Black Chrome Plating
Black Chrome ==>
Q. Black Chrome, is there such a thing, and how similar is it to regular chrome (other than color of course)? Interested in Black Chroming Cobra Kit Car parts that would normally be regular chrome.
Wayne McAllasterFremont, California
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A. Black chrome is a beautiful color, is very weather durable and is done by a fair amount of shops. It does have a tendency to show a silver color if it is significantly scratched, but nowhere as bad as black nickel or dyed or chromated parts.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
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Q. Thanks, James: So then, there is such a thing as Black Chrome! Is it basically the same process/product as regular chrome? I wonder why more of it isn't seen on custom car/bikes? I have not been having any luck finding any shops that do it, and haven't had any luck on the net finding out more information about it. I've been told that there is no such thing, and that black nickel or dyed chrome is most people refer to when talking about Black Chrome. Your input will stimulate my quest, thanks again. Wayne Wayne McAllaster , returningFremont, California - A. Hi, Wayne. Check our jobshops directory (or the banner at top of this page) for plating shops that do black chrome 'Black chromium' has a couple of different looks. If you are old enough to remember when smoked glass was "in", there were residential and commercial dining tables and coffee tables which were 'black chrome' plated and the chrome looked like gray tinted glass--hard to describe--bright, sort of like chrome, but smoky. That's for decorative use like on a car. The reason it was "out" is that tastes change and it's costlier than bright chrome. But it's having a great resurgence of popularity. There also is "optical" black chromium; it looks like carbon black, sort of like black wrinkle paint but with exceptionally fine wrinkles, and is used to absorb light on the inside of optical stuff like microscopes and binoculars. I believe that black chrome still makes the most effective passive solar collectors.
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Q. Is Black Chrome used on handguns, and is it as durable as other normally used gun protective items? thank you
Steve Bukovac- Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
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A. I'm not real familiar with handguns, so I can't say too much, but I have heard of it and I don't know any reason why black chromium wouldn't be a fine finish for a handgun.
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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I just wanted to thank you guys for having this thread here! I have been trying to get my wheels black-chromed for months! What a great resource...Thanks again!
- Newport, Rhode Island
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Q. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WEBSITE I CAN CONSULT, TO COMPARE BLACK CHROME AND BLACK NICKEL, I WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT COLOURS AND SHADES THEREOF, AS WELL AS PRO'S AND CONS OF EACH.
JOHANNES JACOBUS LE GRANGE- KLERKSDORP, SOUTH AFRICA
A. Hi, Johannes. Sorry, I don't know of comparison pictures on line. Black nickel can be used for interior decorative parts, and it can be used for exterior wear parts, but I don't think you'd find it satisfactory as a decorative finish for exterior parts.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
August 13, 2009
A. JOHANNES of KLERKSDORP, SOUTH AFRICA asked about comparison pictures. This is a website I stumbled upon that may help. It shows different types of chrome plating done by one plating company.
www.reliableplating.com/blackchrome.html
Click on the dropdown list to see some other type of plating.
I hope it helps.
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
August 14, 2009
Hi, Rob. Thanks. These appear to me to be computer generated graphics rather than actual pictures :-) ... but anything is much better than nothing. Thanks again.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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To all inquiring about black chrome, It is absolutely beautiful! I have a "06 R1 and I just bought a set of custom black chrome rims for it this summer.First ones from this dealer special made. Ten times prettier than chrome! Almost as someone said like the tables or windows you see (like a mirror but black too, a must see)
TODD ANDREWS- WAREHAM, Massachusetts
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Q. Can a part that is already chromed be re-chromed with black chrome
I have some parts for my Harley I would like to have done if so.
- Brick, New Jersey
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A. Yes, Glenn. The shop will strip the existing chrome, probably buff the nickel plating, then do black chrome plating on the parts.
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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Q. Does the original perfect condition chrome have to be removed prior to applying Black Chrome? Are there different shades of Black Chrome? (lightly tinted to solid black).
Bruce Barrettstreetrod interiors - Arrington, Tennessee
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A. Yes, the chrome must be removed; but ninety nine percent of the plating is the underlying nickel, and it will probably be possible to save that. Both "smoked glass" and jet black are available, Bruce. Feel free to listen to our Podcast Interview with Willie World. We also have an Introduction to Chrome FAQ that you might find interesting.
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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I have a bicycle that's black chrome straight from the Schwinn factory in 1988.
- La Canada, California
April 8, 2008
The Japanese motorcycle manufacturers used black chrome during the 80's. I just put on a set of Russel steel braided lines that are that way.
