The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Plating Preparation

2004

Hi,

I need to hard chrome plate a metal body and I need to isolate certain areas on the metal body which are not not be to plated. How can I isolate those areas? By isulating tape or applying some sort of paint or chemical?

Thanks,

Allan
Marine Engineering - Singapore

---

Allan,

I used to mask off a lot of hard chrome on steel and stainless parts in a hard chrome shop I ran a few years ago. Often times people will use lead tape. We used aluminum adhesive tape as an alternative. It left a clean line without having the disposal problems of the lead tape. Try it. You'll like it.

Daryl Spindler, CEF
decorative nickel-chrome plating - Greenbrier, Tennessee
2004

If you ask this question, you are not a chrome plater, but yes , it can be done. Many places use wax, others use tapes and still others use a special maskant either dipped or brushed. Many platers use a conductive tape at the edge as a robber to hold down the high density edge area. Find a good chrome shop and let them handle the details.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004

Actually all the methods that you're questioning can be used! Even through chemical paint or isulating tape, these are all depends to the parts you need to be plate and the area you need to plate.

Goh Boon Han
- Muar, Johor, Malaysia
2004

finishing.com is possible thanks to our supporting advertisers, including: