Chrome plating kit

[ozonehostile]

After having to fork out vast sums of money for chrome plating services for machine parts at work, invested in a chrome plating kit.

still reading through the huge instruction encyclopedia but cant wait to start chroming random car bits.
also got the facilities to do zinc plating

will get pictures up soon of the first experiments

anyone ever done any plating?

[samass]

Ooh interesting, always wanted to plate a few bits, was gunna go DIY when funds allow. What does the kits consist of and how much did it set you back if you don't mind me asking?

[ozonehostile]

Luckily i didnt have to pay for it, the company (i.e. my dad) paid, not sure exactly how much but a fair bit judging by how much shit you need.
got a couple of car batteries, voltage regulator thing that you connect the cathodes to, about 7 different barrels of chemicals and tubs of different metals for plating. dont look cheap but this is on a large scale for plating big machine parts (easily get things like driveshafts in the plating tank) but i could find out how much it would cost for a smaller version of the kit

[samass]

Ah gotcha, sounds industrial!

ooh if you could mate, I'd be interested to know

[Curt]

This sounds pretty interesting, got a few things I wouldn't mind on the '5 actually. Keep us updated with projects

[ozonehostile]

yeah il keep the thread updated, gonna experiment with different metals, thicknesses etc just to get the technique perfect before i move onto shinnies for the car.

[cwspellowe]

Chrome driveshafts ftmfw!

[Daniel306]

I need some wheel bolts redone. i was planing to get a Diy kit as some point

[HDIkyle]

Chrome driveshafts ftmfw!

Im feeling a chrome rear axle !!

[the milkman]

Crome calipers ftw!

[Kezzieboy]

I was going to say, chrome plating is a pretty industrial operation!! Sounds pretty cool though, anodise is more awesomer though

[Daniel306]

Is zinc plating when it turns out with a yellow tint? headlights.......

[ozonehostile]

Is zinc plating when it turns out with a yellow tint? headlights.......

zinc plating is more rustproofing, wouldnt work on anything apart from metal as plating uses its conductivity to stick a layer of metal to the surface, hence the plating.
In theory, if i could get hold of some, gold and silver plating is possible

[lolsteve]

A chrome 306, think how many people you could blind in summer

[Daniel306]

You can get paint that it will sick to, its the same stuff that the lights are currently painted with

[cwspellowe]

A chrome 306, think how many people you could blind in summer

IIRC chrome cars are illegal over here as the car will reflect light of all colours. Just like you have to have red reflectors on the back of your car, a chrome car will light up like a christmas tree.

I remember a chrome M3 in Max Power years ago that was illegal on british roads...

[lolsteve]

Well that's no fun now is it

[samass]

What about Theo proffywotsits maybach? That's chrome wrapped... And must be road legal cuz I saw it driving... On the road...

[ozonehostile]

ive seen a chrome audi going towards london on the m4, was a very dark chrome but still noticeably shiny, it must be similar to the law on window tints like a certain % of brightness or something?
ive always thought it would be pretty cool to chrome all the wishbones, arb, droplinks, driveshafts etc. not completely ostentatious bling, just subtle little bits that only someone who knew what they were looking for would notice.

[samass]

f*ck subtly man,

CHROME ALL THE THINGS!!!

[ozonehostile]

right, so following this up now that ive had a few practice sessions, not quite as shiney as you get from a pro plating shop but im fairly happy with the results.
for those of you wandering the kit has cost about £300 so far

[Piggy]

ace....

you up for doing a 306oc discount ;-)

[swampy]

Is it proper chrome plating??

I e is the base product coated with copper first to smooth out the imperfections??

[ozonehostile]

ive done one block with an undercoat yes, the hardest thing about plating is getting the surface 100% grease free as any tiny amount means the plating doesnt stick

[kingy]

well done mate, looks good. im sure with a bit more practice you will have loads of people off here (including me) wanting shite done. it will pay for it self in no time. good look with this.

[ozonehostile]

cheers kingy, il have a go at some car parts in the next couple of weeks see how that turns out, gonna be a bitch degreasing engine parts though been looking into more plating products and you can get this brush system thing for doing large flat surfaces so might invest in one

[kingy]

cheers kingy, il have a go at some car parts in the next couple of weeks see how that turns out, gonna be a bitch degreasing engine parts though been looking into more plating products and you can get this brush system thing for doing large flat surfaces so might invest in one

try kerossen (i think thats spelt right), i use to deliver it to garages. parts cleaner.
if you want more info on this its a compony called safty clean. you hire it and it cheap from what i remember.

[Piggy]

gun cleaner....ace stuff. big metal drum, fill it, dip whatever it is you need for a bit and pull off...done

[kingy]

gun cleaner....ace stuff. big metal drum, fill it, dip whatever it is you need for a bit and pull off...done

simular to the parts cleaner but you get a metal sink and a constant flow of de grease that just sits ontop of the drum.

[ozonehostile]

Luckily the unit next door is an industrial cleaning products supplier so il go ask about some super strength de-greaser.
i can get stuff grease free its just remembering not to touch it without gloves on is the hard part lol