Unlike paint, chrome plating's greatest feature and appeal is the metal's unique massiveness and luster. The texture of chrome-plated front and rear fenders on old and discontinued motorcycles is completely different from that of the fenders made of molded and painted resin.
However, chrome plating has the same weakness of "rusting" as untreated steel material. Why does it rust even though it is surface treated by plating? How should rusted plated surfaces be cared for? On such issues, the "SABITORI KING" developed by Plating Studio NAKARAI has tackled such problems from a professional standpoint.
The chrome-plated surface has countless holes to begin with.
Considering weight reduction, age-related deterioration, manufacturing costs, and environmental issues during operation, it is inevitable that painted resin materials will become the mainstream material for motorcycle parts rather than chrome-plated steel materials. However, plated parts on discontinued and old motorcycles have a massive feel, and it is difficult to easily replace them with resin parts. Therefore, how to maintain the condition of chrome plating is an important issue.
There are several types of metals used for motorcycle parts, including iron (steel), aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium. Of these, steel is used extensively for frames, gasoline tanks, fenders, handlebars, mufflers, and wheel rims. There are also aluminum frames, aluminum tanks, and stainless steel and titanium mufflers, but for discontinued and older motorcycles, iron is the majority material used for sheet metal parts rather than aluminum, titanium, and other light metals.
Rust prevention treatment is generally required for metals because rust is caused by the oxidation-reduction reaction that occurs when metals come into contact with oxygen and moisture in the air. The essential purpose of both is to cover the surface of iron to block oxygen and moisture, and then a decorative role is added.
If we look at plating, there is zinc plating for purely rust-preventive purposes, unichrome plating with some luster added to it, and chrome plating to be applied to exterior parts and other parts that people can see. Some zinc plating methods include hot dip zinc plating, in which parts are immersed in dissolved zinc, while for chrome plating, a chemical reaction using electricity is applied to the steel material in close contact.
To explain in a little more detail, copper plating and nickel plating are applied as a base layer to steel materials, and chrome is applied as the third layer, resulting in a beautiful glossy chrome plating. In painting, it is like spraying surfacer first, then spraying color paint, and finally clear coating.
In the case of chrome plating, rust can occur on the plated surface if the plating is stored in the rain or if it is poorly cared for, despite the fact that multiple layers of metal coating are applied using electricity. To prevent chrome plating from rusting, daily maintenance is of course important, but chrome plating also has its own unique characteristics.
The surface of chrome plating that we see with the naked eye is smooth and uniform in luster, just like a mirror. However, when observed at the microscopic level, the surface of chrome plating has numerous micron-sized holes. The diameter of the holes can be as large as 8? Although they are not visible to the eye because they are so small, they are not faulty workmanship or defects, and all chrome-plated surfaces have holes called pores.
Chromium metal, the material used for chrome plating, itself has excellent resistance to abrasion, impact, and corrosion, and has a beautiful luster. However, holes in the surface allow moisture and dust to penetrate beneath the chrome plating layer, and the rust that forms there passes through the holes in the chrome plating and appears on the surface.
SABITORI KING reacts to rust without damaging delicate chrome plating
When Plating Studio NAKARAI commercialized MEKKING, users asked, "MEKKING can be used for new parts, but what should I do for rusted chrome plating? There is a standard size (140g) and a large capacity (260g) "Deka King". Both come with a stain wiping cloth.
Rusting of chrome plating progresses rapidly before it is noticed and taken care of. Moisture penetrates through tiny holes on the surface, which are invisible to the eye, and rust forms under the chrome layer. Use rust-treating before the red rust gets bigger.
After washing off dirt and dust from the plated surface, apply a generous amount of Rustri-King to a dirt wiping cloth. Instead of rubbing with the cloth, spread the creamed Rust Raking between the cloth and the plated surface as if you were sliding it between the cloth and the plated surface, gently stroking it. Always wipe on a clean surface because rubbing with the removed rust on the cloth will scratch it.
