Re Chroming ...what do I ask for?

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Matata

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Getting two lewmar 40 rechromed and I think Doug Taylor may be the company in Somerset. I dont know anything about Rechroming . What do I ask for??? I gather there's hard chrome, deep chrome shiny chrome nickel plated chrome. Any help would be much appreciated! Also anyone any experience of this company, good or bad and any idea of costs. Ta Nic
 
From posts I've read in the past, one danger is that some chromers are tempted to grind off the grippy finish of the winch drum, resulting in a winch which is gorgeous to look at but donesn't work very well. Suggest you address this issue in advance with anyone you ask to do the work.

As for the metallurgy, you might hope Vyv Cox pops by with his opinion, always worth reading. I can tell you in a less-informed way that chrome itself is purely decorative; the plating relies on pre-coatings (copper, nickel etc) for anti-corrosion properties.
 
Matata said:
Getting two lewmar 40 rechromed and I think Doug Taylor may be the company in Somerset. I dont know anything about Rechroming . What do I ask for??? I gather there's hard chrome, deep chrome shiny chrome nickel plated chrome. Any help would be much appreciated! Also anyone any experience of this company, good or bad and any idea of costs. Ta Nic
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Hard Chromed is what you want - (Hexavalant Chrome plating)
 
cliff said:
Hard Chromed is what you want - (Hexavalant Chrome plating)
Click to expand...

Sorry to disagree but my understanding is that hard chrome plating is really an engineering surface finish usually applied to steel components. It is not necessarily decorative.
AFAIK, ask for bog standard, decorative nickel-chrome plating.
 
macd said:
From posts I've read in the past, one danger is that some chromers are tempted to grind off the grippy finish of the winch drum, resulting in a winch which is gorgeous to look at but donesn't work very well. Suggest you address this issue in advance with anyone you ask to do the work..
Click to expand...

This happened to a friend of mine. My heart sank when I saw the result.
 
Thanks for all the help so far but I was was keen to know about the types of Chrome finishes and their merits. Any metallurgists around???? Come on don't be shy!!! Nik
 
Matata said:
Any metallurgists around???? Come on don't be shy!!! Nik
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OK, I am which is one reason I would go for hard chrome plating, that and past experience. Decorative chrome plating is just that DECORATIVE - relatively thin and with the tendancy to wear off the peaks in the surface of the winch barrel relatively quickly wheras hard chrome plate is much thicker and will last much longer (and can be polished to a mirror finish oif desired) Your winch - your call - decorative and replate every season or so or hard plate and forget them - probably never have to touch them again. - remember when you ease a sheet you are allowing the sheet to slip over the surface of the winch drum - have a lok at worn winch drums and you will see the effect.
 
Thanks guys, I think i'll give Neptune a call monday. do they have to be chromed on the inside of the drum where the cog/teeth are aswell?? Ta Nik
 
From what I was told by Lewmar (a few years ago) - it's best to ensure they are thoroughly degreased.

The inside isn't chromed on the originals so I presume they have a method of only chroming the outside surface.
 
I was told that the old chrome had to be shot-blasted off and that ,unless I wanted an expensive re-polish I should settle for a satin chrome finish.
 
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