I want to give a big vote of thanks to Mel Harris for taking the time out of his busy schedule to help out with this article, I also want to thank his brother Jerry and father Mel Sr. for their helpful contribution. Thanks Platingmaster! A very big note of thanks to my friend Ingelbert Lievaart for providing the great photography for this article, Ingelbert, I couldn't have done it without you, thanks again! Platingmaster Ltd. 1 Hamilton Rd. London Ontario N6B-1M9 Ph.(519) 433-3423 Fax (519)433-3595 1-888-812-1755 |
13.(J.B.): How much more expensive is gold plating compared to show chrome? . (Mel)-Generally, gold plating will cost 3 times as Much as a show chromed finish would. . 14.(J.B.): Can a metal surface be plated with a bright copper finish? . (Mel)-Yes, bright copper plating can be done, and the finish is very beautiful! . 15.(J.B.): Does copper plating need a special protective coating to keep it from turning green with oxidation? . (Mel)- A bright copper finish can be given a lacquer coating like gold plating. This will help keep the finish bright and tarnish free. . 16.(J.B.): How should a bright copper finish be maintained? (Mel)-Copper is a very soft metal and should be cleaned with gentle waxes to preserve its finish. Never use abrasive polishes. . 17.(J.B.): There is a story that plastic can be chromed, like the chrome-like parts on a plastic car model. Is this real chrome or some other process? . (Mel)-A few shops can actually chrome plate some plastics, and some other non-metallic surfaces. 18.(J.B.): What is the best way to care for new chrome, so that its beauty lasts as long as possible? (Mel)-Keep it clean with mild soap and water, and wax it periodically. 19.(J.B.): When should chrome polish be used, if ever? . (Mel)- Never use any compound to clean chrome that has an abrasive in it. Gentle washing and waxing will clean your plated surfaces without damaging the finish. This will keep your chrome looking as good as it did the day you picked it up from the plating shop. . 20.(J.B.): What is the best way to store a chrome plated part for a long time? (Mel)-Wax the chrome and leave it on. Cover it, and store it in a dry place. Don't let it get damp or wet. . 21.(J.B.): Gold plating is very soft, what is the best way to clean and polish it? . (Mel)- It's a good idea to wax your gold plating occasionally. I also use Kleenex tissue and Windex to gently wipe the surface clean. . .22.(J.B.): Is it possible to refurbish chrome that has been dulled by chrome polishes? . (Mel.)- No, if the surface has been damaged it will be Necessary to re-chrome the part. . 23.(J.B.): What part of the plating process is the most time consuming and costly? . (Mel)-The pre-chrome metal prep of sanding, buffing, and polishing takes the most work. More work still if the surface needs repair. . 24.(J.B.) :I understand that polishing and metal preparation are the main keys to having a great looking chrome finish. Is it true that the metal being plated must be prepared to a mirror like finish (prior to plating) to get the best results? . (Mel)-Yes, actually the more "mirror like" you can prepare the bare metal surface( prior to plating) the better the final look of the chrome will be in the end. 25.(J.B.): Is there any way that a person wanting chrome plating done can save money, by doing some of the metal prep at home? Is this advised? . (Mel)-If you're after a high quality "show chrome" finish it is best that you leave the metal preparation to your chrome plating shop. Talk to your plating shop about this if you have any questions. . 26.(J.B.): Have you seen people try to do the pre- chrome metal prep themselves, only to ruin the part? What should people avoid? . (Mel)-I've never seen anyone totally ruin a part, but I have seen parts that were made worse than if they were left untouched; they were never made unfixable though. Never sandblast a part you're going to take in for chroming either; this damages the metal surface, and makes the plating job harder for the shop. . 27.(J.B.): Is it more economical to have all your parts chrome plated at one time, rather than having them done piece by piece? . (Mel)-Your plating shop will probably give you a slightly better price for a larger number of pieces. . 28.(J.B.): Is it a good idea to make an itemized list of the parts your having chromed? . (Mel)-I would recommend it. Some people even have photographs to go along with the list. It really helps both you and the shop keep track of all the parts being chromed. . 29.(J.B.): Can plating cover imperfections in a metal surface? . (Mel)-Imperfections are best removed with sanding belts and buffing with compound. Sometimes a layer of copper plating is used to fill minor surface imperfections before the polish buffing. 30.