To de-chrome or re-chrome

[ripvan1]

I've stripped off lots of deck fittings (before repainting boat) which are all chromed bronze. Being over 50 years old they have lost lots of their original chrome.

I can't decide whether to strip back to bronze and leave or to re-chrome, comments please. (Buying new is not an option)

Questions:- which is cheaper, is it done by weight as is regalving and is it possible to de-chrome the fittings oneself ?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 36384]

DIY De Chroming and Chroming

As kids we used to try and chrome motorcycle stuff using a car battery, shopping baskets and battery acid. I can't remember the electrical connections but the item was placed in a bath of acid and one terminal connected to the item to be plated and one to the shopping baskets. The result were sh'it but it worked. It was easy to do and and the reverse will happen by reversing the electrical terminals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating

 

[nigelmercier]

I can't decide whether to strip back to bronze and leave or to re-chrome, comments please.

Depends on the look you want: bronze on a classic boat (but needs to be lacquered), chrome on a modern one. DIY plating is possible, but the results will not be good. There are several stages before you get to the chrome part.

Reminds me that I have something I want chrome plated, anyone got suggestions who to use?

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

As kids we used to try and chrome motorcycle stuff using a car battery, shopping baskets and battery acid. I can't remember the electrical connections but the item was placed in a bath of acid and one terminal connected to the item to be plated and one to the shopping baskets. The result were sh'it but it worked. It was easy to do and and the reverse will happen by reversing the electrical terminals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating

How did you keep the acid in the shopping basket!
C_W

 

[rotrax]

I've stripped off lots of deck fittings (before repainting boat) which are all chromed bronze. Being over 50 years old they have lost lots of their original chrome.

I can't decide whether to strip back to bronze and leave or to re-chrome, comments please. (Buying new is not an option)

Questions:- which is cheaper, is it done by weight as is regalving and is it possible to de-chrome the fittings oneself ?

Thanks

I have had extensive experience of having parts of classic motorcyles chrome plated. Make sure you specify- and they can do- triple plating.It is also called show chrome.Ensure the drums are not polished smooth or the lines will slip! It wont be cheap but wiil look wonderfull.

 

[Allan]

I had two winches rechromed by a company in Bridgend south Wales. As nobody had told them that yachties should be ripped off, they charged me the standard price, £20. Plenty of grip left on the drum and a good finish which has not changed in the 18 months since they were done.
Allan