icnsltmfg
Well-known member
I am trying to find a place that can put a chrome finish on aluminum items. I have been told you cannot chrome Aluminum.
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Aluminum Chroming
- Thread starter icnsltmfg
- Start date
Junkman
Well-known member
Aluminum can be chrome plated, but it is subject to failure earlier than if it were a steel or brass piece that was chrome plated. They have to put on a coating that will adhere to the aluminum first and will also accept the copper plating that is the base for the nickel plating. The nickel plating is the base for the chrome that is the final coating. Each of the previous steps has to be polished to a high degree first, and then the last step, the chrome is applied that gives the final shine. If the base processes are not highly polished, or well adhered, then the top coat of chrome will fail prematurely. How well each step is done, will determine the cost of the job. If you are looking for a cheap job on the part, the quality will reflect this. I have seen some bumpers on "show cars" that start to rust in just a few years, no matter how well they were waxed or taken care of, and I have seen some original bumpers from cars of the 1950's in junk yards, that you would be proud to put on your car, if it were not for the accident damage to them. Just remember you get what you pay for. I use Qual Krom in Eire PA and New England Chrome in East Hartford CT for my cars. Qual Krom will guarantee the work for as long as you own the car, and that guarantee cost is built into the price. For small items, I use New England Chrome, since they charge less, and I don't care if I have to gamble that it might have to be re done in 10 years. I figure that I won't be owning the car that long, so I pocket the savings. As for the work, I believe that they are comparable...
rockwithjason
Well-known member
Years ago when I worked for the Land Rover dealership we used to send aluminum wheels to a place in Compton Ca to be chromed. Darn if I can remember the name of the place tho.
Junkman
Well-known member
This is the only place that I know of on the West Coast. I am certain that there might be more, but I just haven't heard of them ......
http://www.capitalwheels.com/store/customer/home.php
http://www.capitalwheels.com/store/customer/home.php