Art & Inspiration Nickel or chrome

What do you guys prefer on some trim. Nickel played or chrome plated?


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Which trim ???

 

What era are you aiming for.

 

Which one has the least maintence ?

 

I like a nickel played defence.

 

Sorry. For interior trim. Around the glass and on the inner door under the glass


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I used to work in a plating shop - nickel plating has a brown tone to it . And chrome has more of a blue tone to it. Nickel plating isn’t near as durable as chrome . Nickel plating can be quite nice looking if used properly but I think it looks odd if nickel and chrome are used in close vacinity to each other. It looks like somebody couldn’t make their mind up one way or the other. In my mind you have to go one way or the other.

 

I wouldn't spend a nickel on chrome.

 

Cheap cheap chrome on traveling carnival ride gates

 

I thought ALL chrome was done over nickel plate first.

 

^^ yes it is^^ chrome plate is plated on top of nickel

 

Yep. But I know someone who does nickel. He owns a jewelry shop and said he could plate some of my parts if I need it.


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But the nickel is supposed to be over copper .
Triple process,,,copper,nickel,,chromium.

Tommy

 

nickel has a nice warm rich look to it ,very nice

 

31Vicky is correct.
ALL..."chrome" plating has nickle as the middle material.
Copper.
Nickle.
Chrome.

Nickle by itself is too soft to last very long in the outdoors. It needs the chrome for protection.

Mike

 

You see this stuff???
That’s exactly what I want for some of my parts. It’s kind of bright, resists corrosion, tough as nails, cheap enough for carnival.

These gates were 36” x 48” and there were probably close to 1000 of them. (Like the size of three 33/34 grills. There was no prep, no polish, and not a show chrome finish.
There isn’t one “chrome” shop around that will do it.

 

Nickel looks great on the right build
Lots of early cars had it
I say take the guy up on it.

 

Brushed (satin finish) electroless nickel.

 

Found some closeup shots.

 

The plating on those gates is called "flash chrome ", most plating shops can do it.

 

I had some of the things on my car done in nickel and polished. Just because I wanted it to look like an older chrome job. Worked out fine for me. And I would do it again if I wanted the same no results. Plus it was cheaper. Gene.

 

My uncle bob has a 57 ford with a ho small block ford and a t5. All the trim on the inside of the car looks great in nickel. I think it might look good in my 53 ford custom line.


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Vicky, I think the type of plating you are looking for is industrial or health care. Looks good without the high sheen. Used it on Quarter Midgets to help keep the costs down. Search for that, cheaper - less polishing and less chrome plating layers.

 

I had a neighbor Aerospace Plating shop near my firm. The 'budget' '29 Hiboy got all its running gear parts #2 Cadmium plated, hairpins, axle, spring leaves, spindles, tie rods...the lot!
Looked subtle, and 'race car clean'. My old time roadster pals liked it.
Some of the 'Bay Area Roadsters' guys scoffed, they hated my flathead car, too.

 

I recall the term that was used for that avenue of marketing: It was 'Institutional'.
('mental health care'... and 'industrial', mainly in the license plate stamping dep't.)
Just the term gives me the shivers...

 

nickel

 

A good plating shop can discuss, plating layer thickness, uniform coverage (depends on electrode placements), copper layer buff quality, and micro cracking of the chrome layer.

 

There is Hard or industrial chrome. It is not bright and shiny. It is typically used for corrosion resistance or build up of machine parts to restore diameters. Has a matte finish and does not require polishing prior to plating. Probably priced the same as powder coating and much more durable.

 

beautifull