The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Chrome look finish for aluminum door handles

2003

I am looking for an appropriate finish to use on a machined aluminum (exterior) door handle. Desire is for shiny "chrome" look. (Anodized and polished aluminum is too dull.)

Part is fully exposed to the environment and gets a fair amount of abuse, so the finish needs to be very durable and adhere well to the part. It also must be to some process that can be certified (i.e. mil-spec...)

Gary Poelma
Design and manufacture airplanes - Duluth, Minnesota

Fully bright Electroless Nickel alone or with an underplate (either copper or high phos EN). Most commercial and policemen firearms use it nowadays instead of traditional nickel chrome. It looks shiny and is corrosion and wear resistant.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2003