The rust on the chrome plated surface was removed cleanly without any force. Since I did not scrub hard, there were no new scratches on the chrome plated surface. The rust was removed so well that I wanted to find and polish the chrome-plated areas such as the front and rear fenders, wheel rims, and handlebar pipes.
I used SABITORI KING on a half of a chrome body rearview mirror that was rusted on all sides and I didn't feel like using it, and this is what I found. The red rust spots are rust that came out from under the chrome plating layer, passing through the pores of the chrome plating. To avoid scratching the plating, it is best to polish it in an exaggeratedly slippery state. Rust Trim King is easy to use not only for those who like polishing but also for beginners who do not know how to remove rust from chrome plating.
How can we deal with rust that occurs under the plating layer, rather than rust on the chrome plating itself? As an answer to this question, NAKARAI, a plating workshop with expertise in chrome plating, has developed "Rust Triggering".
If you observe a chrome-plated part that has rusted, you will see that spot rust or red rust has formed on the surface of the plating as if a flower has bloomed. Depending on the depth and extent of the rust, the first goal is to remove the rust from the surface of the part without adversely affecting the chrome plating.
As mentioned above, the chrome plating film itself has excellent abrasion and impact resistance and is scratch-resistant. Therefore, it is not easily scratched by scrubbing with a normal car-washing sponge. However, rust on the surface of chrome plating is itself an oxidized metal, so if it is rubbed easily with a rag, the chrome plating will be scratched by the rough rust. It is easy for anyone to imagine what happens if you scrub the plated surface with coarse sandpaper. The same applies to the use of rust remover chemicals. Products containing hard abrasives can easily remove rust, but they will still scratch the surface of the plating.
Plating Workshop NAKARAI, which has a chrome plating installation division, was originally founded as a plating manufacturer and utilizes the knowledge and know-how as a professional plating manufacturer for both "MEKKING" introduced in the previous article and "Rust Removal King" introduced in this article. In other words, NAKARAI is developing chemicals to remove rust, which is a weak point of chrome plating, based on its thorough knowledge of the characteristics of chrome plating as explained so far.
At first glance, the cream-like Rustri-King feels like a metal polishing compound. However, when Rustri-King is applied to the chrome plating with a generous amount of Rustri-King on the included dirt wiping cloth, the rust is removed from the plated surface as if it were melting and floating away. The reason why rust is removed while gently stroking without pressing against the chrome plated surface is that Rustri-King contains a chemical that reacts only with rust. This is a major difference from other chemicals that physically scrape and scrape off rust.
If SABITORI KING is used before rust progresses under the chrome plating layer, the unique luster of the plating will be restored as if nothing had happened. By applying generously, it does not damage the plating, so there is no need to worry about scratching.
On the other hand, if the rust has progressed so deeply that a trace of the speckles remains on the plated surface even after the rust has been removed, further recovery is not possible because the speckled rust is a hole created in the chrome plating layer. However, even in such a case, the rust can be removed from the plated surface, without damaging the plating in the process. Details are described below, but if the rust is clearly noticeable, re-plating is the recommended option.
In addition to the performance of Rust Trimming itself, the role of the dirt wiping cloth is also important in terms of preventing scratches on the chrome plating. Soft and thick cloths have a soft touch against chrome plating, and the cloth itself has the ability to absorb rust that has been removed. Worn T-shirts, for example, are thin and can easily scratch the chrome, apart from removing the rust.
Even if the rust is lifted by Rust Remover, it will be ruined if the rust scratches the plated surface. To avoid such a problem, be sure to use a stain wiping cloth when using Rust Lifting Rust Remover.
After rust-treating, chrome-plated surface is coated by Mekking.