David Harrod- Leavenworth, Kansas
November 4, 2008
Chrome has a history . The original chrome was brighter and more a blue tint. The original chrome process had a number of limitations. Notice most recessed areas of older vehicles were painted or hidden. The term chrome rob means the chrome did not go there, so you would see a chrome color to nickel color definition line. A new chrome -more environmentally friendly is also chrome but less in brightness, longevity, and scratch resistance. The new chrome being thinner tends to not show the nickel definition line as well. The new chrome has more a gold or brown tint. Black chrome is an extension of the new chrome. Therein relatively speaking the black chrome will scratch like the new chrome and the scratch will be more apparent because it is a darker color on nickel. The typical attraction to black chrome is the change in degree of black brought on by the surrounding change in light. Platers have their own individual black so be careful with a generalized request or expectation for black chrome.
Trevor McBride- Conneaut, Ohio
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April 2009
Thanks, Trevor. Lots of good info in your posting. But you are not correct that black chrome started with the new environmentally-friendly trivalent chromes. Black chrome was around long before trichrome (I was with Atotech when we were marketing black chrome, and later when we became the first supplier of trivalent chrome plating). I'm confident that most if not all black chrome is still hexavalent chrome. Regards,
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January 23, 2009
We put in a black chrome plating bath in early 2008 and the process has been well accepted by several of our customers. We also did the wheels on the first 1/50 Hurst Vipers that recently sold at Barrett Jackson for $275,000.
Cost is about 30% more than regular chrome.
Don Unrein- Santa Ana, California
April 5, 2009
Q. I am in the process of restoring a 1950's Schwinn Bicycle. It was mentioned to me that I should consider black chrome for some parts of this bike. Specifically I was thinking about black chroming the sprocket and crank. This would go nicely with the black anodized rims I am working with. I am wondering if you think it is worth the expense given the short longevity of this particular plating method I have been reading about? If you do think this plating method would work well with this particular application could you refer me a plater that could do justice to my current project? I also work with custom Harley Davidson choppers, so I have the potential to bring the right facility a good amount of work.
Thank you for your consideration.
John
hobbyist refurbisher - Monrovia, California
April 13, 2009
A. Hi, John. Black chrome is quite durable, but I can't say what is worth it to you. Some shops who do black chrome, and who make this site possible for you, are shown in the banner ad at the top of the page. Good luck.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
June 11, 2009
Q. If black chrome is an electroplating process, is there any reason it would need to air dry to fully cure? I'm getting some parts black chromed and this is what the plater told me, but it doesn't sound quite right.
Chris Hughson- Rochester, New York
June 11, 2009
A. Hi, Chris. It sounds to me like you are a getting chrome color paint, not real chrome plating. Please see our Introduction to Chrome Plating for a fuller explanation. Good luck.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
August 24, 2009
Here's a picture of a black-chromed wheel, next to a standard polished wheel.
www.hummerproducts.com/Black-Chrome-Wheels-Both-We.jpg
If you go to Google Pics, and try "black chrome", you'll get a tremendous selection!
Hope the link works.
- Utica, Pennsylvania
February 8, 2010
Hello, Can this finish be applied to an aluminum part that also has some rubber seals attached to it(i.e. window trim pieces) These are the window surround trim off a BMW.
Thanks
- Amsterdam, New York
April 9, 2010
Q. I noticed a question here about black chrome finish on firearms. Back in the 1960's, black chrome was a pretty popular custom finish on firearms, particularly handguns. It has excellent resistance to wear and corrosion, and looks a lot like a blued finish. With the popular use of stainless steel in firearms today, you just don't see much plating being done.
Walter Jarboe- Tifton, Georgia, USA
June 24, 2010
A. My understanding of the use of coatings on firearms is that it is not a plating at all, as that would chip and scratch too easily. Firearms are coated with titanium nitride (for a gold color) and titanium aluminum nitride or titanium carbon nitride (for a gray color). These are the same coatings used to harden machine tools and actually integrate into the substrate rather than surface coat it.
Hope this is accurate - can anyone else confirm this?
Andy G.
- Santa Rosa, California
June 25, 2010
A. Hi, Andy. PVD coatings like those that you mentioned can be used on guns, and sometimes are, but the rest of your statement isn't quite accurate.
Well done electroplating can adhere perfectly. The inside of gun barrels, including huge caliber naval "guns" is often chrome plated. There is no essential difference in the way PVD coatings coat a surface versus the way electroplated coatings do. Both "grow" on the surface so that there is actual metallurgical connection to the substrate (as opposed to paint, which adheres only through mechanical keying).
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
October 29, 2010
Q. Hi,
Regarding the black chrome plating, what would happen if I only do a 1 minute nickel strike (instead of a proper bright nickel plating) before I have my workpiece go into black chrome?
We've tested 1000 pieces samples and have 20% of them defected with peel-off problem.
