Home Done Chrome Plating

[natemoen]

Anyone ever done it? or at least know what you need?

Nathan

[jjwaller]

Caswellls

I think about the most you'll find for home is this:

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/nickel.htm

I haven't tried it, but sure would like to.

[justme1100]

This sounds like a reasonable way to shine things up. Chrome plating is an electo-plating process so it is very unlikely you can do that at home

[clcorbin]

Chrome plating is an electo-plating process so it is very unlikely you can do that at home

When you get right down to it, it is not that much different than using electrolysis to derust our gas tanks. The problem is the chemicals are very bad for you and fairly heavily controlled. Of course, you might be able to get them in small quantities and do it.

[crazy steve]

Every gearheads dream...

Chrome plating uses some very noxious chemicals, and is regulated pretty much everywhere. If you want to do a quality plate (triple plate) on ferrous metals, you'll need at least eight solution tanks; stripping, stripping rinse, copper plate, copper rinse, nickel plate, nickel rinse, chrome plate, and final rinse. If I remember right, at least several of these need to heated. Plus you need fairly large DC power supplies for the plating tanks. As a bare minimum, you have to do at least nickel/chrome on steel. Add aluminum to the mix, and you have to add three more tanks; stripping, stripping rinse, and zinc, as these use different chemicals. If you're looking to re-plate already-chromed items, I think you need yet more tanks for the stripping process. Disposing of the used solutions is difficult as they're all considered hazardous materials. This also gives off rather nasty fumes, so figure a good respirator.

And don't forget you'll need buffing equipment too. If you limit yourself to parts no larger than what will fit in a shoebox, you could probably get all this into a single car garage.

All this may or may not be dead accurate, as it's been years since I was inside a plating shop. But if you're looking to save money and do this on the cheap, forget it. Yes, there are DIY chroming kits out there (http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/index.html) , but with prices starting at $600 (not including the DC power supplies), I wouldn't call this lo-buck. Be sure to note the size bucket that comes with the various kits; if your part can't fit in the bucket, you're not plating it. And they gloss over the 'hazardous' issue (note they don't sell in California). Even anodizing aluminum (a much simpler, cleaner process) will cost upwards of $3-400 for a bare-bones setup to do small items, much more if you do larger parts. For more info on plating, read this: http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html

...but it's fun to dream...

'78E original owner

[Geezer]

Chrome plating is bitch and requires some serious processes that can't be done at home. Electroplating at home with softer metals like nickel isn't that hard and you can find all the info to do it in almost any library. I once considered setting up a tank for nickel plating bike frames but never went through with the project.

Geezer

[jmnjrpa]

+1

Steve is right on target. I do copper, nickel, gold, silver, and black chrome. BUT NOT CHROME. I have $3,000 tied up in it and still have very limited capacity. A lot of those plating companys like Caswell are close if not actual ripoffs. If you want to plate coins the kits they sell work OK but not great. Anything larger and you have to shell out the big bucks. EPA will lower the boom on you for trying to side step regs. Disposal of waste cost an arm and a leg. Chromic acid is VERY toxic!

[b.walker5]

Cyanide and Sulphuric Acid, yummm Not something i'd want at my home. Chroming is expensive because theres a serious amount of work involved and uses a lot of very expensive chemicals. Not something your average DIY'er should seriously contemplate IMHO.

[natemoen]

I was just curious. I had looked at the caswell one but thought it was too expensive. It never hurts to ask though!

Nathan

[tw1980]

I'd look at chrome powder coat.

[crazy steve]

...EPA will lower the boom on you for trying to side step regs. Disposal of waste cost an arm and a leg. Chromic acid is VERY toxic!

John's dead right on that one; there was a local guy here years ago that got a 'deal' on a bunch of plating equipment when the then-new stricter EPA regs kicked in and a bunch of local shops threw in the towel and closed. He set up shop in his barn, and managed to stay under the radar for about a year by doing plating only for his 'friends'. Well, word got out and I can't even remember how many government agencies swooped down him, but it was a bunch. He ended up doing some jail time, he had to have the barn torn down and disposed of (just like a meth house), and his wife barely mangaged to keep their house but only by divorcing him. His defense was he was 'only a hobbyist', but that didn't fly in court. This did not work out well for him...

As to 'chrome' powdercoat, I've used it and would only rate it as 'OK'. As an alternative to plating, I would only use it on steel and no large parts. The finish is best described as resembling polished aluminum with a slightly milky clearcoat over it. It's not as durable as most powdercoat as it shows scratches easily, and shares one thing with plating as it shows flaws in the base surface. You really need to prep your parts smooth if using this.

YMMV

'78E original owner