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41-Yr Abandoned CX500 Motorcycle: Rusty to Mirror Chrome Shine

Chrome and Car Restoration

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Reviving 41-Year-Old Rusty Chrome on a Never-Ridden 1981 Honda CX500 Motorcycle – Shed Find Transformation!
In this step-by-step chrome restoration tutorial, watch us strip old plating and rust from unused 1981 Honda CX500 parts using sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, then polish to a flawless mirror finish with abrasive belts (80-320 grit), felt mops, sisal brushes, and more. For thin parts, we add copper plating build-up before applying nickel for protection and chrome for that iconic shine. From corroded shed relics to showroom-ready – perfect for vintage bike lovers, Honda enthusiasts, and DIY metal polishers!

Need chrome plating services for your classic car or motorcycle? Contact us via our website or email:

Marque Restore Chrome Plating
2 Dutton Road
Aldermans Green Industrial Estate
Coventry
Tel - 02476 622 225

Email - sales@marquerestore.co.uk
www.marquerestore.co.uk

Whatdafunk by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

00:00 - Introduction
01:19- Removing the old plating
02:45 - Polishing
11:16 - Copper plating
15:42 - Polishing the copper
19:52 - Nickel and Chrome Plating
26:54 - Final inspection
29:48 - Finished

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20 Comments

@tonywylde8211 1 year ago

Now I understand why high quality rechroming is so expensive. That's a huge amount of effort involved. Great job.

@JB-NZ 2 years ago

You can see why it costs what it does, its such a big job with all the stages! Great video, I learnt alot

@QVNO.Official 2 years ago

I don't think people appreciate how much work goes into restoring these parts. Brilliant

@IanBradley-ns1bg 2 years ago

This video took me back many years to the 70s when I ran a plating shop. Most of our degreasing was done with Trichloroethylene, but you would,nt get away with that these days. Copper flashing the parts mekes all the difference to the finish,and longevity. I never ceased to be amazed, and amused by the number of people who would present me with a component which was totally pitted and thought that just dipping it in a tank would restore it to its former glory. Pleasant memories of a former life. I must commend you for showing the public How It Should Be Done.

@jameswilkins7778 1 year ago

This was fascinating and rewarding to watch. No robots, just human skill.

@RRED2 2 years ago

Never knew that there were so many processes involved for Chroming but I have to say that I very much appreciated how much work went into making it possible to turn a somewhat rusty bike parts into a brilliant beautiful work of art. Thank you 🤩

@stevemahrer7097 2 years ago

Fascinating, informative, educational and very well done, takes me back 48 years to my Honda 550F1...

@robertm4212 1 year ago

My compliments to whoever edited this video! One of the best I’ve seen in this type of video. The background music and sounds never drowned out the narrator and it made it a pleasure to watch. Might seem like a small thing to some but I’ve stopped watching so many “ how to” videos because you couldn’t hear anything or the music was obnoxiously loud. Very professional job!!
And the restoration work was amazing too

@bikefarmtaiwan1800 2 years ago

One of those skills which covers many bases-you gotta know the chemistry , and the timing , then the sequences then trouble shooting when things soot up or don't come out right , then there is the polishing - potentially disastrously dangerous if a part gets caught or if you wind though a clients part !!!! If all that goes well the patience involved in getting a good finish and being bothered to take all the steps necessary- it is a wonder this ever got done on such a large scale in the automotive industry for decades . Great informative video and a credit to the team that works in the shop - well done - no mean feat !

@maine9319 2 years ago

Wow did not realize how much work & detailed attention was put into a quality chrome restoration. Props to your team. 💓

@t.g.z.4372 7 months ago

I am most impressed at the processes within the process. I didn't know there were so many steps involved. Congratulations and many thanks from Spain!!

@Bowen20011 3 years ago

A seemingly simple job. But it actually requires years of experience to acquire such excellent skills and control over details throughout the process.👍

@favourites96 2 years ago

One thing's a certainty, no robot or AI is ever going to put you guys out of a job. I, like many others commenting, never realised just how much prep work was needed before the chroming process even starts. Well done on a fantastic very informative video.

@sirretsnom3329 2 years ago

Am I the only one that thought the copper look would have been badass? Still an amazing process I never thought it was that extensive.

@TaunterAtwill 2 years ago

Thanks to this guy we all know now how to use the chroming equipment we all have at home! 😎

@paulypaulypauly8011 2 years ago

Beautiful work! I hope you can continue to run your business and maintain the quality of this work in the face of increasing environmental regulations.

@normmcrae1140 2 years ago

I do a little bit of metal polishing, myself - mostly aluminum, but brass and copper, as well..... and it can be HARD work - Kudos to your crew for the spectacular results!