Black chroming bike exhausts

[Gragson]

There is a bit of an obsession on a bike forum I'm on re restoring exhaust silencers to original black chrome finish, early 80's GPZ Kawasakis. Part of the problem mentioned is that used exhausts would contaminate solutions etc so finishers won't take them on. Another mention is that you cannot actually get genuine black chrome done in the UK anymore?

Colour/finish in pics is hard to give a real representation, but attached a few pics.
Anyone had experience of getting this done or doing it?

 

[ronan]

Yeah i have heard that chromers don't want to do exhausts as the muck inside them, makes their plating solution filthy.

 

[Migmac]

Is there a reason why can’t they plug the open ends?

 

[Gragson]

Is there a reason why can’t they plug the open ends?

I think that's doable, I could even make up some blank offs, possibly not 100% liquid tight but would make any contamination negligible I think, especially if prior blasting with jet washer.

Main problem seems to be an outfit that will take it on and replicate the finish?

 

[Spark plug]

If it was easy to get done, no one would want it.

Is it a different solution used for the black chrome or is it another step in the process?

 

[brightspark]

no way they would do it on a used exhaust at any cost

 

[frank horton]

I heard that it was quite a special operation, so unless they'r doing a lot it won't happen.......
I wanted some satin chrome for a rebuild and got the same answers......never bothered in the end.......

 

[Gragson]

Yeah its not going to be a volume thing, I guess if it were, there would be interest including prepping to remove contaminants.
No idea what the difference is between normal chromium plating and black chroming

 

[stuvy]

Iv powder coated black chrome and you do a base primer, black gloss and then black chrome over the top it was on wheels but not sure if it can be transferred to exhausts due to the heat

 

[Gragson]

That's interesting, I've know people have cylinder heads powder coated and heat did not seem to be an issue and heads get hotter than exhausts..

I read this as an explanation of the process, plating over a nickel base. -> http://arlingtonplating.com/capabilities/black-chrome-plating/

 

[Rig Pig]

Never tried it but this stuff looks good

 

[Tim W]

tried these guys?

http://www.ashfordchroming.com/rechroming-motorcycle-exhausts

 

[PhillipM]

Not black chrome, but I had the chromers in Mexborough do a bike exhaust I made and they did a superb job - I flatted and blended all the welds so they were seamless and they saw that and went for a full on show finish when they were copper coatings and flatting it (didn't charge any extra) - took them a while but it looked like a mirror from one end to the other.

 

[earthman]

tried these guys?

http://www.ashfordchroming.com/rechroming-motorcycle-exhausts

Thanks for posting, I may give them a go.

 

[Gragson]

Thanks a lot for the replies - appreciated.
I've read from a few people on the Cam coat finish and seen some pics of those pipes done, they were very happy but it did not look like black chrome although I have not seen them in the flesh.

That Ashford chroming looks very interesting
Earthman I may send them an inquiry, if you beat me to it, please let me know what they say

 

[Gragson]

Dear Chris

Sadly we can't help with the chroming of exhaust systems.

Thank you and best of luck,

Support

http://support.ashfordchroming.com

 

[earthman]

Dear Chris

Sadly we can't help with the chroming of exhaust systems.

Thank you and best of luck,

Support

http://support.ashfordchroming.com

Oh,.....bugger.

 

[Barlidge]

Is there a reason why can’t they plug the open ends?

Wouldn't it possibly float if they did that?

 

[keithski122]

Try some of the places that do scooter stuff I'm sure some did used exhaust probably only chromey chrome though.This is the exhaust I had on mine back in the nineties not shiney as it was ridden not hidden.Expensive at the time, £150 to have the exhaust made, plus £150 to ave the end can remade and engraved then all chromed.

 

[Gragson]

Wouldn't it possibly float if they did that?

80's Jap engineering They weight in at over 3kg each so would have thought they would submerge but think they would hold them somehow in place in the vat anyway, battleship stuff but was on a T45 destroyer a little while back, that wouldn't sink..