Can you rechrome wheels?
#2823642
09/22/20 02:30 PM
09/22/20 02:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,051 Connecticut
jeff968
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Connecticut
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A buddy has a set of small bolt pattern keystone classics that he wants to use on his Dart. Problem is the chrome is shot. So he is thinking of having them powdercoated instead.
Is it possible to practically rechrome a wheel? Would it last? Would it be cost prohibitive? Thx!
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: jeff968]
#2823646
09/22/20 02:34 PM
09/22/20 02:34 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228 Colleyville
3hundred
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I Live Here
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A buddy has a set of small bolt pattern keystone classics that he wants to use on his Dart. Problem is the chrome is shot. So he is thinking of having them powdercoated instead.
Is it possible to practically rechrome a wheel? Would it last? Would it be cost prohibitive? Thx! I never could find anyone to do it. Fear of hydrogen embrittlement and lawyers. Powdercoat is probably the best option.
'68 Fury Convertible '69 300 Convertible '15 Durango 5.7 Hemi '16 300 S Hemi
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: jeff968]
#2823654
09/22/20 03:05 PM
09/22/20 03:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,596 Shopping @ HoBo Fright
340SIX
Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
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Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
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Shopping @ HoBo Fright
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A buddy has a set of small bolt pattern keystone classics that he wants to use on his Dart. The problem is the chrome is shot. So he is thinking of having them powder-coated instead.
Is it possible to practically re-chrome a wheel? Would it last? Would it be cost-prohibitive? Thx! If you can find someone to strip the chrome and polish then triple plate them correctly the cost will outweigh the prices of the new ones by 2 or3 times. They would be way better than the crappy new ones. But chances are they might also do a crap job as well and still have the same outlay. Ask around before handing them over
Last edited by 340SIX; 09/22/20 03:05 PM.
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: jeff968]
#2823665
09/22/20 03:34 PM
09/22/20 03:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,748 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
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Posts: 25,748
Rio Linda, CA
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Is it possible to practically rechrome a wheel? Yes but you have to cut the welds to separate the center from the rim then reweld them together
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: 375inStroke]
#2823678
09/22/20 03:51 PM
09/22/20 03:51 PM
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65hemis/s
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65hemis/s
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I think part of the high cost of chrome is the massive amount of labor in preparation. When Steel is ready to start plating, it looks like it has been chromed already. I saw a part at a chrome shop and thought it was done, but it had only been polished. It was ready to go so the steel looked like chrome. The guy told me it has to be perfect because what ever blemishes there are, they will remain and stand out.
So to polish to that extreme would be very difficult to prepare, more time, more cost.
Last edited by 65hemis/s; 09/23/20 03:43 PM.
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: John_Kunkel]
#2823808
09/22/20 08:04 PM
09/22/20 08:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704 USA
rftroy
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Is it possible to practically rechrome a wheel? Yes but you have to cut the welds to separate the center from the rim then re-weld them together I agree. I went through this when I looked into re-chroming some Lil Red Truck wheels, which are two piece steel. I was told by two different chroming shops that the problem is that the chemicals and methods used to remove the original chrome will attack and destroy (or weaken) the welds. Never looked into the details, but there is a whole engineering field of study of weld corrosion and weakening, so I trusted to the experts. Fortunately, patina is now cool. That makes my Lil Red Truck extremely cool. Robert
AAR 4-speed 3.91, Tor-Red; 70 440 6 pack Roadrunner 4-speed 3.54, Plum Crazy; 68 Formula S conv 383 4-speed 3.23, Electric Blue; 69 Barracuda conv Slant 6 OD4 2.94, 71 B5 Blue; 78 Lil' Red Truck, Red; 70 Challenger S/E. 505 6 pack, Passon 5-speed, 3.55, B7 Blue
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: rftroy]
#2824109
09/23/20 02:02 PM
09/23/20 02:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,355 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
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north of coder
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if i remember correctly, [i am old, so i suffer from CRS ] those keystone wheels are like the cragar SS wheels, a steel hoop and an aluminum center. if you can get them apart without breaking or loosening the weldable steel inserts that are imbedded into the cast center, you will still have two different materials that will need polishing before replating. super labor intensive to get done correctly, if at all. paint or replacement wheels are your only realistic options. i'm guessing these are 14" wheels, so reproductions are most likely going to be few and far between.
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: moparx]
#2824178
09/23/20 03:53 PM
09/23/20 03:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,748 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
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Rio Linda, CA
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Yes, the steel insert cast into the aluminum center is welded to the steel rim.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: John_Kunkel]
#2824237
09/23/20 06:11 PM
09/23/20 06:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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Lot of different views here. On the actual rechroming, the problem is mostly with the shape of the particular wheel, in that the electrical chroming process has great difficulties getting equal deposits on a inside curves vs other more exposed surfaces, you might notice this on say how chrome bumpers or wheels often first start to rust on the inside curves. The OEM's reduce this problem by having cusom configured electrodes to get better equal displacement of the electrically charged plating metals. local plater can't be bothered, not that i blame them, as I suppose there is some experimentation to get the process correct.
Hydrogen embrittlement issue with chrome, is you can't bake out the hydrogen thru the chrome post plating, mainly. I don't believe its on typical steel wheels a great concern in the first place however.
Rewelding an already welded steel weld tab that is embedded/cast into the alum wheel, and then is cut, and then chemically deplated, then replated, and then rewelded has got to be a real potential can of worms, beyond my pay grade..
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: John_Kunkel]
#2824507
09/24/20 11:35 AM
09/24/20 11:35 AM
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65hemis/s
Unregistered
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65hemis/s
Unregistered
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Yes, the steel insert cast into the aluminum center is welded to the steel rim. Is that a crack in the weld?
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Re: Can you rechrome wheels?
[Re: ]
#2824704
09/24/20 06:33 PM
09/24/20 06:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,402 Central Pa
moparjim79
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pro stock
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Central Pa
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Yes, the steel insert cast into the aluminum center is welded to the steel rim. Is that a crack in the weld? No, look closer. It wasn't fully cast. The weld is in great shape
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