Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Seeking an alternative to chrome that looks as good

I'm trying to avoid chrome finish for tools. I'm currently using TNB but the finish does not have an appearance as pleasing as chrome. Are there any alternatives that are competitive?

John Knight
- Chicago, Illinois
2002

You don't say why you're trying to avoid chrome, but you seem to be saying that you like the appearance of chrome; so I assume you are trying to eliminate chrome for some vague environmental or safety reason. So tri-chrome should be an answer that eliminates the use of chromic acid. Alternately, there are cobalt alloys used as topcoats over nickel to give a nickel-chrome appearance.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002

"Tools" is far too broad a category for a reasonable response. Electroless nickel looks somewhat similar to chrome and has many properties that are as good or better than chrome. It also has some that are not as good, so it depends on what you want it to do, and on what.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2002

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