(J.B.): How are major imperfections in metal surfaces repaired, so a proper plating job can be done? . (Mel)- Items can be sent out for repair welding, or areas can be filled with new metal. At "Platingmaster" We have had some badly damaged items brought back to perfection; with the help of skilled metal workers we know. Talk with the shop your working with to see what services are available. . 31.(J.B.): Is it possible to repair large areas of surface damage in preparation for chrome work, as with old rusty parts that have heavy surface damage. . (Mel)- Yes, once the first stage of metal preparation is completed ( the belt sanding and compound buffing) the shop will plate the metal with a good layer of copper; this copper layer is then buffed down till only a smooth surface remains. This "copper buffing" process effectively eliminates any surface imperfections. The repaired part can then continue through the rest of the plating process, and the result will a fine"show chromed" finish. . 32.(J.B.): If a part has been previously chrome plated does this make it easier or harder to replate it. Does the old chrome need to be removed first? . (Mel)- It is harder to re-plate old chrome, especially if it's corroded. Any part that will be re-chromed will first need to go into the chrome strip tank, which removes all the old chrome. Once done the part will go through the complete metal prep and chrome plating procedure till it is once again perfect. . 33.(J.B.): On a large component like a homemade springer fork, is it advisable to have the individual parts polished first before it is welded together, to help insure a better final chrome finish? (Mel)- Yes, this is a very good idea. To get optimum results this is definitely the way to go! It's much better to have the parts of a homemade springer polished before you weld it together. This is because an assembled and welded springer has many areas that would be difficult to polish during the pre- chrome metal prep. Ask for advice from your chrome shop on how you can get the best overall finish for your parts. . 34.(J.B.): Would a welded and assembled bicycle frame be difficult to chrome, because of hard to get at areas needing metal preparation and polishing? . (Mel)- They're not too bad. I've done bicycle frames and have never found them to be overly difficult to do. Most of the areas on a bicycle frame are fairly accessible for the polishing procedures, plus bicycle frames don't weigh very much for the hand held part of belting and buffing. I'm preparing a hardtail motorcycle frame for chroming right now. It's going to be a lot of work to do, mostly because it weighs so much! . 35.(J.B.): Would it be possible to selectively chrome different parts of a bicycle frame, leaving other areas paintable? . (Mel)- It could be done, but once again it would be expensive to do. Talk with your plating shop to see what they recommend. .. 36.(J.B.): Can a bicycle chain be chrome plated? . (Mel)- Yes, a bicycle chain can be chrome plated, it could also be gold plated too. . 37. (J.B.)- What would it cost to have a pair of 12 inch rise handlebars re-chromed? . (Mel)- It would cost between $75 and $100, depending on the condition. . 38. (J.B.): Are there any household chemicals that could harm a chrome finish? . (Mel)- Etching primer will damage chrome. I once saw the chrome accessories on a car engine damaged by the overspray of etching primer when the car was painted. Your good chrome can also be damaged with "SOS" and other scouring pads! Many household cleaners have abrasives in them too, never use them to clean your chrome. 39. (J.B.): Is it possible to chrome plate at home? (Mel)- I think it's highly unlikely you'll ever see anyone chrome plate at home. Environmental regulations are very strict. . 40.(J.B.): Even if it were possible do you recommend it . (Mel)- No, I would not recommend it. For one thing it would be very costly to set up a plating shop, and some of the chemicals and solvents used in the process are very toxic, not the kind of stuff you want around the house. . 41.(J.B.): Are some of the chemicals and processes of electroplating dangerous or poisonous? . (Mel)- Again, yes. Electroplating involves the use of materials and chemicals that need to be handled with great caution. . 42.(J.B.): Is Platingmaster a family business? . (Mel)- Yes, "Platingmaster" is family owned and operated. . 43.(J.B.): How long has Platingmaster been in business at this location? . (Mel)- Platingmaster has been at this location since the 1960's. The 100 year old building we are in was actually the first Coca-Cola works in London Ontario. 44.(J.B.): What services does Platingmaster offer to customers? . (Mel)- At Platingmaster we offer the following services: . --Chrome plating --Hard industrial chrome --24K Gold plating --Black oxide (for corrosion resistance) -- Aluminum chroming --Nickel plating --Custom polishing --Copper plating . 45.