Chrome Plating

[Switch]

Hello,

I need to have my painted alluminium portlights re-painted as the paint is either flaking off or starting to bubble ready to flake off. LUNA of this parish has kindly offered his services for re-painting. They are currently painted white to match the hull but i was thinking of having them chromed instead. However, I'm concerened about the durability of chrome plating in a marine environment. I'd be interested in what others think.

 

[Portofino]

From wearing another hobby’s hat - automotive wheel refurbishment imho take them ( the frames ) to a specialist alloy wheel refurber .
You see some alloys degass ,and it’s the gas escaping some time later that leads to the flaking .
They get round that by avoiding a chemical strip and particles blasting the surface , then heat cycles ( time + temp important ) then various primers one of which may be a chromate type , then powder coat + lacquer.
Success is down to the temps and time interval between stages .Its a combo of art and science .

To do it right .
Nipping down to B+Q and getting a few rattle cans and pack of wet n dry won,t work .

 

[Switch]

Thanks Portofino

 

[BruceK]

Also as a hobbyist I have found aluminium a challenge to get right. My best results are from grit blasting with aluminium oxide and then..... believe it or not, just 2 coats of heavily thinned down 50:50 Hammerite enamel sprayed on. It never peels off or bubbles.
(I know I know Hammerite w.t.f. are you nuts, but yes it works in this application)
Used on classic motorcycle fork stanchions, engines, handlebar levers etc.

example
before I started

6 years after completion, still going strong

 

[Martin_J]

If you're near where your profile says you are then you are not far from J&A Finishing services up the hill in Fort Wallington near Fareham.

http://www.jandafinishingservicesltd.co.uk/

I know our sailing boat winches are not the same base metal but they did a fantastic job de-chroming and then re-chroming them.

Perhaps worth a visit just to see some of what they've done. Call first though because they're usually busy.

 

[Switch]

Thanks guys - interestingly most meta finishing companies i've contacted don't recommend chroming alluminium for the marine environment.

 

[Martin_J]

If you've been put off chroming, then somewhere like Ford Electro-Plating (near Ford Airfield) do both Aluminium Anodising or Alocrom coatings..

www.fordplating.co.uk

Just another suggestion before reverting to paint...

 

[BruceK]

If you've been put off chroming, then somewhere like Ford Electro-Plating (near Ford Airfield) do both Aluminium Anodising or Alocrom coatings..

www.fordplating.co.uk

Just another suggestion before reverting to paint...

Anodising :encouragement:

 

[Machaseo]

+1 for anodising Aluminium, chrome will bubble / pit over time. Just look at your morse controls on your flybridge (if you have one) if you only intend to keep the boat for a few seasons then chroming might be ok but if it was my boat I wouldn’t.I used to spec a hard Matt silver finish for anodising for industrial applications, by far the most durable coating I found. Powder coating is great but not over aluminium in a salty environment.