Hello Mark,
Regarding chrome on frames......if its done well it certainly can enhance a frame, and as someone said it offers a degree of protection, on the chainstays for example. However, my experience of chroming is of mixed results........its almost impossible to get a frame completely polished to a fine standard, and if they do there is a risk that the tubes may have been over polished!.......the area of dificulty is around the bottom bracket and seat cluster.
I have a frame myself which has quite a lot of chrome, my Woodrup from 82. The chrome on the forks is from 82, and was originally fully chromed including the crown, but the chrome failed around the crown so now it is 3/4 chrome. The chrome head lugs and back end was done in 95, and actually is not as good a quality as the forks, but that doesn't surprize me, chrome in the past was so much better than in recent times.
On no account should you consider chroming Reynolds 753!......Reynolds themselves stated this, and I have seen for myself the consequences, it seems the process reacts with the metal with nasty results.
Cheers
Kevin Sayles. Bridgwater Somerset UK
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:52 PM Subject: Re: [CR] "Practical" Chromed Frame
> Hello George,
>
> Thanks for your answer. I have recently acquired an vintage make steel
> bicycle frame that has remained in storage and is unpainted save for a
> primer coat. Aside from considering whether the maker would have
> originally used chrome, I'm wondering if chrome is worth the effort. Bob
> Jacksons offer it, and several list-members have said that it lasts
> extremely well if waxed.
>
> I'm sorry that you've doubted my use of the word practical. In Oxford
> English, the word 'practical' distinguishes an object that can be used
> from one that is purely decorative.
>
> Thanks again for replying,
>
> Mark Lawrence
> Oxford
> England
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of
> gholl@optonline.net
> Sent: 11 June 2009 17:07
> To: Classic Rendezvous
> Subject: [CR] "Practical" Chromed Frame
>
> This is a curious question since the answer will hinge on the reader's
> sense of what "practical" means.
> If "useful" is the idea, chrome is useful in resisting some forms of
> damage which paints cannot-thus, chainstays, etc. were chromed on some
> framesets while the rest of the bike was painted.
> If the sense is taken as "sensible" the answer is probably no-chromed
> frames are pricey, prone to problems, and if damaged must be completely
> redone.
> If the question is a furtive attempt to determine the practicality of
> chroming a previously chromed painted frameset, you will quickly find
> that, while possible, it's a very expensive procedure that not too many
> chromers will undertake and, will be expensive if they do.
> Among the issues in chroming a frameset lie chroming tank size, frame
> preparation, frame drainage and neutralization of the frame interior, to
> mention a few.
> Also know that painting over chrome is very tough and, if decals are
> applied to a chrome frameset, it is likely that it will have to be
> clearcoated.
> All this having been said, there's not too much in "cycle-glitz" that
> will top the attention garnered by a well chromed frameset-other than
> perhaps a gilt frameset.
> George
>
> George Hollenberg MD
> CT, USA
> _______________________________________________
> _______________________________________________
>
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:52 PM Subject: Re: [CR] "Practical" Chromed Frame
> Hello George,
>
> Thanks for your answer. I have recently acquired an vintage make steel
> bicycle frame that has remained in storage and is unpainted save for a
> primer coat. Aside from considering whether the maker would have
> originally used chrome, I'm wondering if chrome is worth the effort. Bob
> Jacksons offer it, and several list-members have said that it lasts
> extremely well if waxed.
>
> I'm sorry that you've doubted my use of the word practical. In Oxford
> English, the word 'practical' distinguishes an object that can be used
> from one that is purely decorative.
>
> Thanks again for replying,
>
> Mark Lawrence
> Oxford
> England
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of
> gholl@optonline.net
> Sent: 11 June 2009 17:07
> To: Classic Rendezvous
> Subject: [CR] "Practical" Chromed Frame
>
> This is a curious question since the answer will hinge on the reader's
> sense of what "practical" means.
> If "useful" is the idea, chrome is useful in resisting some forms of
> damage which paints cannot-thus, chainstays, etc. were chromed on some
> framesets while the rest of the bike was painted.
> If the sense is taken as "sensible" the answer is probably no-chromed
> frames are pricey, prone to problems, and if damaged must be completely
> redone.
> If the question is a furtive attempt to determine the practicality of
> chroming a previously chromed painted frameset, you will quickly find
> that, while possible, it's a very expensive procedure that not too many
> chromers will undertake and, will be expensive if they do.
> Among the issues in chroming a frameset lie chroming tank size, frame
> preparation, frame drainage and neutralization of the frame interior, to
> mention a few.
> Also know that painting over chrome is very tough and, if decals are
> applied to a chrome frameset, it is likely that it will have to be
> clearcoated.
> All this having been said, there's not too much in "cycle-glitz" that
> will top the attention garnered by a well chromed frameset-other than
> perhaps a gilt frameset.
> George
>
> George Hollenberg MD
> CT, USA