts are galvanised as well and you'll see they have a flaky appearance. I don't think galvanising would be suitable for motorcycle parts. Bright Zinc plating may work on the likes of the rear brake pedal and grab rails if you were not too concerned about originality but if that were the case painting them is probably a better and easier alternative. We have the same problem in Northern Ireland Scania, the number of specialist services like chroming etc. are somewhat limited, but the truth is unfortunately there is no cheap and easy alternative to chrome, if you want it to look ike chrome it has to be chromed  |
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Post by scania on Sept 4, 2014 0:28:41 GMT
I had been thinking of galvanizing the carrier, foot brake, side stand, and the brackets that holds the fork together and then maybe painting over the galvanize with a chrome or aluminium paint.
Is galvanizing a slightly different process than zinc dipping?
I have noticed in recent years that industrial gates, railings etc seem to have a mottled appearance with two or three shades of speckled grey galvanize, compared to years ago whene agricultural gates just had one shade of light grey galvanize, I wonder what causes the mottled flakey appearance on modern gates? |
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Post by bendys on Sept 4, 2014 0:41:11 GMT
Dont do it. Steel is hot dip galvanized (molten zinc) to create a sacrificial layer over what your trying to protect. The galv corrodes instead of the covered steel. They do sell primer for galv, but have never heard it being successful. I had some winch parts gold zinc'ed. (anodized process in vat with current) Gold zinc has a percentage of chromium in it making it much harder. I used acid etch primer, then top coat. So far so good. There is a link to the process under my avatar here somewhere.
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Post by scania on Sept 4, 2014 0:53:50 GMT
Dont do it. Steel is hot dip galvanized (molten zinc) to create a sacrificial layer over what your trying to protect. The galv corrodes instead of the covered steel. They do sell primer for galv, but have never heard it being successful. I had some winch parts gold zinc'ed. (anodized process in vat with current) Gold zinc has a percentage of chromium in it making it much harder. I used acid etch primer, then top coat. So far so good. There is a link to the process under my avatar here somewhere. When you say 'Don't do it' , do you mean don't paint over the galvanize ? or do you mean don't Galvanize they bike bits?
Are you for or against galvanizing bike parts?
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Post by bendys on Sept 4, 2014 2:15:30 GMT
Dont do it. Steel is hot dip galvanized (molten zinc) to create a sacrificial layer over what your trying to protect. The galv corrodes instead of the covered steel. They do sell primer for galv, but have never heard it being successful. I had some winch parts gold zinc'ed. (anodized process in vat with current) Gold zinc has a percentage of chromium in it making it much harder. I used acid etch primer, then top coat. So far so good. There is a link to the process under my avatar here somewhere. When you say 'Don't do it' , do you mean don't paint over the galvanize ? or do you mean don't Galvanize they bike bits?
Are you for or against galvanizing bike parts?
No, not against anything. Perhaps not the best way for me to start a post. Hot dip galv will fill in (not totally, but make it smaller) the pivot hole for your shifter. The soft material will be a bugger to get out. When hot dip galv is new, its shiny. It starts oxidising as soon as its pulled out of the tank. Over time it will oxidize more and go grey, then to a white powdery surface. Painting over this unfortunately wont work, but ive been wrong before. The galv will work for your bits fine. Why hasent it been done before i dont know. Great idea. |
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Post by Harold on Sept 4, 2014 7:51:16 GMT
Scania it's hard to paint over anything galvanised, as Bendys said galvanising involves dipping the item into molten zinc where as Zinc plating is an elctro plating process. I think the best route would be to just etch prime and paint the items. The extra expense in getting them galvanised would also mean they are harder to paint. Anything that is galvanised well should have the speckled appearance, which will dull over time, but poorly galvanised items sometimes have a dull grey appearance. I think the extra expense and hassle outweigh any of the benefits of getting the things hot dipped.
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Post by stevie on Sept 4, 2014 9:19:27 GMT
Scania if your after a durable chrome finish without the cost of real chrome, i wouldn reccomend chrome paint as the diy chrome effect paints arent very good and not very durable, however you have another option, do a search for
Chrome effect powder coating in Ireland
You wont beat real chrome but i saw some wheels coated at a bike show and i must say they looked pretty good.
Good luck
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Post by Harold on Sept 4, 2014 9:59:57 GMT
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Post by scania on Sept 4, 2014 17:44:56 GMT
Thanks for comments and ideas guys, I will 'powder' over your ideas for a while before I 'galvanize' my thoughts together in my head.
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Post by Harold on Sept 4, 2014 22:33:10 GMT
Well whatever you choose Scania just get tore in and give it a go. You'll either zinc or swim |
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Post by na44superdream on Sept 5, 2014 7:18:20 GMT
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