Dealing with chrome while welding

[Ben]

I am fabricating an exhaust system for a custom motorcycle, and I have an issue of concern. I ordered a pre-fabricated megaphone, which I will be using in my pipe design. Unfotunately, I could not find one unchromed, so I am left to deal with taking the chrome off. Besides the megaphone, all of my bends are raw mild steel. Due to time constraints, I must get the pipes welded together in order to get them to the chromer on time, and I do not have the time to have them stripped before fabricating. I was told to sand the chrome off of the edges of the megaphone so I could still weld the pipes, and then I could have the completed pipes dipped in a chrome stripping bath at the chromers before getting their chrome dip. Is this the best option, or can the chrome be thoroughly and safely taken off of the megaphone by sanding with the DA, without breaking any safety regulations? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Ben

[MikeR]

Sand it or grind it, same thing.

Safety Regulations? What's that???

[Guest]

The copper under the chrome is your biggest problem, becasue of the fumes, but sanding it rather than grinding will get you to base metal carefully without removing too much base material. However, as you weld, the chrome will peel away some, and it will have to be stripped before re-chroming anyway. What method are you going to weld it with?

[Ben]

Rocky,
Actually, if I can get the chrome and copper off of the megaphones, I think I will be in good shape. The U-bends I will be using on the rest of the pipes are unplated, raw steel, so I will not have to worry about chrome one these pieces. If I can get down to the base metal on the megaphones, I should just need to get the pipes dipped, not stripped - am I correct? Although I will have some chrome, copper, and nickel on the inside of the megaphones, as long as I get the plating away from the edge to be welded, I should be alright? I will be TIG welding the megaphones to the U-bends. Any more advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Ben

[Franz]

You can completely remove the chrome with Nitric acid by letting the part sit submerged in that acid.
Any way you do it, the plating shop will still need to do what they need to do, so why not ask them how to go about it, or have them reverse electroplate the chrome off.

[Sberry]

I have just welded right over chrome,, is that not good idea?

[Guest]

Yeah, I think I'd weld right over the chrome. You may get some spitting from the copper, though, but it'll weld.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

Hi Ben.......... we've been sending exaust pipes out to a power coaters lately..........Even old discolored welded on chrome pipes.....The power coat paint is exceptionally hard and will not rust nor will it distort (discolor)............. As an example we run a aa/fx Hemi that just belch's fire and heat............. after 2 years of runs on the power coated Headman Headers they still look as good as the day they were put on........

Are these super trap adjustable megaphones we've also had them powder coated........... And I work at a Motorcycle shop in the evenings........... Not for pay just helping out some old friends.............. .................Well they will pay it still all fun for us............. Be safe and enjoy............................Rock..........
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[MikeR]

Rock,

Are you running an early hemi??

[Hobart Expert Rock]

MIKE R........ Yes it is an early Hemi........... If you log onto WWW.MILLERWELDS.COM you can see some pictures from a race I attended with both of the owners of the motorcycle shop....... It is titled Race Day...................... You can see that fire belching monster (ear drum rattler) in action.......... Well I tried to catch some action shots.................Enjoy....................Roc k.........
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[morpheus]

I think rock meant, www.millermotorsports.com

here's is his post there with the race cars:

http://www.millermotorsports.com/mboard/showthread.php?threadid=187

- jack