Understanding the Nickel Chrome Plating Process

If you need chroming to protect or restore the wheels on your motorcycle, you will need to understand the process by which chroming is seen to completion. Not every vehicle is a good candidate for chroming, but if yours is, you will see many benefits from this decision. Given how difficult it is to chrome plate a metal part, you should leave the task to professionals.

​Chrome is short for chromium. It is a metal that is applied as a thin layer over another surface rather than being used as a solid object. Some parts that are very shiny are referred to as chrome by a layperson, but for it to actually be chrome, it must use chromium. Parts made with chrome are more reflective and bluer. They are also more reflective.

Chrome plating begins by inspecting the piece that will be plated. This is done to determine the process that will need to be performed to achieve the desired end result. After the piece has been inspected, the customer discusses with the chrome plating service about how much it will cost and how much time it will take for the piece to be completed.

The two chrome options available are nickel chrome plating and hard chrome plating. Hard chrome plating is thicker than nickel chrome plating, and technicians usually apply it to hardened steel. Nickel chrome plating is a more common process.

Before the nickel chroming process can begin, the part must be stripped to its bare metal. This includes stripping off all of the dirt, grease, paint, oil, rust, and old plating. If the part is already stripped clean, it will cost less to plate.

The polishing process begins next. This involves the removal of surface metal using abrasive tools. Through the use of various tools, the part will be a high-gloss polished part without any pits, scratches, or other impurities. This will leave it more prepared for the chrome plating process.

The part must be cleaned perfectly before it is ready to be plated. The surface is cleaned using a soap, water, and acid solution to avoid a reject. The part is buffed until it has a beautiful shine after being copper plated.

There are several layers of plating before the actual chrome plating, starting with copper plating. The copper offers corrosion protection. The copper can also level the surface and fill in pits.