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How to ensure best chroming for silencers (2 wheelers)

Sir,as I am running a sheet metal 2 wheeler auto components unit.We are having the tank size for nickel plating 12x4x5 feet,and for chrome plating 4x4x5 feet.We are operating on 1000 Amp rectifier.After nickel plating,height of job is approx. 4 feet.Please guide me,how to ensure best chroming for best results and long durability.It will be better if you can exlpain the proecdure for chrome plating.

Abhay Thakare
manufacturer auto components - Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
May 31, 2010

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The best chrome plating for exterior automotive use is .0015" of semi-bright nickel, then .0005" of bright nickel, and finally 20 microinches of micro cracked chromium.

Single layer bright nickel will never perform as well.

Best surface preparation consists of using top quality cold rolled sheet metal which has been polished to remove all imperfections, followed by good cleaning and pickling.

A local supplier of plating chemicals can supply details for their particular process.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
June 2, 2010

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For chrome plating on silencer, you should have the proper jigging of the part, 2 A/sq ft current density, nickel plating should not be passive, and sulphate ratio to chromic acid in chrome bath should be 0.9 : 100

Harish Gurnani
- Ahmedabad, India
June 5, 2010

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Hi,

I totally agree with Mr. Harnish Gurnani, welcome back
Apart from that the pre treatment is important,polishing, and the cleaning ,activation, pickling.

Praveen Kumar
plating process supplier
Mumbai, India
June 8, 2010