Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Enthusiasts from around the world dedicated to the preservation and ritual flogging of the infamous Kawasaki 2-stroke Triples
It is currently Thu May 15, 2025 8:52 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:43 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 1236
Location: South Dakota
Does anyone here have or know of a good plastic plater? I have a plastic front fender that I need re-plated chrome. I checked a few places on a search and either they don't do motorcycle parts or it takes 3 to 4 months to do the job.

_________________
1969 H1, 1971 G3SSA, 1974 G5, 1973 H2A, 1975 S3A, 1975 H1F, 1973 Z1, 1988 HD FLTC, Captain America chopper, 2000 Excelsior Henderson, 1965 Bridgestone BS90


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 4:39 am 
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:52 am
Posts: 70
Location: Birmingham UK
what material is it, you can only plate certain plastics, otherwise you have to go sputter finish, which is not as good...
PC ABS is the stuff.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:01 am 
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:04 pm
Posts: 1967
Location: Nottingham U.K. / Traverse City Mi
Rubbadub wrote:
what material is it, you can only plate certain plastics, otherwise you have to go sputter finish, which is not as good...
PC ABS is the stuff.

.
Jeff, John knows what he is talking about - it's part of his job :thumbup: My old chroming company started to chrome plastic, but gave up after a year or so, the reject numbers were huge and "re-chroming" a part was horrendous, I seem to recall only about 30% ever being successful :cry:

_________________
Always remember, there will be greater and lesser people than yourself . . . you can learn from either!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:26 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 1236
Location: South Dakota
Thanks John and Rick. I'm not sure what kind of plastic it is, but it's more stiff and brittle than the old flexible motocross fenders.

_________________
1969 H1, 1971 G3SSA, 1974 G5, 1973 H2A, 1975 S3A, 1975 H1F, 1973 Z1, 1988 HD FLTC, Captain America chopper, 2000 Excelsior Henderson, 1965 Bridgestone BS90


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:12 am 
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:34 pm
Posts: 10003
Location: North Central NC
Acetone will dissolve bare (unpainted) ABS, but not polyethylene, polypropylene, etc..

_________________
If it surges, that's normal, upshift.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 5:24 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:52 am
Posts: 70
Location: Birmingham UK
What you can do is find someone to chrome paint or use vacuum depositing, but they are not great, uv damages it. Have you considered a chrome vinyl wrap on the offending part?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 5:27 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:52 am
Posts: 70
Location: Birmingham UK
Most plastic players will only plate onto pcAbs, bay lend t45/65 and some will do pa 66, but no reputable plater will touch parts unless they are fresh off the mouldy tool. In my experience.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 5:52 pm 

Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 1236
Location: South Dakota
Most of the places I talked to said just that, new pieces only. The wrap is an idea, I will check further.

_________________
1969 H1, 1971 G3SSA, 1974 G5, 1973 H2A, 1975 S3A, 1975 H1F, 1973 Z1, 1988 HD FLTC, Captain America chopper, 2000 Excelsior Henderson, 1965 Bridgestone BS90


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 5:58 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:34 pm
Posts: 10003
Location: North Central NC
Or pick a nice pattern and have the parts water painted:

YouTube Water Painting Video

_________________
If it surges, that's normal, upshift.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Plastic plating
PostPosted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:14 am 

Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:13 am
Posts: 1001
Location: Auburn Ca
http://customcreationpaints.co.uk/


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group