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Alternative to chrome plating for lighting fixtures  

May 14, 2009

Hello,

I work in the lighting industry and I am looking for an alternative to chrome plating aluminium extrusions and small aluminium machined parts. As I'm sure most of you know chrome plating aluminium is quite expensive.
We met with our anodising supplier and he proposed to produce a bright finish which was not as clear and mirror like as chrome but we thought it would be acceptable...when we received their first production, we were quite disappointed. The finish was very milky and even had a bit of a rainbow effect in it.
Our product is for indoor use and the only time it will be handled is when it is installed or when it is periodically cleaned.
Can anyone suggest a process like vacuum plating or other that will give us a good finish and offer a pretty good level of resistance to scratches at a reasonable price?
I saw a facet that had plastic parts that were chromed and had a nice finish and was quite resistant...can that be an alternative for my aluminium parts? is that less expensive?

Thank you,

André Pallai
buyer/designer - Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Hi, André. Real chrome plating of plastics is more complicated and expensive that chrome plating of aluminum; the savings, if any, come from the use of plastic rather than aluminum.

But I think you should be able to get satisfactory anodized aluminum parts. Vacuum metallizing is an alternative which is usually rather inexpensive (think of mylar party balloons), but you would need to get a quote for your particular parts, and it's not really a duable finish if there is a lot of handling involved.

Regards,

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

Hello Sir

Why you do not try nickel plating?

Sergio Samaniego
Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

Hi. I've seen some fixtures for lighting that are nickel plated and clear lacquered. The lacquer does add a little bit of extra shine on top of the nickel.

Cheah Sin Kooi
- Penang, Malaysia

You should try some of the new reflective coating inks (like INKTEC). They can be roll coated, spray, or dip coated. They are becoming more widely used on cars and appliances.

Jim Dougherty
- Brownstown, PA

Have you evaluated powder coating. This process offers a wide range of colours and metallic finishes, gold, silver, chrome,coloured metallic etc. When the UK had a light fitting industry we supplied many of the these and therefore this is why we suggest PC.

Terry Hickling Martex Paints Ltd    Birmingham, UK

Hi Andre,

Your first experience with the bright finish may not have been great, but a bright dip with a thin clear anodize may be exactly what you are looking for. The finish is VERY bright and durable; I would highly encourage you to try it again.

Jim Gorsich Accurate Anodizing Inc. Compton, CA, USA