CHROME PLATING WITH BRUSH TYPE
MACHINES
We find that chrome plating with the
so-called brush plating systems does not produce an acceptable quality
job.
If you want to try to do the so-called
CHROME PLATING with the "BRUSH TYPE" Gold Plating systems, we can provide you
with the appropriate chemicals to do that work. We suggest against this type of work.
As a cross check of this opinion, we
strongly suggest that you spend some time in a local chrome plating shop and ask
them questions about the chrome plating process so you can see for yourself what
it takes to do the work properly.
Please let us know so we can order in the chemicals. We do not stock them since
they are not realistically popular.
However, before you take on any CHROME PLATING work, you need to experiment.
As a first step to experimentation, you need to know a bit about what it takes
to do a quality job of chrome plating. The chrome plating process is fairly simple. The
first step is polishing. It takes experience on how to do polishing to get a decent
surface to plate on. We have a separate FAQ on POLISHING.
After the basic polishing, the next step is a initial thick coating of copper
which provides a corrosion resistance.
After depositing the copper, it is very important to buff the copper. We have a
separate FAQ on BUFFING. The buffing resolves recessed areas and imperfections filled and
brightened to assure a brilliant finish.
Next is the NICKEL plating. The nickel is applied to maximize what is called
surface leveling, brightness and corrosion resistance.
The last part of this is to put on a layer of decorative chrome so it provides
the finish with a deep blue-white finish and also promotes further corrosion resistance.
Can you reasonably expect to do all of this work? You can if you have a plant
with experienced staff.
If you do not have the equipment and supplies for the polishing and buffing,
along with the proper chemicals, and capabilities of the assorted steps, you may not come
up with a desired result. Although, with a brush plating system doing a quasi chrome
plating, the finish may look ok for a short period of time.
During the AAIW '99 Show in Las Vegas, I had a chance to talk with the
Chief Executive Officer of Plate Corp. These are the people who chrome plate alloy
wheels. He simply shook his head as I asked for his comments on the so-called ability of
the mobile brush plating systems, from any source, being able to do chrome plating. As he
put it, you can not skip a step and expect to get acceptable results.
We agree.
We also know the capabilities and the limitations of the mobile brush plating
systems, from any source.
However, some people still want to try. If you are one of these people, we have
a reasonable simple set of instructions for you to follow.
First, we suggest you do a fair amount of gold plating so you understand the
process thoroughly. After you know how to Gold Plate, you are in a position to see how you
like the idea of CHROME PLATING with the same equipment. Call SMC at 800-245-7450 and we
will sell you some of the CHROME PLATING chemicals and provide you with another OEM script
so you can do an experiment on an OEM chrome piece.
Remember, you are responsible for proper disposal of the CHROME WASTE
CHEMICALS.
The experiment is simple.
You mask off 1/2 of the OEM script we send you with the chrome plating
solution.
Then you strip the OEM chrome off of the other 1/2 of the script.
Then, do the CHROME PLATING on same side of the script/emblem you stripped the
OEM CHROME PLATING using the brush plating machine.
After you finish, take the OEM piece outside and check the quality in the
daylight.
This will give you an idea on the type of CHROME PLATING you can do, versus an
OEM CHROME PLATING. This will help you form your opinion on doing CHROME PLATING.
After you do the chrome plating, get a mild abrasive cleaner like SOFT SCRUB
and start cleaning the 50/50 OEM chrome piece. After you have cleaned it for a while, wash
it off and go back out in the daylight and make a comparison.
Our opinion is simple. We do not recommend you attempt to do chrome plating.
There are several reasons.
Let SMC know your opinion after that, and we will go forward on this with you
in any way you want to.
Typically, the piece that needs chrome plating is actually in need of
RESTORATION WORK.
As an example, one person was asking one of our customers about the cost
to gold plate a hood ornament. The owner told our customer they had a really good hood
ornament for their old classic car and wanted to have it gold plated. They wanted to know
how much it was going to cost. Without seeing the piece I explained to our customer I
could not give a price. However, if it was really in good condition, basically the same as
the day it came out of the box, the price to gold plate it would probably run about $25.
The owner accepted that and eventually dropped off the piece which the customer shipped on
to us. Then we got the piece in to do the work. Clearly, what the owner believed was in
good shape was probably in better shape than the one on the classic car but it really
needed a full restoration before even thinking of doing a gold plating job. A full
restoration means removing all plating and starting all over again, including copper
plating, polishing, then nickel plating and polishing and finally chrome plating. It is an
involved process.
This is JUST ONE example!
The environmental conditions a chrome piece on a vehicle functions in is
different than the industrial applications of some hard chrome plating work done on
special surfaces in assorted maintenance.
Please do not take our word for this. Look up a CHROME PLATER in your local
YELLOW PAGES. Go to their location and ask them about doing durable CHROME PLATING for
vehicles with any of the "BRUSH TYPE" Gold Plating systems.
The place to make money is the potential to turn the chrome
scripts and emblems on peoples vehicles to GOLD.
To go to our
>
STARTING PAGE CLICK HERE
<
To go
back to your previous page,
please click on your web browsers BACK button.
|
