Motorcycle Fork Tube: How To?

[mcaswell]

Re: Question?

This will be a decorative chrome application.

Chrome deposits .75 - 1.2 mil per hour. 1/100" would need about 2-4 mins of plating.

[freematt]

I am building a custom motorcycle fork tube set. They will need to be chromed. Tolerances are important so I want to know how much material chrome plating will typically ad to the dimensions of the part. Can I build up the part by one or two hundredths of an inch?
Additionally, the part will be in contact with a rubber like seal which will wipe the chrome surface as the fork extends and retracts. Do I need hard chrome or will cosmetic chrome do the job? Remember they will be exposed to the weather too. Thanks. Matt