Re-chroming service in New England?

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jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
My Maxwell-Nillson windlass still works great, but it is badly in need of a re-chroming. I'll strip it to the parts that need plating, but I need to find a re- chroming service. Any recommendations? Any idea of cost?

Thanks,

jv
 
Jul 8, 2011
704
Catalina 30 Sidney B.C.
When rechroming how do you keep the drum where the line winds from getting to slippery
 

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
When rechroming how do you keep the drum where the line winds from getting to slippery
Good question! It's fairly deeply textured. It was originally plated, I don't think the new plating will fill it up, especially since it must me stripped of old chrome first.
 
Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Chrome plating will typically be on the order of a few mils (.002 inches) thickness. As you start to get thicker it starts to develop nodules and surface imperfections that would not look too attractive. Thick chrome used for wear surfaces is usually applied and then ground down to final size to get the surface finish and dimensions required. Since a human hair is about .003 inches thick you can get some idea of how thick the chrome will be and how much it will "fill in" any surface roughness.
 

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Dave,
You seem to be one of the more knowledgeable in the group when it comes to metal finishing. I know there is a difference between a decorative chrome (much thinner coating) and a hard chrome which is what you're referring to. Chrome doesn't plate evenly, it builds up on the edges more. Would an Electroless Nickel be a better option? won't be as shinny.
 
Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Depends on what you are trying to do. Are you looking for wear resistance, decorative finish, corrosion resistance, etc. You may have a problem masking for electroless nickel. In my experience it was a process used to plate all over and is pretty costly as the chemicals are expensive. We used to run the process once a week which was a pain if the parts were needed immediately. You can electroplate nickel selectively just like chrome and you are correct it won't be as decorative but it will provide a good hard surface and some corrosion resistance. My use of nickel was mostly as a maskant for subsequent nitriding. Nickel was applied, removed from surfaces to be nitride, nitride, then the nickel was stripped off.
Some chromes have been banned (hexavalent chrome) as it is considered an extremely hazardous material. So options are getting fewer.
How electroplating thickness relates to the electric field created in the part as a rule of thumb it builds up excessively on exterior corners and will be much thinner on interior corners.
 
Jun 21, 2007
2,118
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
Besides re-chroming, is there any other solution to resurface an older but still good working chrome-on-brass winch? Maybe powder coat like on my original Barient 22 primary winches and my newer Harkens?

The chrome on the drum of my Barient ST19 cabin top winch has worn through to expose the underlying brass which tarnishes to an objectionable rust color. The thing looks terrible. Polishing will brighten up the underlying brass -- for a week before it tarnishes again.
 
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