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Hard Plating Small Bores

What is the recommended procedure for hard plating Chrome or otherwise in a .060 hole that is 0.750 deep. The plater has access to both sides of the hole.

Bob Basile

2006

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First of three simultaneous responses --

You are asking a lot. It will require a precision rack with an 0.030 anode wire. That only leaves 0.015 clearance. The most that you could do would be a flash and it would not be uniform. Grinding a thin layer is basically out of the question. Unless it is a huge part, what is wrong with EN or low P EN or boron EN.

James Watts
Navarre, Florida
2006

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Second of three simultaneous responses --

I have my doubts hard chrome can be successful but electroless nickel might have a chance depending on several factors such as substrate, thickness, tolerance, surface finish required and purpose of the plate.

Guillermo Marrufo

2006

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Third of three simultaneous responses --

Why do you want to plate this hole? If for corrosion or wear resistance, electroless nickel may do the job, and would be relatively easy.

It is possible to hard chrome such a hole, but it will need an expert to set up an appropriate auxiliary anode. There are no more than a few shops which are capable of doing this job.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2006