galvanizing or buying new?

Basic question:
-she is in pieces now, frame + engine, all the rest has gone... you know how it works, you look at her and say: 'let me check that screw there', and after a few hours you realize the bike is in pieces and it's gonna take months to put it back together as you want to paint, galvanize, change most of the components...

so, most of my nuts and bolts etc are a bit worn and a couple of pieces are showing some rust.
Question: galvanize or change? what was your choice? -also consider I'm having some difficulties finding someone who would do the job...

I use Cad plating.

Several national sources, but be prepared for a minimum charge, and take lots of photos to remember which hardware goes where.

I vote feed the vendors a bit extra instead of your time and mess, if not planning doing more plating and spend the time processing to new warm puppy. Plating don't restore the nice edges of fastener flats and slots.

grandpaul said:

I use Cad plating.

Several national sources, but be prepared for a minimum charge, and take lots of photos to remember which hardware goes where.

Click to expand...

Pictures...? that WAS a brilliant idea. ....

If you are located outside the USA, be aware that cadmium plating is outlawed in most of Europe.
Cad plating today is only used in the aviation industry, for applications where there are no alternatives available.
So your options will most probably be limited to Zinc plating, which can be done done for a fraction of the costs of replacement.
I had lots of small parts, bolts etc for my bikes zinc plated with good result.

Living in the US, I have access to Cadmium plating. I bought a home plating kit for the restoration of my 850, and am generally not pleased with the result, now that its been back on the road for nearly 4 years.

When I started on my Ranger, I took every plated nut, bolt, screw, washer and fitting down to a plating company near Miami Int'l Airport. Clear Cadmium cost me about $60, which is less than the re-plated rear axle would have cost to replace. The primary screws, which are the same as the outer gearbox cover screws, cost pennies to plate, compared to about $5.50 each from Andover (I was missing 8 screws, so know the cost). I even re-plated all my spokes, and they look better than stainless.

All those costly little pieces on a Commando, such as the dust covers over the bearings, the coil brackets, muffler mounting plates, rear brake cable yoke, front caliper plug, etc. are worth re-plating. For just a few dollars more, you can re-do every piece.

I plan to re-do the Commando this summer, and will have everything re-plated (except the spokes on this one, as they are stainless).

If you don't have access to Cad plating, go with zinc. it looks about the same, though doesn't last quite as long. Should give many years of good looks if the bike is kept out of the weather.

I would like to ask those of you who have found a good replating shop to please post some contact informatioon.

it's defo zinc plating here (Italy). but still not that easy to find someone who does small pieces. looks like it's more industrial big scale stuff they do...

Ask to see the shop forman and wave a few euro's, it does the trick.