Custom Sissy Bar Project

rdgrnr, or anyone else who wishes to chime in, I have a question or three about the chroming process ???? I have never had anything chromed before .... let alone something that I mostly made up myself. How good does the metal finsh need to be for nice results ... 32 microfinish good enough for exposed / seen surfaces ? And what about the old chrome that's still on the sissy bar. Does the process your company use remove that finish? Or what ??? How much actual metal prep does your company do to prepare for chroming ?

Hi Dale,

Very nice work Somehow I think this isn't your first project.

If you would keep the width on the pics that you're linking to less than 550 pixels the whole thread will be much easier to read.

You can also modify the IMG tag this way [img size=550]your link[/img. That way you don't even have to resize the pic. It'll just display at 550 pixels.

Nice Project

KZCSI

Thanks KZCSI ! I've worked as a machinest / mechanic for 30 years .. So given my love for custom vehicles and my ability as a machinest ... no this isn't my first project ... lol.

I'll attempt to keep the pic size down. I've never really bothered to try before now ... I just load the pics up as my camera takes 'em and as they come to the forum from photobucket.

KZCSI , seems that in the resizing proccess we lost one of my pics in the third post in this thread.

Post edited by: KZCSI, at: 2008/01/05 19:33

Hi Dale,

I found the problem the first pic displays now.

As I said before, most of the time you can specify the width by adding size=550 inside the first tag [img size=550]. This way you usually don't have to concern yourself with the file size.

Thanks
kzcsi

Dale,
We can do everything from start to finish. I can get whatever chrome you have left stipped off.
Usually if you can feel the imperfections by running your fingernail over it, it is still too coarse. If you have a D/A, 320 will get you to where you need. The copper will fill in the imperfections. Otherwise, I can chrome prep it for you.
These parts are all steel, correct?
I can't chrome anything else but steel as we shut down our anodizing line years ago.
Nice job on the fabricating...
One other thing, on the side plates, would you be open to the edges slightly being rounded over as the plating will look much nicer. Nickel likes to gather on sharp edges.

OK ... for starters .... Yes, everything is steel. I have planned to buff off any sharp edges. Once welding is finished I will get that all done. The side plates will come to you pretty much ready to chrome (I think) ... the sissy bar itself will probrably still need work.

Thanks in advance for all your help with this project !!!

Now for a little rant !!!

My Harley buddies are all saying ... why bother ... it's just a Jap bike ... or why don't you just buy this crap online or from the KAW dealer ... I think they're all jaded .... if you can dream it up it's already available for your Harley ... from Harley ... custom crap for our old KZ's or any vintage Jap bike for that matter simply isn't available. I have added custom touches to many vehicles in the past ... this old LTD is a very nice old bike ... it's paid for ... I'm gonna make it mine and make it so it's not like yours or his or hers !!! Isn't that what "custom" means ???

Post edited by: 2M4Dale, at: 2008/01/06 10:50

ExactlyB)

Nice hook up, I pick up 1 from a junk yard for $10.00 it was rusted I clean it and polish it. It came back the file it's on my now. I could not loud up picture.

jagrider

My welder buddy finally got my stuff welded up ... he didn't do quite as good a job as I would have hoped but I can file / buff everything down and make my project presentable and good enough for chrome. Here is a couple more pics with the bar mounted up. I still have to mark and cut the sissybar down bars ... you can see 'em sticking thru the bottom of the mounts. I just have to decide on my final length.





Post edited by: 2M4Dale, at: 2008/03/05 20:15

Dale,
I sent you an email on this

Gotcha Dave ... once again Thanks for helping me out with this project !!!! This little project will soon be finished ... lol. Onto bigger and better things like replacing my bent front end