MEKKING has maintained high popularity as a protective agent for chrome plating for more than 10 years. Special silicone and brightening agents work together to form a strong film on chrome plating. It is best applied when the chrome is at its best when new, but it can also be applied after rust removal with Rust Trimming to prevent further rusting. The most important point is to spread it thinly and evenly with the supplied "mirror cloth".
Even on new parts or after rust removal, chrome plating is unprotected by numerous invisible fine holes on the surface. The "most mirror" cloth in history is 100 times finer than a high-grade eyeglass cleaner, and can be applied without leaving any residue. The cloth can be spread thinly to avoid uneven rainbow coloration, and the coating begins to cure in 5 to 10 minutes and is fully cured in 24 hours. Until the complete curing process is complete, care should be taken to prevent moisture from adhering to the surface.
Another characteristic of discontinued motorcycles is the large number of chrome-plated parts around the steering wheel. It is best if the rust can be protected with a MEKKING film before rust appears, but if rust has already appeared, apply MEKKING after rust-treating. It is natural to remove dirt and oil before applying MEKKING, but oil from rust-treated parts can also cause poor adhesion, so degrease the parts thoroughly before using MEKKING.
The stain-removing cloth is for rust removal, and the "mirror cloth" is an indispensable cloth for MEKKING. The cloth is included with the purchase of the product, but can also be purchased separately if it becomes soiled with rust or hardened by MEKKING.
As explained above, chrome-plated surfaces originally have invisible holes, and moisture entering through these holes causes rust. SABITORI KING is effective in removing rust, but it alone is not effective in preventing new rust.
The effective solution here is "MEKKING" introduced in the previous issue. By applying MEKKING, whose main ingredient is a special silicone, a non-porous protective film is formed on the chrome-plated surface. It is like covering the plated surface with food grade plastic wrap that is impervious to water and air.
MEKKING performs best when spread thinly with a "mirror" cloth. While it is tempting to apply the thickest coat possible when coating a pitted chrome-plated surface, the key with MEKKING is to apply it thinly.
Specifically, use one or two drops of MEKKING from the container on a cloth and spread the coating to 10 x 10 cm. It is important to spread it thinly until it is even, because extra application will result in an uneven iridescent color.
One may wonder whether a thin coat of transparent MEKKING on a chrome-plated surface is really an effective coating, but a MEKKING coating applied according to the procedure provides excellent weather resistance, acid resistance, and gloss. In addition, by filling in fine scratches, it also has the effect of making scratches less noticeable.
Chrome-plated parts that have had rust removed by rust-treating regain their metallic luster, but they are still unprotected against rust. By applying MEKKING at this point, it is possible to maintain the unique luster of chrome plating while suppressing the generation of new rust.
Motorcycle users who suffer from rust on chrome-plated parts are best served by using a SABITORI KING and MEKKING set for maintenance.
Stubborn rust that cannot be removed by rust-remover is re-plated at NAKARAI plating studio.
The area wiped with SABITORI KING has less visible spot rust than the surrounding area. However, the rust spots that progressed from behind the chrome plating will not disappear. If you want a smooth plated surface when new, ask NAKARAI, a plating studio, to re-plate the surface.
Although SABITORI KING is highly effective in removing rust from chrome plating, it is not a panacea. If the rust under the plating has grown to the point that it removes the chrome plating, rust-treating cannot handle it and the only option is to re-plate the plating.
Re-plating is the process of stripping off the current plating to expose the bare metal, removing rust and scratches by polishing, and then plating again. In the case of chrome plating, there is a nickel plating film and a copper plating film under the chrome, so all of these are removed by an electric tool or chemicals to expose the steel material.
Re-plating requires a plating facility. Plating workshop NAKARAI is also a manufacturer of rust-treating and plating products, but our ancestors' business was a plating factory. And we still perform re-plating work today.
In the restoration of discontinued and old motorcycles, there are more opportunities to come in contact with damaged chrome plated parts. If the rust is too much to be dealt with by rust-treating, it is a good idea to ask NAKARAI, a plating workshop, to recondition them.