Paramount\'s chroming was some of the best around, yet time and events can take their toll, resulting in the potential for cracks, pits and peeling of the chrome.
We can\'t duplicate the old chrome jobs because many of the heavy metals (like cadmium) are illegal for finishes like this. In addition, these frames were hand-chromed rather than using a chrome line. This let Schwinn put chrome in hard to finish areas, like behind the bottom bracket. Chroming is so rare that it\'s more or less a lost art.
Re-chroming is a risky operation. We must first strip off the old chrome through \"reverse plating\", where the flow of electricity is the opposite of what is used in the chroming process. Unfortunately, reverse chroming can also remove the brazing material, which can weaken the frame.
For these reasons, we don\'t re-chrome frames. What to do?
Option 1: Paint over the chrome. If you\'re planning to use the frame, this is often the best approach.
Option 2: We can remove any residual rust through our paint stripping process (and through a process known as \"pickling\"), where the frame is dipped in acid to remove rust. Then, we recommend keeping the frame waxed. Wax seals up small cracks and around peeled areas. If the bike is more for show, this is often the best approach, as it retains the original styling.
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