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Sharpies, scorching, and drip stains....

We have just installed our first chrome plated pieces in an architectural application in NYC. They are quite large (5'x10') and intricate in nature. The pieces are curved panels that form a surround for a curved couch in a lobby. Within each panel are curved rings from 1/2"x 2" cold rolled flatbar rolled the easy way in various diameters welded to form a net of ring tangentially connected. Upon cleaning, various imperfections have come to light. A little background: our shop specializes primarily in Broadway work, with a new emphasis on specialty architectural elements. Having not read your info page previous to today, I jumped headfirst into having pieces electroplated for me. We fabricated the pieces and worked through the finishing from 80 grit to 280 grit with a final polish using fine scotchbrite. Electroplated samples from our two plating vendors showed this level of finish to be adequate. So, back to the current issues: the pieces have sharpie marker lines bleeding through the nickel/chrome and seem to be there for good. Are they removable, and if so, what would be the best course of action? Both electroplaters have "tried" to plate over the sharpie marks to our detriment and state that they are my problem for not removing them. Would this be a typical response, or would a plater normally accept responsibility for the final finish? Second, one panel has 3" long scorches that seem to be from an electrical connection. Would this be from dropping the connection during plating? And lastly, I have noted "drip lines" that seem to be etched into the surface that cannot be removed - what part of the process would cause this? Thanks in advance,

John Sochocky
job shop using finishers - New Windsor, NY, USA
February 11, 2009

Hi, John. Sorry for the troubles you are experiencing. It is very discouraging when someone selects chrome plating for its decorative values and the parts that are delivered simply aren't aesthetic.

I have never heard of an indelible marker bleeding through the plating, but I have never heard of trying to plate over it instead of removing it either. Maybe a plating jobshop will be able to comment based on their experience.

They should be no "burns" on the parts. Whether they were caused by parts accidentally touching the anodes, or by excessive current density, they shouldn't be there. Fortunately, these can often be buffed out. Can you find out the supposed plating process for us -- like were the parts nickel plated before the chrome, and were they copper plated before the nickel?

If you can email us some photos I think the readers would like to see them.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February , 2009

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You might want to find another plater as it would appear that your current ones are not working with you.

Large parts are not easy to chrome plate and virtually require someone to modify or set up a line to do them. So, you are not going to find a lot of platers that are capable of doing the job that you expect.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
February 13, 2009