Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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CHROME vs. STAINLESS STEEL
Q. How do I tell the difference between chrome and stainless steel. It is the legs, arms, and back for some chairs. It does rust.
Thanks,
Ron GenfRetired - Ft. Pierce, Florida, USA
2003
by Weiner & Walmsley
on AbeBooks
(rarely)
or eBay
(rarely) or
Amazon
(rarely)
(affil links)
A. If it's non-magnetic, it's stainless. If it's highly reflective (like a mirror) and very slightly bluish or darkish, it's probably nickel-chrome plating. If it's bright but not really mirror-like, it may be stainless, or even acid zinc plated. If the rust is in tiny pimples, it's probably nickel-chrome plating; if it's a more diffuse rusting that doesn't look deep, it's probably stainless.
If it's really important to you to know, you would have to do chemical tests, but my rule of thumb is if you can see your face, it's probably nickel-chrome plating; if you can't, it's probably not.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003
Electropolishing stainless steel versus chrome plating steel
Q. I am Director of Corporate Sourcing for a USA based fastener distributor. Customer is now using a chrome plated carbon steel case hardened self-drilling recess-driven fastener and would like the added long term cosmetics of a part without plating as upon installation, some of the chrome within the fastener drive recess is removed and shows subsequent corrosion on an appearance-sensitive finished product. Stainless steels such as Carpenter Technology's Trimrite, and 431 in particular have been suggested as offering hardenability via post-forming heat treatment but mfgrs. suggest there will be "heat treat tint" still after passivation and potential oxidation/discoloration overall.
The question is, would electropolishing offer the brilliance of chrome plating and the long term drive recess integrity our customer is seeking? The environment this fastener sees is normal atmosphere and the cleaning agents used in washing a vehicle.
Russ Crullfastener distributor - Rockford, Illinois, USA
2004
A. Certainly the best overall solution is to electropolish the parts followed by passivation. This is the only way to get the appearance of the chrome plating and the corrosion resistance you want. Of course, there is no guarantee that you cannot get corrosion if these fasteners are placed in carbon steel plates, etc. (you can get galvanic corrosion).
There are other ways to do the job at lower cost if you do not need the brilliance of chrome plating or electropolishing.
adv.
Let us know if we can help.
Lee Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.
McHenry, Illinois
2004
Q. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHICH METAL HAS A BETTER OR BRIGHTER FINISH, CHROME OR POLISHED STAINLESS, IF BOTH ARE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE SAME WAY. PLEASE RESPOND -JIM.
JIMM TODD JRAUTO DEALERSHIP - BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS
2006
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I don't think you can get a clear answer to that question. It depends ... on how well the chrome plating was done, what grade of stainless is used, and how the stainless was finished, as well as the exposure conditions. Well done chrome plating and better grades of stainless steel will look good for a very long time.  Jeffrey Holmes, CEF Spartanburg, South Carolina 2006 A. Both can be taken to a very high luster. The stainless will very slightly oxidize slightly faster than the chrome. A good wax will keep the luster of either longer. James Watts- Navarre, Florida 2006 A. Chrome plating is brighter. However stainless is more durable if you don't have time to take care of chrome. - St. Louis, Missouri, USA 2006 A. Highly polished stainless can look very good indeed . . . . . . until it's sitting next to high quality chrome. Chrome wins if you're talking bling. Ted Mooney, P.E. Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey 2006 |
A. I've got to take issue with you there, Ted. Done right, electropolished stainless can have bling comparable to chrome.
Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2006
I've never seen electropolished stainless that can match "show chrome", Jeffrey ... but I'm not about to insist that you haven't.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Is it chrome or stainless steel?
Q. I am going to purchase new 40-spoke wheels for my Harley Davidson motorcycle. Both wheels come with a polished billet hub and chrome wheel. However one comes with triple chrome steel spokes and is made overseas. The other comes with polished stainless steel spokes. My question is which will look better and which will be less maintenance as far a polishing and cleaning. Over time and weather will the polished stainless spokes hold their shine? Is either stronger than the other. If you were picking one or the other for your bike what would you go with? Also what polish or cleaner would you use to get the best results. Thanks, Mike.
Michael Rauschbuyer - Raeford, North Carolina
February 24, 2010
A. Hi Michael. You can't rely on the seller's sales pap, which is intended to induce you to buy, not to technically inform you, but I'd pick stainless over Chinese chrome plating.
Chrome polish followed by car wax ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] is probably the best protection, although some knowledgable people suggest just detergent washing.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
A. Vintage vehicle connoiseurs eschew chrome plate in favour of the softer tone of nickel plate; this of course is also the metal which gives stainless steel its more subdued gleam. Chrome plate might be seen as merely a skin deep finish for poor quality ephemeral products, stainless steel has a lustre alluding to a quality that diuturnally pervades the entire piece. Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder
Kevin Farmer- Eastbourne, Sussex, United Kingdom
January 6, 2020
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