(J.B.): Does Platingmaster specialize in any particular type of plating? . (Mel)- Platingmaster specializes in "Show Chrome", hard industrial chrome, and "Black oxide" finishes. Motorcycle and automotive plating make up a large portion of the work we do. . 46.(J.B.): Do you have people send you parts to be plated by mail or courier? . (Mel)- Yes, we have done quite a lot of business this way over the years. . 47.(J.B.): Do you have people send you parts to be chromed from other countries like the United States? . (Mel)- Yes, not only do we have parts sent to us from all over Canada, we also have many customers from the United States sending us items to be chromed. We recently chromed a gas tank sent from a customer living in Hawaii. Some chrome shops do accept work sent by mail or courier. Contact the shop recommended to you so you can make arrangements for this kind of service, they will be able to answer any questions you may have. If you're shipping out of country ask about the best way to send your parts so you don't get nailed with excessive charges, especially with certain couriers. 48.(J.B.): How Long does it take to have something chromed? . (Mel)- Good question, at "Platingmaster" between the months of January and July it takes about 3¼ to 4¼ months, between the months of July and December it could take as little as 2½ weeks. Like many industries we have our high and low seasons. . ----------------------------------------------------------------------- After thanking Mel for the great question and answer session, we headed down to the shop to see the different stages of electroplating. There are no shortcuts to having a good plating job done, and the guys at "Platingmaster" obviously go that extra mile to make sure everything is done right! Mel and Jerry helped explain the procedure during the shop tour. I found out right away that a good chrome plating job takes a lot of work to do right! You definitely have to know what you're doing! The following is the inside scoop of what it takes to make those beautiful "show chromed" finishes we love to see on kustom vehicles! |
To deter corrosion, most metals used in the construction of bicycles and their parts require protection from the atmosphere and elements. This can take the form of a wide range of electroplated metals, or surface coatings of various types of paint. Fashions come and go, but the consistent favorite in Kustom Culture is and always has been chrome, especially for components and trim. Mr. Brain, who has dealt with this fabulous and decorative protective material for decades goes to a professional specialist plating source and finds the answers to questions you probably have, and some you've probably never even thought of. Take it away, Brain... |
The first time I had something "show chromed" for a kustom bicycle was 30 years ago! So this is kind of an anniversary year for me. It was right around this time in the winter of 1975 that I decided to take the plunge, and get every part on my new show bike chrome plated. I did some traveling in those days to kustom motorcycle shops, to get things like chopper handlebars, kustom mirrors, and bullet nuts. I would always ask the people who ran these shops where they would go if they wanted to get fine chrome work done. The answer I would always receive, even when I lived in Toronto, was "Platingmaster" in London Ontario. . I knew London because I had family living there. So 30 years ago at the age of 15 (while visiting family) I walked a couple of miles through the snow with a box full of bicycle parts, and headed for the Platingmaster shop. I remember being greeted with a smile at that first meeting, getting a quote, and leaving my parts to be done. I picked up the parts a couple of months later, just a few weeks before a motorcycle show I had entered my bike in. Well, my bike won at that show, and its win was most definitely helped out by the show chrome that "Platingmaster" did for me. The chrome work I had done at Platingmaster never gave me any trouble either! Unlike the work I had done at some "quickie" chrome shops in Toronto at that time, whose chrome peeled off when I tried to mount the parts! . When I decided to run a chrome article for BR&K there was no question about what chrome shop I would approach for information on the subject. "Platingmaster" of course! The only shop whose chrome never let me down! . My guide at Platingmaster was Mel Harris Jr. Mel himself is actually quite interested in bicycles too! He imported a Schwinn "Stingray" into the country before they were available for purchase here in Canada. And, with the help of mechanic Martin Hammond of "First Cycleworks" bike shop in London, prepared the bike to undergo a full chrome and gold plating treatment! The bike has since been used to showcase Platingmaster's work at local car and motorcycle shows. Mel's next project is to completely go over a Schwinn "Spoiler" with chrome, gold, and bright copper plating, including the aluminum frame! I can't wait to see it! |
Chrome Questions, answered by Mel Harris Jr. of "Platingmaster", London Ontario Canada. |
Below: John Brain, right, grilling Mel Harris Jr. |
Vapor Degreaser Tank |
Chrome Stripping Tank |
Muriatic Acid Tank |
Belt Sander |
Industrial Buffing Wheels |
Steel Soak Bath |
Rinse Bath |
Nickel Coating Bath |
Gerry At The Copper Strike Tank |
Gerry At The Acid Copper Tank |
Decorative Chrome Tank |
1.(J.B.): What is electroplating? (Mel)- It's a process that allows you to apply a coating of metal to a surface, usually to beautify it, or to protect it from corrosion or wear. Electroplating uses electricity to break down and also attract the plating metal in a tank of solution. The positive charge dissolves the plating metal (like chrome or gold) and the negative charge is used to attract that metal and deposit it as a coating onto another surface. 2.(J.B.): What is chrome? . (Mel)- Chrome or "chromium" is a very hard blue white metal that is used in electroplating to give parts a bright "show- chromed" finish. . 3.(J.B.): What materials can be chromed? ----Mild steel? . (Mel)- Mild steel can be chrome plated very easily. . ----Aluminum? . (Mel)- Aluminum can also be chrome plated; for instance, I chrome plated the aluminum rims on my Schwinn Stingray. Aluminum is chromed more often now than it was many years ago. Here at "Platingmaster" we have actually been chroming aluminum as a specialty since the 1970's. Aluminum is prepared for plating in almost the same way as mild steel is, there are just a couple of minor variations in the polishing and cleaning process. |
Below from left: Mel Jr, Gerry, Mel Sr. |
Stock Aluminum Stingray Rim |
After Show Chrome Plating |
----Stainless steel? . (Mel)- We can chrome plate stainless steel; in fact we are one of the few shops that will attempt it. We have a process that will allow us to do it with great results! For example I chrome plated the stainless trim on a classic car, and the look was incredible! . ---Brass? . (Mel)-Brass is an easy metal to plate; we do a lot of boat brass here at Platingmaster. . 4.(J.B.): Are there some metals that do not plate well? . (Mel.)-Cast Iron is probably the worst metal to chrome, it has a hard porous surface that is tough to prepare, think of cast iron exhaust manifolds. You can plate cast iron, but its surface is always going to be rough. |
5.(J.B.): What does the term "triple chromed" mean? . (Mel.)- It means that the chrome plating has undergone a sequence of preparation using nickel, copper, and chromium. This is necessary to help ensure that a quality job is done. (1)First the metal to be chromed is nickel plated,(2) then copper plated,(3) then the copper is buffed smooth to enhance the surface finish,(4) it is then nickel plated again.(5) After this sequence is done a final covering of show chrome is applied. "Triple chromed" means that nickel, copper, and chrome are all used in the process. . 6.(J.B.): Does chroming affect the thickness of threads, making it hard to screw on nuts? Can threads be masked off if necessary to keep them from being chromed? . (Mel.)- On some threads the tolerances are very tight. Your plating shop can discuss with you whether they should be masked off or not. It's not usually an issue. Many bolts can have their threads chromed without a problem. If you do have to mask threads it's really easy for your plating shop to do. . 7.(J.B.): Is it possible to combine different types of plating on one surface? (Mel.)-It is possible, but it's very difficult. If you wanted to have show chrome and gold plating on one surface your plating shop would have to do the following for you: --Show chrome the entire surface first. --Mask off the areas that will stay chrome. --On the area that will be gold plated you need to chrome strip the plating off. --Then you go through the gold plating process on the stripped area. --The finished piece will have gold and chrome on the same surface. It's a time consuming process, and isn't done too often. But it is an interesting question! |
Large heavy items can be chromed. |
Chrome and Gold Plated Headlight |
