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Need black chromate on Stainless bicycle spokes

July 17, 2008

Hi,
I am looking for a company that can do a black chromate finish on to stainless steel (ss) bicycle spokes. Our European spoke supplier recently changed from a chromate finish to an oxide finish and the oxide finish is not nearly as good. I've been searching the internet and making phone calls, but so far I have not found anyone who does a black chromate to ss. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Sarah Maxwell
- Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

July 17, 2008

Hi, Sarah. I think there may be a semantics issue interfering with your search. Chromate is a conversion coating process that applies to zinc plating and to aluminum. Steel and stainless steel will not take a chromate -- you would need to zinc plate the spokes first, and it would surprise me if that's what you are looking for. I believe you are looking for black chrome plating of stainless steel, not black chromating.

Regards,

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

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