Is that the main cause of such high volume of NC?
Thanks
- Malaysia
October 31, 2010
A. Hi, John.
No, I don't think that is the problem. Heavier nickel plating produces more brightness and reflectivity, but the thickness of the nickel plating should not affect the adhesion. You haven't yet described the substrate, the pretreatment, the other layers of plating, etc., and I think the problem is elsewhere. When the plating peels, what do you see on the inside of the blister and on the substrate underneath the blister?
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
November 1, 2010
Q. Hi Ted
I was amazed by your quick response, and yes, I should give more details.
Here's my process :
1. Ultrasonic soak clean
- UDYPRxx 110 = 55~65 g/l
- Temp = 60 ~ 70'c
- Duration = 5 min
2. Normal soak clean
- UDYPRxx 110 = 55~65 g/l
- Temp = 60 ~ 70'c
- Duration = 5 min
3. Cathodic clean
- A-CLxxN = 10~15
- Sulfuric ACID = 10~12%
- Temp = Room temp
Duration = 30 sec
4. Acid dip
- HCl Acid = 10~12%
- Temp = Room Temp
- Duration = 30 sec
5. Nickel Strike
- Ni Chloride = 200~220 g/l
- HCl Acid = 60~90 g/l
- Voltage = 3~5v
- Temp = Room Temp
- Duration = 45 sec
6. Activation
- Chromic Acid = 3gm/l
- Duration = 20 sec
7. Black Chrome
- Chromic Acid = 400~430 gm/l
- B400 = 25~35 gm/l
- Voltage = 5~8v
- Temp = 18~24'c
- Duration = 7 min
8. Hot water rinsing
- Temp = 70~80'c
- Duration = 5 sec
* there are 2~3 water rinsings after each process
I hope this should help
- Malaysia
November 2, 2010
A. Hi, John. This sounds like a robust treatment cycle. I am not an expert in your treatment cycle, but I don't understand why the nickel plated parts are "activated" in chromic acid. It would seem to me that a dip in an oxidizing acid would tend to passivate the nickel rather than activate it. Also, your "cathodic clean" step is a bit unusual (depending on the substrate) -- most treatment cycles would have an alkaline electroclean step instead. What is the substrate you are plating onto? Thanks.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
November 9, 2010
A. 1. The activating step in 6 using chromic acid would seem to passivate the nickel. I thought so too at one time. But (for conventional bright chrome plating) I've dipped my parts in the first drag out of the chromium tank (10 secs), followed by regular chromium plating, seems to somewhat improve the chrome coverage.
2. Yes. The acidic cathodic clean seems a bit unusual to me as well.
3. The woods nickel strike in 5 , suggests a high probability of a substrate of stainless steel.
4. I've plated black chrome directly on stainless steel using below process sequence with water rinses in between :
a. Soak Clean
b. Anodic Clean (VERY IMPORTANT)
c. Acid Dip (HCl)
d. Black Chrome
- Penang, Malaysia
January 31, 2011
I've got a black chrome raleigh burner. Here's a pic --
- Lowestoft, U.K.
April 27, 2012
Q. I am looking at purchasing some parts for my truck that I would eventually like to get black chromed. The 2 finishes the products are now available in are either polished stainless steel and powdercoated carbon steel.
Which would be more conducive in terms of longevity (against chipping/flacking/peeling/rusting/etc) and which would be easier/cheaper to get black chromed?
Any other advantages or disadvantages with stainless vs carbon steel?
Much appreciated!
- Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
November 14, 2012
A. Hi Christopher.
Getting the powder coating 100% off might be an issue, so if you are intending to one day apply black chrome, I'd go with the stainless steel. Stainless should also prove very corrosion resistant. Good luck.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
November 13, 2012
Q. We are a small arms manufacturer and are looking for coatings for a conceal carry gun. I have been told to try black Chrome but cannot find any info on it.
Jim Bruchas- Pevely, Missouri
A. Hi Jim. We appended your inquiry to a thread about black chrome plating which should answer most of your early questions. Feel free to follow up with further questions.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
April 7, 2013
Q. I was just wondering why black chrome isn't seen more on auto parts, besides wheels. Would it work okay on vehicle bumpers?
Cameron Latham- Abilene, Texas, USA
A. Hi Cameron. I have seen black chrome plated decorative trim on automobiles, although I don't recall seeing a black chrome bumper. There was a time, back when I first started driving, that bumpers were bumpers, and a scratch in a black chrome bumper, which revealed shinier nickel plating under it, would have been a problem. Today, it seems that cars are never expected to touch each other, so black chrome bumpers are probably more acceptable.
But color matching may be another issue, as black chrome ranges from a very subtle smokiness to quite dark.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
