Chrome (re)plating question - howto

[olaf_sc]

Hello

After calling around ten or more companies to get a ballpark figure of plating costs I finally give up and instead write to the forum in quest of answers.

The scenario is that I have a lot of either stainless or aluminum moldings that is in need of chrome replanting. The natural step for me has previously been to get the "chrome shop" to strip the flash chrome. After the flash chrome has been removed I took the parts home again to fix imperfections such as dings, dents, scratches etc... Then I polished all parts and handed it over to the "chrome shop" again for final plating.

Well that was before and it didn't cost me much since I made all the time consuming work (buffing and fixing imperfections). However since my move to a new area (San Francisco/Bay Area) this option does exist anymore. All plating shops want to do all the work and if I do the work the price is still the same. Beside most of them can't even give me a ball park figure about cost .

Anyhow I therefore decided to go a head and try to do this my self. I assume that I can remove the flash chrome (on both stainless and aluminum moldings) using Muractic acid. The question is if Caswells products will enable me to chrome the moldings again with good result. I'm quite sure about short (one foot) moldings but how to do with the longer once - will a thin but long chemical container enable me to chrome long thin moldings with good result (not super show quality but okay shine that will last so to say). Yes, I understand that I will need to prepare the aluminum before I can chrome it.

Yes it would be nice to know what kit that is recommended - will copy chrome do or do I need a triple kit. What are your conclusions about the above?

Thanks in advance

[mcaswell]

I assume that I can remove the flash chrome (on both stainless and aluminum moldings) using Muractic acid.

Correct.

will a thin but long chemical container enable me to chrome long thin moldings with good result (not super show quality but okay shine that will last so to say).

Yes, you've got it.

will copy chrome do or do I need a triple kit. What are your conclusions about the above?

Either one will work, assuming you zincate first. If you have lots of repair work to do, I recommend the Triple Chrome Kit. The copper plating step allows you to plate over the repairs, then buff the copper to a shine, then nickel and chrome plate.