How to restore the chrome on motorcycle parts

These parts are from a 1981 Honda CX500. Unusually this motorcycle had never been ridden since it was new. The reason for the bad corrosion is because it was stored in a shed for 41 years without being cared for.
This video follows these chrome motorcycle parts through all the stages needed during the restoration process.
00:00 - Introduction
01:19- Removing the old plating
02:45 - Polishing
11:16 - Copper plating
15:42 - Polishing the copper
19:52 - Nickel and Chrome Plating
26:54 - Final inspection
29:48 - Finished
If you need your chrome restoring please contact us:
Marque Restore Chrome Plating
2 Dutton Road
Aldermans Green Industrial Estate
Coventry
Tel - 02476 622 225
Email - [e-mail]
www.marquerestore.co.uk
Whatdafunk by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: audionautix.com/
KZbin videos:
How to remove dents with hand tools! BSA Motorcycle repair.
• How to remove dents wi...
How to polish Aluminium Harley Side Casings PROFESIONAL POLISHING step by step guide. (Aluminum)
• How to polish Aluminiu...
Polishing Harley Davidson Casings in 3 minutes
• Polishing Harley David...
Golf Club Restoration - How to restore the chrome finish on a set of golf club irons
• Golf Club Restoration ...
How to Restore the Chrome on Titleist Golf Clubs in 3 Minutes
• Chrome Golf Club Resto...
2 Minutes to RESTORE CHROME Bumpers on JAGUAR E-Type XKE
• 2 Minutes to RESTORE C...
Restoring CHROME on a BSA fuel tank. Full length video. How to re chrome a motorcycle petrol tank.
• Restoring CHROME on a ...
90 seconds to RESTORE the CHROME on a MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK
• 90 seconds to RESTORE ...
1933 Morgan Three Wheeler Radiator POLISH AND NICKEL PLATE
• 1933 Morgan Three Whee...
Restoring 70 year old Allard Chrome
• RESTORING CHROME on 70...
Vintage Lamp from 1927 Motorcycle Restored - Original DULL NICKEL finish or NICKLE in the USA
• How to restore a Vint...
Vauxhall Chrome Bumper Restoration - from very rusty to show chrome
• Vauxhall Chrome Bumper...
Restoring a 1953 Chevrolet Pickup Bumper
• How to restore chrome ...
Restoring the chrome on a 1951 Riley grille
• Restoring the Chrome o...
Restoring (aluminium) Rolls Royce door handles
• Rolls Royce (Aluminium...
Video that shows why you need to pack parcels very securely
• WORST PARCEL DELIVERY ...
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
How to Make your Old Chrome Motorcycle Exhaust Look Like New Again
• How to Restore your Ol...
~-~~-~~~-~~-~

[@CornwallGBF]

I don't think people appreciate how much work goes into restoring these parts. Brilliant

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

I hope they do now.

[@maine9319]

Wow did not realize how much work & detailed attention was put into a quality chrome restoration. Props to your team. 💓

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Much appreciated!

[@sailorgerard]

Don't forget this is in the UK....I doubt that in the US and Canada the same careful procedure is followed, as it is always about time and money here, not quality.

[@davidfrank2824]

I was thinking the same thing.​@@sailorgerard

[@JB-NZ]

You can see why it costs what it does, its such a big job with all the stages! Great video, I learnt alot

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Happy you liked the video

[@Bowen20011]

A seemingly simple job. But it actually requires years of experience to acquire such excellent skills and control over details throughout the process.👍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

You are absolutely right

[@taunteratwill1787]

Thanks to this guy we all know now how to use the chroming equipment we all have at home! 😎

[@Naptime1953]

Amazing! The team members are true craftsmen, and I am guessing they have been there for many years. I imagine it would be hard to find such conscientious people with attention to detail these days.

[@sirretsnom3329]

Am I the only one that thought the copper look would have been badass? Still an amazing process I never thought it was that extensive.

[@nobeard1978dh]

i was thinking exactly that

[@brazoon1]

I thought the same but I think the problem is that the copper would tarnish quite quickly and eventually turn green. Maybe that would also look cool, I don't know.

[@joso5554]

@@brazoon1 ingestion of green copper oxide is toxic, though.

[@paulypaulypauly8011]

Beautiful work! I hope you can continue to run your business and maintain the quality of this work in the face of increasing environmental regulations.

[@summerforever6736]

Regulations my arse

[@favourites96]

One thing's a certainty, no robot or AI is ever going to put you guys out of a job. I, like many others commenting, never realised just how much prep work was needed before the chroming process even starts. Well done on a fantastic very informative video.

[@blerg]

Very well edited and narrated without any fluff - fantastic to see the process in such detail! Thanks for sharing.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@stevemahrer7097]

Fascinating, informative, educational and very well done, takes me back 48 years to my Honda 550F1...

