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Surface Prep Prior to Chrome Plating

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Cutting the costs of chrome plating:

I do a lot of restoration work and fully understand that much of the cost to chrome plating is surface preparation. I can removed the old flaking, bubbly chrome from old chrome plated parts with no prob, including polishing out with a sisal wheel/black emery cake, etc., to a luster.

Question: for a pre-plating surface prep, should I take it out to a full mirror luster or leave a slight satin finish to provide tooth for the plating process?

Thanks,

Lynn M. Perry, Sr.
retired - Plano, Texas

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First of two simultaneous responses -- +++

"Tooth" is not required for nickel-chrome plating of steel, but no sense overdoing the buffing.

If there are no visable scratches or dings they should plate fine. You would probably be surprised by how matte truck bumpers are before plating. Most times when there is an "argument" between the plater and the polisher, it seems the plater wishes the polisher had quit while he was ahead :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

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Second of two simultaneous responses -- +++

Whether you polish to a mirror finish or not depends on your desired end finish. If you start with a satin finish, you will end up with a shiny looking scratchy finish. The plating thickness is not enough to fill the scratches left in the part. A mirror finish is the best finish for a smooth looking part, as the plating doesn't need anything to grip onto, the way a paint would.

Dan Brewer
chemical process supplier - Gurnee, Illinois