8. (J.B.): What is "hard chrome" used for (Mel)-Hard chrome is used to build up worn or damaged surface areas on machinery parts, shafts usually. The hard chrome is built up on the surface ten- thou over, and is then machined down to spec. Hard chrome is "very hard" about 65-70 on the Rockwell hardness scale. . 9.(J.B.): Does nickel-plating look different than chrome plating, is it as bright and reflective? . (Mel)-Nickel plating is more yellow. Chrome has a blue cast to it. Nickel is actually used in the chrome plating process to make the finish brighter. . 10.(J.B.): What is "black chrome" and is it really black? . (Mel)-"Black chrome" is a type of chrome plating that uses different chemicals to give the finish a dark blackish look. You don't often see it done by plating shops anymore, because it's almost impossible to get a consistent finish from one piece to another. . 11.(J.B.): Is gold plating made with real gold? . (Mel)-Yes, gold plating is done with real gold. 24K gold is the grade used to get those outstanding show quality finishes. . 12.(J.B.): Will gold plating hold up as well as chrome? . (Mel)-No, gold is much softer than chrome and won't last as long, but you can prolong its life if you give it a lacquer coating. The lacquer adheres very well to the gold and can help preserve it for years. |
Mel Sr, Always Busy. |
Chrome and Gold Plating |
13.(J.B.): How much more expensive is gold plating compared to show chrome? . (Mel)-Generally, gold plating will cost 3 times as Much as a show chromed finish would. . 14.(J.B.): Can a metal surface be plated with a bright copper finish? . (Mel)-Yes, bright copper plating can be done, and the finish is very beautiful! . 15.(J.B.): Does copper plating need a special protective coating to keep it from turning green with oxidation? . (Mel)- A bright copper finish can be given a lacquer coating like gold plating. This will help keep the finish bright and tarnish free. . 16.(J.B.): How should a bright copper finish be maintained? (Mel)-Copper is a very soft metal and should be cleaned with gentle waxes to preserve its finish. Never use abrasive polishes. . 17.(J.B.): There is a story that plastic can be chromed, like the chrome-like parts on a plastic car model. Is this real chrome or some other process? . (Mel)-A few shops can actually chrome plate some plastics, and some other non-metallic surfaces. 18.(J.B.): What is the best way to care for new chrome, so that its beauty lasts as long as possible? (Mel)-Keep it clean with mild soap and water, and wax it periodically. 19.(J.B.): When should chrome polish be used, if ever? . (Mel)- Never use any compound to clean chrome that has an abrasive in it. Gentle washing and waxing will clean your plated surfaces without damaging the finish. This will keep your chrome looking as good as it did the day you picked it up from the plating shop. . 20.(J.B.): What is the best way to store a chrome plated part for a long time? (Mel)-Wax the chrome and leave it on. Cover it, and store it in a dry place. Don't let it get damp or wet. . 21.(J.B.): Gold plating is very soft, what is the best way to clean and polish it? . (Mel)- It's a good idea to wax your gold plating occasionally. I also use Kleenex tissue and Windex to gently wipe the surface clean. . .22.(J.B.): Is it possible to refurbish chrome that has been dulled by chrome polishes? . (Mel.)- No, if the surface has been damaged it will be Necessary to re-chrome the part. . 23.(J.B.): What part of the plating process is the most time consuming and costly? . (Mel)-The pre-chrome metal prep of sanding, buffing, and polishing takes the most work. More work still if the surface needs repair. . 24.(J.B.) :I understand that polishing and metal preparation are the main keys to having a great looking chrome finish. Is it true that the metal being plated must be prepared to a mirror like finish (prior to plating) to get the best results? . (Mel)-Yes, actually the more "mirror like" you can prepare the bare metal surface( prior to plating) the better the final look of the chrome will be in the end. 25.(J.B.): Is there any way that a person wanting chrome plating done can save money, by doing some of the metal prep at home? Is this advised? . (Mel)-If you're after a high quality "show chrome" finish it is best that you leave the metal preparation to your chrome plating shop. Talk to your plating shop about this if you have any questions. . 26.(J.B.): Have you seen people try to do the pre- chrome metal prep themselves, only to ruin the part? What should people avoid? . (Mel)-I've never seen anyone totally ruin a part, but I have seen parts that were made worse than if they were left untouched; they were never made unfixable though. Never sandblast a part you're going to take in for chroming either; this damages the metal surface, and makes the plating job harder for the shop. . 27.(J.B.): Is it more economical to have all your parts chrome plated at one time, rather than having them done piece by piece? . (Mel)-Your plating shop will probably give you a slightly better price for a larger number of pieces. . 28.(J.B.): Is it a good idea to make an itemized list of the parts your having chromed? . (Mel)-I would recommend it. Some people even have photographs to go along with the list. It really helps both you and the shop keep track of all the parts being chromed. . 29.(J.B.): Can plating cover imperfections in a metal surface? . (Mel)-Imperfections are best removed with sanding belts and buffing with compound. Sometimes a layer of copper plating is used to fill minor surface imperfections before the polish buffing. 