rechrome on a spokes set??$$$

so i have some extra rims and was thinking of trying to take out the spokes( they are half gray-half rusty) and take em to a chrome shop local(gotta find one first)and see what they think they'd want to redo a set...
.anyone done this...was it hard to do?...i've also thought that in the long run to just buy a correct size spoke set from z-1entpr would be smarter..are they strong ?do they last shiney wise?is it a giant pain to unlace and relace a rim (i've done bicycles)? will my old spokes be not worth/strong/last.. saving and redoing? and last which might be cheaper....anyone tried both ways and know......a guess is all.....thanks folks...peace

Well I've done several bicycles and the chrome goes away in a few years. Now I do them with stainless steel spokes, they last for ever.
Mark

Mark Wing wrote:

Well I've done several bicycles and the chrome goes away in a few years. Now I do them with stainless steel spokes, they last for ever.
Mark

see i told you guys i'm a veg.....daaa stainless.....makes sense...anyone prefer there source...z1enterprises???

And other folks here have mentioned that it's difficult if not impossible to remove & reuse the spokes. It's easier to cut them out w wire or bolt cutters, then install new. I priced some ss spokes - $100+ per 48-spoke wheel. ouch.

JMKZHI wrote:

And other folks here have mentioned that it's difficult if not impossible to remove & reuse the spokes. It's easier to cut them out w wire or bolt cutters, then install new. I priced some ss spokes - $100+ per 48-spoke wheel. ouch.

really..100....i guess that makes sense..i'm burned out on new purchases on e-B%% and would be using the suppliers we speak about on here... at that price i'd wanna trust the seller and not shop online with a stranger to save a few bones..anyone done this...how were they .....were you happy with em???

Buchanan's is a well-known place.

Some thoughts, first unlacing is a pain. usually about 1/2 the nipples are seized. and if not, are shoddy looking at best. 2nd spokes and hubs are worn to each other, weakening both and changing respective seats.which adds time to lace/true.3rd, 30 years of stress heat cycles make them questionable.4th, chroming worn/pitted spokes requires cleaning & chroming process, which enevitibly leads to chrome on threads. forget about chroming nipples, it's not worth the time/effort. next lacing and truing is a skill, while i'm not a specialist, I do about 20-30 a year.and w/ experiance & proper tools can whip out a wheel in 2-3 hours. and then, usually only to spec. new spoked wheels look great, are light and strong.but require frequent maintinance & cleaning. for restore'ers a must. for those doing up-date mods, an easy way to swap to 17" tires w/wm sizes to accept radials. for those simply dressing up "bessie", would recommend, buying a spare set of wheels, /hubs and start from ith inside -out. spoke wheels as new usually run about $300.00 a copy. G

I would not chrome spokes regardless. The chroming process embrittles the metal.

iys only 40 spokes per wheel, but there still exspensive i want to do mine some time when i get some cash, but i want to buy a wider rear wheel too, hell there $300 for just the rim then iwant too powder coat them black with ss spokes but im looking at 500\650 dollars to do 2 wheels ouch:ohmy:

yeah i know that is a big chunk of cheese..rims 17 and wider relaced hubs new 17 tires 1500 i guess the answer for me is not now....and def not chrome.....gotta put stuff in the need to run ...and need to make sweet classes...and see what is #1 on the list thanks for the tips guys guess it'll wait...peace

Jeff.Saunders wrote:

I would not chrome spokes regardless. The chroming process embrittles the metal.

put the parts in the oven to heat them up then cool them down slowly takes care of it.

After looking around ALOT (I'm a cheap bastard) I'm going with Buchanons. They know what they are doing and the spoke prises aren't too bad if you look at the quality and service they have.