Sounds like it's time to break out the old college text books and read up
on hydrogen embrittlement.
On Mon, 24 Dec 2001 09:39:32 -0500 "Bill Blue" <dablue@worldnet.att.net>
writes:
> I don't think there is any way that chrome plating causes
> brittleness. My
> job takes me into pretty close contact with electroplaters, and
> enbrittlement is something I have never heard them discuss.
> Electroplating
> uses a low voltage DC current which should not alter the properties
> of the
> parent material. I would guess the broken spoke was due to the use
> of an
> improper steel alloy or perhaps a slag inclusion in the steel.
>
> There is another process that is used to dip bodies. Once more,
> this is
> someting I have heard about as part of work, so I don't know a lot
> about it.
> I do know there is a fellow in Evansville, Indiana that dips bodies
> in a
> cyanide solution. I have not seen the results, but my contact in
> Evansville
> says it does a beautiful job, much like the process Ian and Jan use.
> Bill
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Armand Ritchie" <ritchie@mcn.org>
> To: <alpines@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2001 4:03 PM
> Subject: Re: Help me decide!!
>
>
> > Paul,
> > I have had both chrome and painted wire wheels in the past and I
> can tell
> > you my opinion. The chromes look great but are a pain to keep
> clean, they
> > seem to attract dirt like a magnet. The painted ones always seem
> to look
> > good, even when there a little dirty you don't notice it as much.
> > I also had a problem years ago with the chrome wires on my Triumph
> Stag.
> > The spokes them selves were very brittle and I found one of them
> broken
> > (snapped in the middle like a pretzel) after a trip through the
> car wash.
> > I always thought that the brittleness was from the chroming
> process but
> I'm
> > not sure on that.
> >
> > regards
> > Armand
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >List,
> > >I just received a nice Christmas award gift ($$$$) and would like
> to put
> > >it into my Series 3 estoration before he wife gets wind of it. I
> need
> you
> > >guys to help me decide on something.
> > >
> > >I am going to buy new wire wheels from British Wire Wheel with
> this cash.
> > >The question is should I buy regular wire and paint them or go
> with all
> > >chrome?
> > >I have been researching powder colors for months and cannot get
> an exact
> > >match. I did however come very close to the original sample from
> Ian and
> > >Company. (just a shade darker) Custom matching the powder is
> going to be
> > >too expensive so that's not an option. Also, regular paint is
> not an
> > >option as I'm addicted to powders durability and connot get
> myself to use
> > >liquid paint. Unless you can talk me into it.
> > >I attended the British Conclave in Denver last summer and looked
> at
> > >hundreds of british cars with wire wheels and chrome knock-offs.
> I
> looked
> > >at many with chrome wires and many more with paint. I must
> admit, the
> > >chrome looked better to me. Although I was leaning to keep the
> original
> > >period look, I walked away confused and wanting Chrome!
> > >BTW, my 3 eared knock-off's are already back from the chrome shop
> and
> look
> > >FANTASTIC!! Better than factory!!
> > >
> > >Help me!
> > >Paul
> > >Colorado
> > >Series 3 GT (waiting on body paint and still throwing "stupid"
> money at
> > >it) :)
> >
> > ritchie@mcn.org
> > Armand Ritchie
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