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

Chrome plating and pitting - health hazard?

Hello,

I am looking for information regarding chrome plating and the pitting that may occur with acidic products such as wine. I was recently told this is a health hazard once the pitting occurs. I apologize, but I do not have any technical aspects of the plating other than I know it is chrome plated over brass. Thank you for any assistance you might be able to share.

Edna Smith
Write Turns, Etc./handcrafted wood gifts - Chandler, Arizona, USA
2005

---

2005

Hi Edna. It's not so much that you can't provide technical aspects about the plating, but that you didn't provide the non-technical aspects of your problem :-)

Are you offering a chrome plated product line of handcrafted gifts, or is this a single item you found somewhere and want to use personally? Is it a decanter that is large in surface area and will hold wine for weeks or months, or is it a spoon or strainer? One of the beauties of chrome plated brass is that I've never seen it pit the way plated zinc or plated steel does.

The only answers I have is that:
1. chrome plating has been used on knives and spoons and pancake turners and I've never heard of a problem, but I've personally never seen it used as a pitcher or decanter.
2. I'm not at all sure the item in question is chrome plated brass. It may be nickel plated rather than chrome, and it may be something else rather than brass :-)

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