Anyone have experience of chrome powder coating?

Does chroming cost a huge amount? I have some car bits I may chrome this summer. Does having a batch make any difference or does it all go into the tank with other customers' stuff anyway.
 
Powder coating is actually done in an oven, either static or on a carousel. Either way it's an electrostatic process where the line is charged at one polarity and the paint carries the opposite polarity, causing the paint powder to be attracted to the component to be coated. The oven is then heated and the paint melts.

As for 'getting it done properly', you need very VERY deep pockets. The cost of re-chroming is HORRENDOUS! If you don't believe me - get a quote. You will assume on receiving your quote that they have got the decimal point in the wrong place! :disgust:
 
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Used to have a powder costing business that I built up myself before selling.

The "chrome" is OK but it is silver in reality rather than chrome. Rather than paint, the powder is actually epoxy plastic or epoxy/polyester typically with a UV resistant lacquer on top of the base colour. As it is basically plastic it does not have anything like the wear resistant properties that chrome has and they really cannot be compared. If it needs to be chrome plated then get it chrome plated. If not and it's cosmetic and won't be bumped or scratched then powder is an option.

BTW £730 is riciculous for the Z4!! We used to do Lambo wheels for c. £90 each and they were enormous! Ferraris were much more workable!
 
Very large split rims .... I checked around and that was the going rate ... done a nice job but it was rather an eye-watering price!

My point too... eye watering. My own boat is in her 64th year and I am prepared to compromise because of other works I have to do. In a previous life (20 years ago) I was involved in (low quality, bulk) powder coating, but the 'chrome' powders were not on our powder list, just silver, as a previous reply said.

The reason for my OP was to find out if anyone had first hand experience of this type of 'chrome like' finish. I've seen plastic products with what looks like a chrome finish and I would be more than happy to have this finish on decorative bits of kit . Wear is not an issue - think about household white goods, incredibly hard wearing finish. All are generally powder coated. (I do realise BTW that the plastic bits are probably not powder coated, but I doubt that they are chrome plated either ICBWOC)

So, has anyone actually had this done? :encouragement:
 
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