No cost, no registration, no passwords -- just aloha, fun & authoritative answers
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989

-----

What stainless steel can be used in chrome plating jigs?

adv.

Hi my name is Charlie Collins, Production Manager for a large plating Company. My question to the experts is what grade of stainless steel fasteners is compatible with plating in a hard chromium plating bath.Standard plating bath,130 degrees 90:1 ratio.We recently rec'd a new job,with some intricate tooling to be manufactured. As the job was plating I noticed a problem with our tooling.I noticed all the fasteners,nuts,bolts,washers holding the anode were totally eroded away.I used a 316 grade stainless. Bad mistake?
Thanks for the support in advance.

Charles Collins
Production Manager - Watervliet, New York, USA
2007

2007

Yes, Bad mistake. The entire rack needs to be coated with a stopoff or tape or preferably with plastisol, except for the contact "point".
SS is a terrible conductor of electricity, so only use it for a contact point.
Copper will carry the most current per unit of volume and aluminum is preferable as it is not attacked as much as copper.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

adv.

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: