……… These bumpers look like a great fit on this awesome coach
When we put this coach together the coach had been well kep, the previous owner had put much into the coach and the bumpers looked “brand new”. Of course they had been rechromed.
Less than a year after the build the customer noticed rust starting. A reflection on our work we scoured our invoices to find we had not done the bumpers so we all set about looking into exactly what was going on. Forgot to do pics of the damage but chances are you’ve seen those little rust bubbles and peaked chrome around the bumper bolts……. It’s such a small thing many just buff on it with steel wool but you know it will come back.
Why did this happen? The bumpers were subjected to a cheaper “2 process” rechrome.
This means the nickel layer was put directly onto the metal then the chrome layer was played on the nickel layer…….nickel does not bond to the metal bumper so the metal trusts and pops thru the nickel and chrome. Once the surface is penetrated the steel bumper rusts. It’s little help keeping a chrome polish on the bumper, rust will find a way.
It’s easy to tell if that’s what your bumpers are…. Looking at the backside of the bumper you should see a copper layer splatter. Copper sticks to metal, then the nickel layer sticks to the copper and THEN the chrome layer makes that nickel layer shine. THAT is “3 process” chrome. Of course polishing the copper layer will cost more but rust has a hard time getting oxygen to cause the rust.
3 process chrome is the good stuff, 2 process chrome will spaz out early and is bad chrome to me. Hey, the stuff on JD’s coach looked great for maybe 2 year but then the rust raised its ugly head.
One of the items on my road test punch list were the bumpers so?shortly after I got back to the shop the bumpers were pulled and Ralph jetted me to our chrome gurus at Space Coast Plating in Cocoa Beach.
Who can make this gal look young again? These guys can!
And if this is the quality of work they do……I’m there with MY chrome! To make this kind of chrome you have to make the EPA happy and these guys are serious about chrome….
Those are proper dip vats and this is the kind of stuff they work with.
Gonna take a while to do the work…..you don’t ask how long, it won’t matter……they like us do not spend money for a rush job! And it will be on the pricey side but if you have a machine to this level……..just close your eyes and write the check or start a list of excuses why your chrome doesn’t look as good as the paint……it all comes together
Stay tuned to see the fruits of this labor.
We have another coach in from the Que with its second list of stuff to do
Stay tuned to watch this coach get its just deserves……..
See ya tomorrow hey and thanks for dropping by…….I’m looking to do a new video today, stay tuned for that too……see ya
I know what you mean about chrome. The previous owner of my coach had the bumpers replaced by a local (California) guy. Just like you said after a few years the rust came through. If you live in California do not have a local shop do plating. There are so many rules here you will not get a good job. Many go to Mexico thinking they get a really good job done the old way with little regard for regulations we have here but don’t be fooled they don’t do good work either. Go to some other state and ask for the 3 step process
Yes, the waste is toxic so it all must be addressed. 2 years…..out of warranty so there ya go.