The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Custom guitar builder looking for someone to plate parts

2003

I'm looking for a process and vendor to either plate or coat existing chrome and nickel plated metal parts with the goal of changing their color. Because an electric guitar is handled frequently I will need a process which is very wear resistant. I'd like to obtain a finish which is very bright in color and just as reflective as chrome. I would really like metallic finishes in a wide variety of color choices. Because we are a custom builder our quantities of processed parts will be small and each job will be pretty different.

Dan G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
guitar builder - Clearwater, Florida

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)

---

 

Hi, Dan.

Metals are not colorful shades of reds and blues and greens. Rather, they are silvery (silver, tin, zinc, nickel, chrome, rhodium) or copper, brass, or gold.

"Color chrome" is just "chrome-look" paint. Paint with a good quality automotive two-component clear coat will probably hold up to handling for a reasonable time, but I strongly doubt that it can handle such duty as where the gears engage on the tuning pegs. This probably demands metal to metal contact.

How about chrome plating or rhodium plating the parts but having inserts of hard colorful enamels?

(rhodium and enamel bangle from laurengadams.com)

Regards,

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