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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Chrome or nickel plate?

hello all,
I'm a furniture designer and have a stool frame of cold rolled flatbar. I'd like a finish similar to chrome but can't afford to spend that much else the price of the piece increases dramatically. Nickel is a more cost effective option but in the end is only $10-15 cheaper. A huge chunk of the price comes from polishing the material. Can this be done on a normal 8" bench grinder fitted with a buffing pad and some buffing compound? thanks for viewing.

Quynh
furniture design - Alberta, Canada
2005

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If they are staying inside, nickel will be fine, and is warmer looking and less expensive than chrome. Renoir would be able to paint 10,000 times better with a lipstick on a soiled brown paper bag than I could paint on canvas with the finest oils, so, yes, you could buff with a bench grinder if you are highly skilled.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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Perhaps exposed nickel is not a good idea since there are people who are allergic to nickel and you could be sued for causing them distress.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2005