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Poor quality zinc plating with clear chromate

Hi: We (Philips) are in the business of designing and manufacturing audio/video equipment for the broadcast industry. Most of our equipment is 19 inch rack mount, made from 18 to 16 gage cold rolled steel, typically with painted front panels and zinc with clear chromate chassis and zinc with black chromate rear panels with white silkscreening. This rear panel combination gives us high contrast, good surface to screen on, easy to read the silkscreen in dim light situations. My question is, we always have a problem with a consistently good clean look in our metal finishes (finger prints that will not come off, discoloration, all colors of the rainbow) is it too much to ask for this to be better than what I see coming from our vendors or is the process that uncontrolled? Thanks for your help Mechanical Engineer Philips Digital Video Systems Salt Lake City, Utah

Don Hudson
digital video systems - Salt Lake City, Utah
1999

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1999

Hi Don ,

You say all your chassis parts that are plated except the back panel are clear chromate finished , I would suggest that you change & specify Yellow chromate ( which will give you an iridescent finish ) it is much more resistant to corrosion , hides fingerprints much better and all round is a far superior finish to clear / blue chromate . regards

John Tenison - Woods
- Victoria Australia