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Need brass tub drain plated in stainless steel color

I'm a plumbing contractor with a brass tub drain assembly that I need finished in brushed stainless steel. Is this even possible?

Robin Arthur
Plumbing contractor - Novato, California, USA
2007

Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).

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Hi, Robin

It is not possible to electroplate stainless steel because it is an alloy that cannot be created by electroplating. It is, however, possible to do 'brushed nickel' electroplating -- this will probably be the finish you are looking for.

While there should be no technical difficulty in offering you this, two issues are that people define brushed finishes differently in their mind's eye, so there should be a sample that you offer the plating shop or they offer you. Secondly, new plumbing fixtures are mass produced in high volume at low labor cost. If it takes a plater two hours to handle this rework job, it will probably cost what you would have to charge for two hours of your time, i.e., more than a replacement.

Regards,

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