Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----
Help repairing chrome cylinder rods
Q. Dear sir,
We are preparing a piston for chrome coating but after grinding it up to required size we got a dent in it.
Dent is up to 1.5-2 millimeters deep, now we can not grind it again , can't weld also. Suggest us a way to remove or filling of this dent so ghat we can do coating on it.
- Ghaziabad India
January 30, 2021
A. Brush plating nickel or alkaline copper could be an option.
Also, could micro welding (laser, PAW) be considered?
Piston rods are designed for tough work and conditions. I cannot imagine their strength and straightness could be altered by such a tiny amount of heat.
- Monterrey Mexico
March 8, 2021
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. I am looking for a process that I've read about in Heavy Equipment trade journals where I can repair chips and nicks in the chrome of hydraulic cylinder rods in our shop without having to send the rods out for repair. These rods are subjected to extreme work conditions, so whatever I use must be tough.
Steve WilsonMarine Terminals - Armorel, Arkansas
2001
A. Hello Steve!
Search for "selective plating" on this site or google. Brush plating units will do just what you want. Realize that you will need to have a plan for waste disposal, and that safety will also need to be addresses as you'll be playing with some aggressive chemicals. But the vendors listed know their stuff, and can get you going pretty easily.
Good luck!
Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
2001
A. Hi Steve,
We repair chrome plated piston rod in our hydraulic shop. It is relatively simple, with practice and care you can get very good at it. First, tig weld a stringer bead along the entire scratch or groove length. Then using a convex grinding fixture assembly grind as close as possible and then use a pneumatic hand grinder with scotch brite to lap and blend the weld into the chrome surface. It takes some practice to get good at it.
Good Luck.
- Middlesex, New Jersey
November 16, 2008
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread