Heating chrome plating

[yam175]

I have a small piece of chrome plated metal on a luggage rack on an old motorcycle that needs to be bent back straight. Can I heat with a propane torch first to make bending easier or will it ruin the chrome plating?

 

[TVP]

The chromium plating on a steel part is capable of being heated to ~ 450 C without degrading. The limit may be even higher, but this is the area with which I am familiar.