Amazing chrome plating.

[Retired]

Hi,

Whilst browsing YouTube I came across the following videos and there are plenty more for those interested; the first video shows a simple car component being chromed but the second video shows just how over the top they are in The States; hope they are of interest? Something a bit different.

Kind regards, Col.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvtRYZ5EasA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itHzjYN_L3M

[Radio Fixer]

I haven't got time to watch the vids yet Colin, will do later.

Getting good plating done is difficult in being hard to find places that work to high and consistent standards. Used to use one local place and first few times OK even for me. The last time it was a poor effort being EMI valve shields done in nickel.

Fortunately, a good friend now sadly gone, used to restore cars and the only place he trusted was here: http://www.londonchroming.co.uk/

Many of his orders were huge running into thousands of £'s so when he was having some shields done for himself he put mine in with them. Came back flawless.

Gary

[Aerodyne]

Fascinating, Col. I watched the video - not the American Car one - and then followed up the link to the supplier's site. Turns out that this is a kind of spray rather than true plating, obvious I guess from watching the process. Nothing wrong with that but the prices... I doubt I'll be buying any of their kits this year.
Tony

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply and for the chroming link Gary.

The type of chroming you refer to Gary is the best quality traditional chroming electrically applied which is extremely tough and withstands our climate for years; when I was much younger it seemed there was a chroming place on every street corner but now these firms are very rare no doubt due to health and safety regulations because the chemicals used during chroming are a real health hazard and disposing of waste will now be a huge problem.

Once you watch the videos Gary you will see the process more of a spray application very similar to spray painting but the results look fantastic and are extremely rapid to produce; no way can this modern process be compared to the original chroming other than in looking just like the real thing.

I've not gone into this in detail just coming across the videos by chance but thought the information worth sharing because many of us like to try out new ideas. I don't know if the materials are available here in the UK or if they are how much they would cost but if cheap enough then what a way to treat a radio chassis or even smoothing cans? I believe this method is used for mirror silvering?

Kind regards, Col.

[Yorkie]

Interesting videos Colin, with stunning results.

(Can't help thinking that the guy in the first vid was deprived of water pistols as a child!).

I've seen nothing like it in the UK - I bet it's costly.

You can get chrome plating kits that use a wire brush, but quite expensive. I don't know anyone who's tried it, and I'd be sceptical about the results.

The all important aspect of chrome plating is preparation, especially if something is being re-chromed. Unless the surface to be plated is totally unblemished, every little blemish will show through. Ideally, the old plating needs to be removed in the plating bath electrically, but most plating firms just aren't interested in time consuming fiddly jobs. Rather a pity that (notwithstanding the above videos), they haven't perfected an aerosol spray that comes close to Chrome. You can get a decent silver finish, over-sprayed with lacquer, which is passable for most of us I guess. They've got powder coating off to a fine art too - superb durable finish for not much more than aerosols would cost on alloy wheels etc.

[Radio Fixer]

"but if cheap enough then what a way to treat a radio chassis or even smoothing cans? "

Oh! No Colin, or unless chromed originally. I know of only two: RAP in the UK and the mighty Scotts from the USA.

Actually it wouldnt be good for radio anything as like paint there is the problem of earth bonding.

I don't aim for the custom car look on old radio chassis or cans. Often I spray with Zinser shellac followed by matt lacquer for polished up electrolytics and nickel on chassis or valve cans isn't that bright to start with and naturally dulls.

Just watched the videos, great process and a kit as well. I expect if I tried it I would grab the wrong spray bottle

But I think you should get one. How about a chromed Bandsaw ?

Fortunately you don't get much sun up there so being blinded by reflections wouldn't be a problem

And you are on your way as you have the compressed air. That would stuff me for starters making up all those nipple things and copper pipe as Big Al did.

Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks David; yes I agree but they all seem to like sloshing the water around in great quantity. The results achieved with the plain chrome are amazing but once tinting is added it takes finishing up to a whole new level.

You are so right David about preparation when it comes to traditional chrome plating which we are all familiar with; I think it fair to say the preparation is actually the costliest part of chrome plating because of the labour involved; an hour for us as an hobby is a lot different to the chrome plating firm trying to turn a decent profit?

With this chrome spraying method though the surface can be sanded then sprayed with primer surfacer to fill any imperfections not needing to go right back to bare shiny metal and any surface which will accept paint can be treated with this spraying chrome. I've seen plastic which looks like chrome and wondered how this was achieved so now I know.

I like trying new ideas and methods out so will research this spraying chrome a bit more especially trying to locate a UK supplier of the two liquids; the distilled water should be easy enough to obtain but even this would prove expensive the way the guys in the videos slosh it around?

Thanks Gary; I only suggested a radio chassis and smoothing cans as examples; I have seen the odd chrome chassis during my restoration period; I've completely stripped and resprayed radio chassis using auto lacquer so this spraying chrome would be no different because it's simply a protective coating where mechanical bonding would be required for circuit continuity; I used the tinned star washer type connectors when I sprayed a chassis these being screwed to the chassis ensuring a good contact.

Watching the videos Gary I doubt even grabbing the wrong bottle would effect the outcome; it's interesting to see that however much was applied to the surface no runs or curtains appeared in the new chrome finish? Yes a chromed bandsaw or even lathe would be attention grabbing in fact I'd like to try this chroming process on the lathe hand wheels and knobs etc? I could even apply this spraying chrome whatever the weather was doing outside because it won't "bloom". I might get dazzled by the workshop lights but dazzling from the sun would be rare.

As you rightly say Gary I have plenty of compressed air so am well on my way with this process; Big Al could indeed apply this chrome anywhere in his garage given his newly installed air supply circuit.

When I saw this spraying chrome for the first time it really did grab my attention; hopefully it will arrive here in the UK shortly and if there is sufficient competition the materials price should come down allowing it to be used in a home workshop; I'd like to try it. I wonder if it has any health hazard associated with its application not only in breathing in any mist but also in contact with skin?

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

I did notice the guy cough on the video. Probably wasn't using a mask: I see people laying drives and the cutting disk is going with a great cloud of dust around here. No mask, no goggles and of course no leg protection. But their lungs, eyes and body parts so up to them.

Yes! I have used the same technique as you for painted chassis but if the spray plating ever extended to dull nickel I would still go for the real thing. One of the difficult things about rebuilding a painted chassis is scratches and worse dropped solder. Plating is much more durable, harder to wound and no earth bonding issues so actually faster. Also if the chassis is rusty the platers kill all the rust for you.

Gary

[pwdrive]

Yes, why skimp if doing a proper restoration.

Lawrence

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Gary and good points. Yes for a top job proper chrome plating is the way to go but this spraying chrome is a cheap alternative and certainly isn't anything like proper chrome for strength or durability because like paint it will most likely scrape off easily but it sure does look like the proper chrome and will be a much cheaper and quicker method to apply.

I too see lots of local builders working on houses totally oblivious to any health and safety considerations whatsoever; standing in clouds of stone dust as you say without a bit of safety kit in site; in industry this would never be tolerated but who checks on these small building firms until someone gets killed or seriously injured? The H&S gang are quick to bring such cases to court after the event but why not prevent it happening in the first instance?

Kind regards, Col.