30.(J.B.): How are major imperfections in metal surfaces repaired, so a proper plating job can be done? . (Mel)- Items can be sent out for repair welding, or areas can be filled with new metal. At "Platingmaster" We have had some badly damaged items brought back to perfection; with the help of skilled metal workers we know. Talk with the shop your working with to see what services are available. . 31.(J.B.): Is it possible to repair large areas of surface damage in preparation for chrome work, as with old rusty parts that have heavy surface damage. . (Mel)- Yes, once the first stage of metal preparation is completed ( the belt sanding and compound buffing) the shop will plate the metal with a good layer of copper; this copper layer is then buffed down till only a smooth surface remains. This "copper buffing" process effectively eliminates any surface imperfections. The repaired part can then continue through the rest of the plating process, and the result will a fine"show chromed" finish. . 32.(J.B.): If a part has been previously chrome plated does this make it easier or harder to replate it. Does the old chrome need to be removed first? . (Mel)- It is harder to re-plate old chrome, especially if it's corroded. Any part that will be re-chromed will first need to go into the chrome strip tank, which removes all the old chrome. Once done the part will go through the complete metal prep and chrome plating procedure till it is once again perfect. . 33.(J.B.): On a large component like a homemade springer fork, is it advisable to have the individual parts polished first before it is welded together, to help insure a better final chrome finish? (Mel)- Yes, this is a very good idea. To get optimum results this is definitely the way to go! It's much better to have the parts of a homemade springer polished before you weld it together. This is because an assembled and welded springer has many areas that would be difficult to polish during the pre- chrome metal prep. Ask for advice from your chrome shop on how you can get the best overall finish for your parts. . 34.(J.B.): Would a welded and assembled bicycle frame be difficult to chrome, because of hard to get at areas needing metal preparation and polishing? . (Mel)- They're not too bad. I've done bicycle frames and have never found them to be overly difficult to do. Most of the areas on a bicycle frame are fairly accessible for the polishing procedures, plus bicycle frames don't weigh very much for the hand held part of belting and buffing. I'm preparing a hardtail motorcycle frame for chroming right now. It's going to be a lot of work to do, mostly because it weighs so much! . 35.(J.B.): Would it be possible to selectively chrome different parts of a bicycle frame, leaving other areas paintable? . (Mel)- It could be done, but once again it would be expensive to do. Talk with your plating shop to see what they recommend. .. 36.(J.B.): Can a bicycle chain be chrome plated? . (Mel)- Yes, a bicycle chain can be chrome plated, it could also be gold plated too. . 37. (J.B.)- What would it cost to have a pair of 12 inch rise handlebars re-chromed? . (Mel)- It would cost between $75 and $100, depending on the condition. . 38. (J.B.): Are there any household chemicals that could harm a chrome finish? . (Mel)- Etching primer will damage chrome. I once saw the chrome accessories on a car engine damaged by the overspray of etching primer when the car was painted. Your good chrome can also be damaged with "SOS" and other scouring pads! Many household cleaners have abrasives in them too, never use them to clean your chrome. 39. (J.B.): Is it possible to chrome plate at home? (Mel)- I think it's highly unlikely you'll ever see anyone chrome plate at home. Environmental regulations are very strict. . 40.(J.B.): Even if it were possible do you recommend it . (Mel)- No, I would not recommend it. For one thing it would be very costly to set up a plating shop, and some of the chemicals and solvents used in the process are very toxic, not the kind of stuff you want around the house. . 41.(J.B.): Are some of the chemicals and processes of electroplating dangerous or poisonous? . (Mel)- Again, yes. Electroplating involves the use of materials and chemicals that need to be handled with great caution. . 42.(J.B.): Is Platingmaster a family business? . (Mel)- Yes, "Platingmaster" is family owned and operated. . 43.(J.B.): How long has Platingmaster been in business at this location? . (Mel)- Platingmaster has been at this location since the 1960's. The 100 year old building we are in was actually the first Coca-Cola works in London Ontario. 44.