Shiny silver coatings

[109party]

I don't know where your located but Aerocoat at St Olaves near Gt Yarmouth can do a chrome like powder coat have used them for car parts and there brilliant team there, very friendly great metallic finishes

 

[mangocrazy]

I've recently been getting a lot of stuff electroless nickel plated. It's a lot like stainless, only slightly 'warmer' in tone, and has good corrosion resistance, especially when the coating is applied slightly thicker than normal. One of its major advantages is that it gives a consistent depth of coating, irrespective of contours, holes, edges etc, unlike chrome. Here's a picture of what the surface looks like. This is mild steel plate/box section/rod coated in ENP.

 

[Rocketman]

How about chrome car wrap. Epoxy it first obviously.

 

[SmartWerks]

I've recently been getting a lot of stuff electroless nickel plated. It's a lot like stainless, only slightly 'warmer' in tone, and has good corrosion resistance, especially when the coating is applied slightly thicker than normal. One of its major advantages is that it gives a consistent depth of coating, irrespective of contours, holes, edges etc, unlike chrome. Here's a picture of what the surface looks like. This is mild steel plate/box section/rod coated in ENP.

View attachment 61664

That looks really good. Raw clean look that should last a long time.

what's the process?

 

[mike os]

I've recently been getting a lot of stuff electroless nickel plated. It's a lot like stainless, only slightly 'warmer' in tone, and has good corrosion resistance, especially when the coating is applied slightly thicker than normal. One of its major advantages is that it gives a consistent depth of coating, irrespective of contours, holes, edges etc, unlike chrome. Here's a picture of what the surface looks like. This is mild steel plate/box section/rod coated in ENP.

View attachment 61664

And where do we go to get it done?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Shiny shiny silver.
I have two customers asking me about making them big shiny fish like this. One has asked for stainless steel; Which I think would be a disaster on the head with all the welding involved. I also dont like using stainless. The fish in the photo was cupbrushed mild steel. A lovely finish.
I am having a commission done with a 'spray chrome finish' which is costing my customer a fortune. Can anybody reccomend a finish that will work. Not needing to give a chrome look just a bright silver finish.
And a company I can trust to do it.
I have seen a motorbike done in a chrome finish powder coating that looked ideal.

We use to make large light fittings that we occasionally had to gold leaf, I remember one job where the customer wanted a silver finish so we used Schlag Leaf (imitation silver leaf), basically it's polished aluminium foil that you apply in the same way as gold leaf.
It's easy to apply, and gives a beautiful effect. You can clear coat it as well.
https://www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Metal_Leaf___Schlag_metal.html
They do a wide range of effects on the foil now as well.

 

[mangocrazy]

I'm fortunate to live only a couple of miles away from a company that does this type of plating (they also do chrome), but then Sheffield is a bit like that. I get mine done at Firma-Chrome. Here's their ENP page:

http://www.firma-chrome.co.uk/Electroless_Nickel_Plating.html

The other advantage it has is its lubricity - it's a 'slippy' coating, in that it has low surface friction, unlike (say) galvanising which galls easily. The level of shiny-ness is entirely dependent on the base substrate. If that is smooth and has a good finish, then the ENP will enhance that. The mild steel plate in the top and bottom section was straight out of the laser cutters, mill scale and all, and needed overnight pickling. The bent rod had a much better surface finish and came up nice and shiny. Here's another pic:

 

[mofitz]

I work for a company who make galvanised air ducting and its very shiny

 

[hareng]

Have used a nickel paters in Huddersfield a few times for aluminium products. Copper plate then nickel on to that gives a mop polished chrome look. For Chunky I wouldn't fancy polishing the steel getting every blemish out, it will show through.

I would look closer at the spray on chrome.

 

[chunkolini]

I have had a chat with my customer and he has gone for a clear coat finish, pricy but with a guarantee, some kind of 2 pack stuff.
This is from a company with a good reputation.

 

[Bede]

Bright Zinc Plating?

 

[Rig Pig]

I have had a chat with my customer and he has gone for a clear coat finish, pricy but with a guarantee, some kind of 2 pack stuff.
This is from a company with a good reputation.

Interesting, do they dip the items they coat to cover the inside as well?