[@bikefarmtaiwan1800]

One of those skills which covers many bases-you gotta know the chemistry , and the timing , then the sequences then trouble shooting when things soot up or don't come out right , then there is the polishing - potentially disastrously dangerous if a part gets caught or if you wind though a clients part !!!! If all that goes well the patience involved in getting a good finish and being bothered to take all the steps necessary- it is a wonder this ever got done on such a large scale in the automotive industry for decades . Great informative video and a credit to the team that works in the shop - well done - no mean feat !

[@rejej200c]

Oh my thanks for sharing I had no idea it was such a labour intensive operation

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Our pleasure!

[@Ukuleleal]

Outstanding work. So satisfying to watch. Would have loved to see the owner's face when he saw these. 🙏

[@jamiestanley8774]

I'm wondering your price , I'm in newzealand and it's crazy what they want . I see it's a very time consuming and repetitive process. But there is now one else to go to whose near me. I understand if you dont give out the price. Cheers thanks.

[@kimkeam2094]

Very impressive, I wish you were based in Australia! Not only is the work breathtakingly detailed but your documentation is great, something that can be lacking in other businesses. I can see why the cost of restoration is so high.

[@RRED2]

Never knew that there were so many processes involved for Chroming but I have to say that I very much appreciated how much work went into making it possible to turn a somewhat rusty bike parts into a brilliant beautiful work of art. Thank you 🤩

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Our pleasure!

[@utopiajj]

Man there's like 200 steps involved with this! Insane amount of meticulousness!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

It is a lot of work and attention to detail

[@fransue56]

That was also a learning experience for me, what a lot of work, care and experience to do this sort of work! Wow! Wish you guys were a little closer to me in Australia!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you! I wish I was too. My dad was a £10 pomm and lived in Moonee Ponds for a few years. He always wanted to go back.

[@johnhaydon4055]

That was one of the best YT vids I have seen in a long while, I wish I could click the like button a dozen times. I am restoring a 65 year old Matchless, I will be contacting you at some stage, hopefully you can help. Thanks

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Glad you liked it. Looking forward to hearing from you.

[@normmcrae1140]

I do a little bit of metal polishing, myself - mostly aluminum, but brass and copper, as well..... and it can be HARD work - Kudos to your crew for the spectacular results!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Well said!

[@lelandlewis7207]

Me too. I make pens and even polishing them is a chore. I also polish my aluminium motorcycle parts after removing the silver powder coating. I am getting into casting and polishing the copper and brass takes lots of time.

[@raymondsmith6504]

Fascinating process, and well-documented in this video.

[@TheUlrikkaul]

This is craftmanship! I own a Spitfire Mk III and have searching for a dent free frontbumper for a long time. They are not available anymore as new. I was lucky to find a bumper, but the chrome is nackerd. No wonder it is so expensive to get a new layer of chrome, with all that manual work that has to be done. Cheers from Denmark.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the comments

[@randygerman2176]

Beautiful! No mucking about but with all of the skill and proper equipment it’s still so time consuming! No wonder it’s so costly! I have several project bikes that will need a bit of this😬

[@susandavis5833]

Wow! Lot of work!

[@bruceyoung1343]

Simply Marvelous. Thank You 🙏

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you too!

[@stephencrummett3037]

That's craftsmanship that is! 😁 Fantastic.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@Valko67]

it is amazing and also very understandable how it gets so expensive when you see all de procedure steps and hand work applications until it is ready for the finely results , people sometimes don't have it in mind all that stuff , great job , i enjoyed a lot , i am dutch from Belgium 😉✌

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

I totally agree!

[@tomquinn5437]

True craftsmanship!

[@Homested_Retirement]

Thumbs up for the fountain pen 👍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@trebor2831]

Great Job now i know how it works thank 4 the Video!!!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

No problem!

[@michaelreeves8164]

Very educational for me. I hadn't realized what labor intensive work was involved in this type of testoration.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Yes, it is a whole different ball game to chroming new parts (and they are restored to a better finish than new).

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

Those beautiful freshly chromed parts hopefully won’t put the rest of the bike to shame.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Hopefully not

[@rustybloom47]

Most beautiful work,thank you.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you too!

[@hallstrr]

Gorgeous work, truly a rare craftsman trade!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@jamesaldridge6899]

Absolutely stunning work as usual!! The attention to detail is overwhelming! I love it!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you so much!

[@drevill7827]

Great job guys!!!…👍… so much work for quality results!!!… I wish I could be there to enjoy the results!!!…👍… rock on!!…🤘

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@ThePetalesharo]

Fantastic quality work!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks a lot!

[@hughschwartz6438]

Outstanding workmanship!

[@billfurlong9998]

Great job, not many chromes do such a good job as you do. Well done. Take care of your health! It looks like it could be a health hazard if not kept in check.

[@josephxanthopoulos]

Nice work. BRAVO !!!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Many thanks!!

[@hamborg2]

The copper parts before crome, looks so awesome 💥🎶😍😍. I just want the copper look👍🏍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

You and me both!

[@kevinproctor8743]

That is an incredible transformation

[@transmitterguy478]

That was a really cool video, I subscribed! I love seeing parts restored especially chrome parts. You really showed the whole process and how much labor was involved to make the parts look new again. 40 years ago my wife looked as good as the finished parts but now she looks like the rusty ones, I still love her though.🤣🤣Great job!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the sub!😂

[@WaynePearson-db8ig]

Thank u for such a detailed video .since ive been watching electroplating on u tube im dying to start with small projects . U video has been totally the best one i have seen. A great thank u from Wayne South Africa.

[@swamppifi6186]

I think you may need to do a follow up video on these and explain how they ended up so bad in the first place, and what is the correct method to protect the chrome finish to make them last.

[@mobilfone2234]

nice job! yes, chrome protects nickel and nickel protects the steel as chrome has micro cracks...

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Yes they do

[@IngOehman]

You’re putting in some serious work there!

[@insaneAlchemyOfeviI]

incredible work ..... - such expertise.....Thanks for a very educational demonstration ...!!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

My pleasure!

[@trentmozee]

Wow fantastic work great job.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you so much 😀

[@iancameron198]

Great job.from Michigan

[@tompeter7326]

Very well done, the correct way to make superior chroming. Like always here in Germany many galvanics had to shut down due to extreme environmental requirements.

[@mattquigley4340]

What an outstanding & exceptionally well presented video or should I say documentary. I would allow you to rechrome my custom bike parts in a heart beat & I have mil spec ocd

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@deanedeane4318]

Holly shit i never knew how seriously big this process is !!! WoW the before and after .... Thankyou for sharing and Love from New Zealand 🙃😉😎

[@davidupton4730]

How to restore Rusty motorcycle parts……….Send it to the bloody chromer ?

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Correct

[@0r1x]

Here I thought, oh a tutorial, I have a few parts that I could do... Now, I need a quote.

[@Geordo1960]

Now understand more why this process is expensive.

[@bluglass7819]

I always loved the shades of orange when a piece gets pulled out of the tank.

[@howardsmith613]

You sure make a good job well done , and a great video.

[@user-fg7ht2ry8o]

Outstanding work very nice.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@robedmunds7163]

That is better chrome than it ever had on a CX originally

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Correct

[@Ozarkwoods]

Wow,wow,wow amazing job!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@rmax2]

great video and fantastic looking work! 👍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@Weazelmania]

Fantastic to see this still being donem

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Not many of us left.

[@Weazelmania]

@@ChromeandCarRestoration get the apprentices in 💪 the future is artisan

[@Macbetula-yl8wq]

Wow that a lot of possess, excellent job 👍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you so much 😀

[@BillTolliver]

Love that music. 😍 Great video.

[@papatorr3669]

Loved the video. I wanted two small parts re-chromed here in Virginia USA and was quoted $550!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Ouch that sounds expensive. You could always ship them to us here in England

[@papatorr3669]

@@ChromeandCarRestoration It's actually for the chrome pieces that the turn signals attach to on a 2000 Triumph Thunderbird Sport...from England! Why don't you guys just chrome it right in the first place? 🙄

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

@papatorr3669 I live 5 miles from the Triumph Factory. They closed down their plating shop over 20 years ago. All their plating is done in Asia. Thailand, I think. Most of their bikes are made there too. Mainly, the design is done in England now.

[@papatorr3669]

@@ChromeandCarRestoration I'm sorry to hear that. Where do I send you pictures?

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

@@papatorr3669 [e-mail]

[@ashleysmith3106]

Having been involved in motorcycle restoration and customisation for over half a Century, something I am well aware of is the difference between British and Japanese chroming. Some of my British Chrome work has lasted a hundred years or so in good condition. However, I have always had problems with rust occurring on Japanese chrome, and now some of the junk coming out of China eg bars, mirrors, headlamp shells and the like start showing rust through the chrome within a year ! Old School way is certainly the best, but unfortunately the ( justified ) resultant cost due to all the time and effort involved has put restoring out of reach for me these days ! Great to see this video !

[@terrynorthern38]

Beautiful

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@stephenanderson7331]

Hi, just found your channel, clearly very professional set up. Keep up the good work. what's the name of your company.

[@elephantman2415]

I had no idea it was all so laborious!

