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Chrome vs. Nickel plating of keychains

2004

I currently source a small volume of keychains (2K/month)to be chrome plated in China. They are having a 80% failure rate chrome plating my parts due to the small size (1.2" X 1.2" X .5") and very high level of detail. It is made of investment molded zinc. They have suggested that nickel plating would work better for the application.

I don't know a lot about different plating processes, but do have some questions. 1.) Will a bright nickel plating come close to the shine of chrome plating? 2.) Will the nickel plating rust faster? 3.) Being a keychain, will the nickel wear faster with rough handling and abuse? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks,

Alex Samsel
manufacturing - Raleigh, North Carolina

I don't know that I'd accept the advice of someone who experiences an 80 percent failure rate :-)

My feeling is that bright nickel plating might be okay for these keychains. Even better might be bright acid zinc plating followed by a clear lacquer.

But, no matter which way, I'll don't believe in going direct from idea to production with no prototyping and testing. Who is absorbing the cost of this 80% failure, what is it that is bad about 80% of the parts, and what assurance do you have that the 20% will not come back from dissatisfied customers?

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004

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The difference between nickel plating and chrome is that nickel will seal metal and chrome has microcracking and will rust the metal if not nickel plated first.
I want to say thank you for all the information here. I am a master polisher - having over 15 years experience and 30 years plating experience. I am installing a bluing line and have been experimenting in nickel plating designs on barrels and then bluing over the top.

Bruce Ulman
metal finishing - Clinton Township, Michigan
2007