Hey all Anyone have experience with nickle-plating a 15" wheel? Say like the Coker street rod spoke or a smoothie wheel? Maybe someone has some pictures lying around? Thanks in advance. 2"
All the trim on this car has been nickle plated. It continues to yellow over time, and has a very vintage look which was the plan. The wheels, which were polished aluminum Halibrands, have more of a pewter color to them, and also change color with time. They will polish back to a nice color with some aluminum polish.
You have to take wheels apart to plate them or they come out with a bunch of yellow spots. Or make a really complicated and expensive electrode Thanks, Jimmy
Nickle is the shiney of a chrome finish. The chrome part is mainly for duribility. Nickle won't last long in most outside environments.
Nickel will last for years, it just yellows a lot, which is why we put chrome over the top. If you want nickel as a finish, check out electroless platers. Electroless nickel normally has phosphorous or cobalt in it to increase durability and help reduce oxodization. It is harder than electroplate and also gives much more even coverage as it doesn't need anodes. People using nickel finish today normally have an electroless nickel sublayer then have the bright nickel electroplated over it in order to get the best in looks and durability.
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