Copy chrome and resistance to rust, tarnish, dulling?

[phunkmastakrez]

Been debating this whole week on what kit to buy for my particular chroming needs. I was about 75% sure on the 4.5 gal triple chrome kit. But power requirements for certain motorcylce parts made me second guess...from what i learned and who i talked to i found out that doing chrome rims and larger swing arms for motorcylces was pretty much out of the question with the TC kit.

After some great help from tech supp. at Caswell, i think im going with the 15gal. flash copper/copy chrome kit. Ok enough with what im getting...my question is:

The nickle plate step in the TC kit protects the end result of the chrome from rust, corrosion, etc. since the chrome is very porous. Now...with the flash copper/CC kit, is my finalized peace more prone to corrosion since i dont have the nickle base? Im just alittle confused, maybe the CopyChrome crystals are not as porous as the standard chrome chystals and u do not need a nickle base, however im investing a bit of money on this and dont want my final products corroding, tarnishing, or dulling up down the road (say a year or so)

WILL COPY CHROME SHINE WITH PROPER CAR (WAX) HOLD UP TO THE SHINE AND CORRSIVE RESISTANCE OF TRIPLE CHROME.

All commments would be very helpful because i want to purchase the kit by next friday and start chroming!!!.

Feel free to P.M also, im somewhat a newbie to the forum, but not to the Caswell or polishing...now its on to CHROME!!

[fxstcguy98]

This has been discussed to death on this site. If you want quick answers, look back through the previous posts with copy chrome in the title. One thing to keep in mind, like someone on here said "John Q public wants triple chrome when they are paying you to chrome their parts, not copy chrome."

[pickleboy]

Re: Copy chrome and resistance to rust, tarnish, dulling?

WILL COPY CHROME SHINE WITH PROPER CAR (WAX) HOLD UP TO THE SHINE AND CORRSIVE RESISTANCE OF TRIPLE CHROME.

in shortest terms no

[LeeParsons]

I'm new at all this myself, but what I have found is this. I plated some bolts on my truck, 8 license plate braket bolts, using copy chrome. On the front I used Copy Chrome only and they have rust showing through after just a few weeks. On the rear I used Copy Chrome over nickel and so far no rust.

[dadkar2]

I haven't found any scientifically-run experiments done to demonstrate the durability of triple chrome vs. copy chrome, but general feedback from this forum indicates that copy chrome isn't as durable to the elements.

There are some things for absolute sure:

1. If you use a copper pre-plate you will improve the corrosion resistance vs. copy chrome over the bare substrate.
2. For interior use and lightweight to moderate abuse, copy chrome is probably fine
3. Copy chrome is much easier to apply than triple chrome, even with the copper under-plate.
4. Copy chrome is easier on the environment (but be responsible with the waste products either way).

However I agree with the previous post 100%: if customers are paying for triple chrome, that's what you should offer them.

Also I must point out that plating anything over nickel can be tricky. Be very careful about your process if you are going to plate copy chrome over nickel. You don't want to let the part dry off between the nickel bath and the copy chrome. Rinse twice and go directly into the copy chrome. Nickel is difficult to reactivate after it has passivated (oxidized). Once it passivates, plating over will result in peeling.

Ken

[phunkmastakrez]

Re: Copy chrome and resistance to rust, tarnish, dulling?

WILL COPY CHROME SHINE WITH PROPER CAR (WAX) HOLD UP TO THE SHINE AND CORRSIVE RESISTANCE OF TRIPLE CHROME.

in shortest terms no

I know the subject has been drug out on this forum....sorry...but thanks for the help. It was either get the 15gal copy chrome kit with the 60 amp rectifier...and be able to chrome most whatever i wanted....or get the 4.5 tirple chrome kit, have no worries..and just find someone else to do the bigger chrome jobs,...I THINK IM GOING WITH TRIPLE CHROME KIT. Dont want people coming back to me months down the road unhappy....word of mouth travels fast..wherever u are...cant start off with a bad rep..thanks

[jimcarry]

Re: Copy chrome and resistance to rust, tarnish, dulling?

I have been using Copy Chrome for a little over a year on everything from classic cars to antique radio restoration, guns, fishing equipment, motorcycles even on my own 73 charger I put this car in shows just about every weekend and people don?t even know the difference between the chrome under the hood and the copy chrome under the hood after plating I use a simple car wax
to protect and have not had a problem with discoloration rust or any thing of that nature but lets face it even the OEM Chrome on the bumpers of this beautiful car are starting to get little pits and black spots so nothing is perfect I have a lot of work out there and have not had one piece come back