(J.B.): What services does Platingmaster offer to customers? . (Mel)- At Platingmaster we offer the following services: . --Chrome plating --Hard industrial chrome --24K Gold plating --Black oxide (for corrosion resistance) -- Aluminum chroming --Nickel plating --Custom polishing --Copper plating . 45.(J.B.): Does Platingmaster specialize in any particular type of plating? . (Mel)- Platingmaster specializes in "Show Chrome", hard industrial chrome, and "Black oxide" finishes. Motorcycle and automotive plating make up a large portion of the work we do. . 46.(J.B.): Do you have people send you parts to be plated by mail or courier? . (Mel)- Yes, we have done quite a lot of business this way over the years. . 47.(J.B.): Do you have people send you parts to be chromed from other countries like the United States? . (Mel)- Yes, not only do we have parts sent to us from all over Canada, we also have many customers from the United States sending us items to be chromed. We recently chromed a gas tank sent from a customer living in Hawaii. Some chrome shops do accept work sent by mail or courier. Contact the shop recommended to you so you can make arrangements for this kind of service, they will be able to answer any questions you may have. If you're shipping out of country ask about the best way to send your parts so you don't get nailed with excessive charges, especially with certain couriers. 48.(J.B.): How Long does it take to have something chromed? . (Mel)- Good question, at "Platingmaster" between the months of January and July it takes about 3¼ to 4¼ months, between the months of July and December it could take as little as 2½ weeks. Like many industries we have our high and low seasons. . ----------------------------------------------------------------------- After thanking Mel for the great question and answer session, we headed down to the shop to see the different stages of electroplating. There are no shortcuts to having a good plating job done, and the guys at "Platingmaster" obviously go that extra mile to make sure everything is done right! Mel and Jerry helped explain the procedure during the shop tour. I found out right away that a good chrome plating job takes a lot of work to do right! You definitely have to know what you're doing! The following is the inside scoop of what it takes to make those beautiful "show chromed" finishes we love to see on kustom vehicles! |
Photography by Ingelbert Leivaart The Plating process: |
1: Vapor degreasing. Removes oil and film off the parts. |
2: Chrome Stripping. Parts previously chromed have the chrome removed in the chrome stripping tank. . 3: Rinse Tank. Parts are rinsed of leftover stripping chemicals. . 4: Nickel stripping. Old nickel plating is removed in the nickel stripping tank. Takes 15 to 30 minutes. . 5: Muriatic Acid Bath. This stage removes any rust on the metal to be plated. |
6: Polishing department. Most parts begin with belt sanding using 180-280 grit belts. Steel parts are then "Sizzle buffed" using polishing compound on industrial grade buffing wheels. |
7: Steel soak. This tank completely cleans the steel of any leftover residues. |
8: Rinse Tank. To remove leftover chemicals. |
9: Muriatic acid bath To remove any soap leftover from the previous rinse. . 10: Rinse bath to remove any residue from the previous tank. . 11: Nickel Bath. This tank plates the part with nickel, parts stay immersed from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the part. |
12: Rinse bath. 13: Copper strike tank. Parts are immersed for 15 seconds, this bath prepares the metal for the heavy copper plating stage. |
14: Rinse. 15: Acid copper tank. This tank is where the copper plating goes on the part. Parts stay in from 1 to 3 hours, depending on how pitted the surface of the part is. |
16: Rinse. . 17: Copper buff. The layer of copper plate is buffed down till the surface of the metal is perfectly smooth, Necessary to obtain a perfect final finish. . 18: Soap rinse. . 19: Muriatic acid bath. . 20: Rinse bath. . 21: Nickel tank. A layer of nickel is electroplated over the polished copper surface in preparation for the chrome layer. . 22: Rinse bath. 23: Decorative chrome tank. This is where the bright "show chrome" finish is plated onto the metal. |
24: Chrome Rinse tank. Chemicals from the decorative chrome tank are rinsed off in this process and can be recycled. . 25: Water rinse tank. . 26: Final hot water rinse tank. . 27: Air dry. |
John Brain and Mel Jr, still talking |
I want to give a big vote of thanks to Mel Harris for taking the time out of his busy schedule to help out with this article, I also want to thank his brother Jerry and father Mel Sr. for their helpful contribution. Thanks Platingmaster! A very big note of thanks to my friend Ingelbert Lievaart for providing the great photography for this article, Ingelbert, I couldn't have done it without you, thanks again! Platingmaster Ltd. 1 Hamilton Rd. London Ontario N6B-1M9 Ph.(519) 433-3423 Fax (519)433-3595 1-888-812-1755 |
