Chroming steel wheels- NOW done them!

Alan @ CanfordClassics · Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:33 pm

Hi,

We were recently looking to get some original steel wheels chromed for one of our current restorations. I didn't expect it to be so hard to find anyone to do it and considered sending them to the states to be done.

Then sense kicked in and thus why not do them ourselves. Here is where we are at the moment. They will be chromed and the centres re-fitted over the Christmas period.

But for now, first the centres are removed.

Then both sections are polished

now ready to be chromed

More pics soon

Thanks

Alan

911hillclimber · Post by **911hillclimber** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:37 am

Brave stuff!
Are there many spot welds to undo?
Secondly, how will you true them again?
Thirdly: What a state of this Nation that you couldn't find anyone in the UK!

haasad · Post by **haasad** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 8:58 am

Hi Alan

are you using the platers at Creekmoor or the other at Upton I've had good results from both for boat parts in the past?

andy

Bruce M · Post by **Bruce M** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:32 am

They say good chroming is all in the prep.

(like most things)

Well that looks like proper prep to me.

Looks like it has already been chromed.

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:23 am

Niphos in Crewe do good chrome work if you get stuck. Looks completely backstreet, but they do work for Bentley.

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:39 pm

They look amazing!! I would like some of those on the rear of my Speedster.

Alan @ CanfordClassics · Sat Dec 18, 2010 5:28 pm

Thanks. I already have a good chrome shop but finding some one to do the whole job was near impossible, hence doing it ourselves.

The centres are not spot welded but seam welded along the inside webs. Grind those welds of and knock the centre out. Once chromed it will be welded back in after being spun up and the run out checked.

Thanks

Alan

PS Andy the chromers in Creekmoor are no longer there, they stopped trading a few weeks ago.

haasad · Post by **haasad** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 5:43 pm

Damn they were the cheapest too

Still as usual your work will end up perfect.

andy

nickT · Post by **nickT** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:49 am

Great work Alan, I think it's best to keep what you can 'in house' as you keep control over quality and you also learn new processes which is never a bad thing.

Nick.

Tosh · Post by **Tosh** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:45 am

Wouldn't a shiny powedercoat do the trick?

http://www.aerocoat.net/Aeromaxtm.htm

Alan @ CanfordClassics · Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:45 pm

Hi,

I picked up the steel wheel today after being chromed.

Now the centre has been tested fitted and the next step is to weld it back in.

Now we have done a test wheel and trialled the process, we can now chrome the other 4. It is not a cheap/easy process to do. I estimate we can re-chrome steel wheels for £230 plus VAT.

We were pretty close to sending these to the US to be done so I am happy it is another process we can offer from within the UK.

Thanks

Alan

haasad · Post by **haasad** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:54 pm

WoW .. I love this re-engineering rather than the increasingly prevalent bin and replace. So much more integrity.

Well done.

andy

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:03 pm

I think that price is very good value.

Alan @ CanfordClassics · Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:09 pm

I agree Andy, also it does mean we will be using the original wheels which belong to the car rather than buying good used or new (if available- which they are not).

Thanks

Alan

porker914 · Post by **porker914** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:52 pm

Alan how do you do the re-welding after the chrome ? was not sure you can weld "over" chrome so do you have to remove an area of chrome to weld?

very cool work and alot of effort but great result.

David