Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Match for polished stainless steel

2007

Hi, my company is making a product that mostly consists of a polished stainless steel pressing. There are other parts attached to this that we were hoping to manufacture out of the same material. However one of these parts is proving problematic in Stainless Steel. The option is to make it out of mild steel and chrome plate it. We are concerned about a clash between polished SS, with it's warmer, almost browny hue, and the blueness of the chrome.
Is there a plated finish which has a hue more akin to polished stainless steel? We asked a local, high quality finishers here in the UK and they mentioned Rhodium instead of Chromium. If Rhodium is suitable, I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of its relative cost compared to bright chrome?
Thanks

Thomas O'Brien
audio equipment manufacturer - Steyning, West Sussex, UK

Look at some samples of electroless nickel, regular bright nickel, satin nickel or pearl nickel. Then have a few parts plated in your first choice and see how it works in use.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2007

Other options besides what James said would be trivalent chrome or cobalt plating (if you can find it). Both produce a warm hue plate without being bluish or too dark.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2007