[@runestrmhaug106]

Great jobb😊

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Many thanks

[@garyb.4080]

Nice job! Here in the states, that would cost around 1000-1500 dollars, for new chrome!!

[@collyernicholasjohn]

Smashed it!

[@geraldfitzgibbon7428]

Ther realy is loads of hours put into re plating these parts. All looks very good.

[@chromezone4371]

mesmerizing

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Happy you enjoyed it. Check out our other videos for more.

[@Price-qd1cd]

Absolutely beautiful,wish I could ship my parts to you from here in the US

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

You can

[@MAsWorld1]

Great amazing work thanks for showing all the steps! So factory didn’t use nickel obviously, these are WAY better than the oem parts!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

They did use nickel. How you put it on makes a massive difference. Iill get an explainer video made about it, as it is not straightforward.

[@MAsWorld1]

@@ChromeandCarRestoration thx, so In triple chrome plating in what order are the three metals plated?

[@summerforever6736]

Looka fantastic!!!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@christopherrobin462]

I love that pen

[@busatrx850]

Are you able to plate exhaust pipes and also hard chrome fork stanchions?

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Yes we can plate exhausts (video being filmed soon). We cannot hard chrome. We often chrome stancheons, but if they are heavily pitted they need hard chroming till over size and grinding back to profile.

[@busatrx850]

@@ChromeandCarRestoration thanks. I’m assuming you couldn’t do the grinding back? Also what is the difference between the cosmetic chrome plating and hard chrome? - Great video by the way. It’s good to see care being taken over speed.

[@kodiangkulim5437]

Thanks you

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you too!

[@classehermansson5849]

I have never seen a so long process to renicle a thin steel plate. But as is goes....the longer time is paytime.

[@gaildimick1831]

What labor, very professional, looks better than factory. I never knew the parts to be plated took that much polishing & cleaning. No wonder it is expensive. Can you salvage the chrome that was taken off? Or is it trashed? Thanks for the video. Happy Easter.

[@ahmadfaizal8345]

Hi, would you like to tell me what brand and type of dynamo driver you are using?

[@rogerthedodger5788]

Can you chrome aluminum mudguards? Amazing restoration!

[@gauloisrefractaire3492]

Du vrai bon travail bravo

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Merci

[@andreasbrunnhofer]

Beautiful! What are this balls for in the hot soap cleaner container?

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

They are insulation

[@johncamilleri6654]

how to keep it shine ? good job man

[@joshrawlings2621]

Scottish pocketed type’s may actually learn why you sometimes need to lay out some Cash as the work involved is INVOLVED….! Top job Jim Bob…, Great insight & content…!

[@michaelfraser8137]

Thanks

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Many thanks to you. Yours is the first Super Thanks I have received, very generous of you.

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

They'd be bloody lovely painted matt black, them!

[@jakemarley5783]

Just out of curiosity, how many hours would be billed to this job. And great work, had no idea that much went into rechroming parts.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

We dont keep track of the hours. Prices are estimated at the booking in stage.

[@18mtoo]

You are an alchemist wizard. Perhaps get someone to make you a Gandalf style staff. Could you do a thing telling us why factory chrome sometimes fails so quickly.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Good idea. Good subject for a video.

[@SirCavemaninthewest]

Cool

[@davefrench3608]

Nice to see a CX500Cb getting some love. Where's the chrome water pipe?

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Good question!

[@davidfrank2824]

Is there any particular product that you would recommend to keep your Chrome looking that shiny? I have a Harley-Davidson and I am always wiping down my Chrome. Really enjoyed your video. I most definitely gave you a big old thumbs up and I hit the subscribe button.

[@user-ye6rb3dn2i]

That's a lot of work

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Oh yes

[@joesandstrom4111]

How about polishing / removing light scratches and swirl marks from chromed plastic trim?

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the tip

[@joesandstrom4111]

@@ChromeandCarRestoration Wait. What? I thought I was the one who asked for a tip... lol.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

@@joesandstrom4111 Oopse. Typed that in the wrong box so replied to the wrong person. Not a lot you can do with plastic trim. We can only remove the plating. Trying to polish out marks is likely to polish through the chrome layer to the nickel below causing a yellow patch.

[@laurencehastings7473]

99% preparation work. Well I now know why the process is so expensive. Fantastic result but I'm still curious as to how moisture could permeate through the original electr-plating, causing the base metal to rust in the first place, on a factory new bike.

[@Sufyan.Z.Bukhari]

Lots of work

[@talontv7010]

what are the compositions for making electro cleaning liquids?

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

There are many, depending on what process and material you are doing.

[@Nk-A9165]

Good 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@avianfish8732]

Nice job. I see now why its's expensive. How many microns?