By now you know all about electroplating. Oh, you don’t? Better read up about the metal finishing technique here. For our purposes today though, you should know that we here at Bend Plating use the electroplating process for chrome plating, but it looks a heck-of-a-lot like stainless steel. So which one is better? Something that is plated with chrome or a product made of stainless steel? It all depends on what type of metal finish you are looking for.

Chrome Plating

Chrome plating is a decorative or industrial finish used on anything from car parts to faucets to tools to jewelry. Basically any metal surface you want to apply a thin layer of chrome onto is possible. But chrome plating isn’t only ornamental; there are also practical applications to chrome. Chromium plating protects the object from corrosion, improves the surface structure, makes it much more durable, and is also easier to clean. The process of electroplating chrome involves different chemical solutions depending on the substrate being plated. After the initial electroplating process, various finishing and buffing methods are necessary to make the product with its new chrome covering really shine.

Stainless Steel

Alternatively, stainless steel products look an awful lot like chrome-plated material. But look closer, and you’ll notice its composition is different. Well, actually you probably can’t see that stainless steel is a metal alloy that isn’t created with a new layer like chrome plating is. Stainless steel is actually an alloy mix of chromium and nickel; it must have a minimum of 10.5% chromium to be called stainless steel. Stainless steel is also resistant to corrosion and staining. It too is low maintenance and durable. So the question remains: which is better?

Chrome Plating vs. Stainless Steel

There are certain applications for both plating chromium onto objects or going with stainless steel material. Stainless steel is more durable than chrome plating. But chrome plating makes the item much shinier. Stainless steel hardware doesn’t show fingerprints, but chrome plating won’t rust … chrome plating is essentially less expensive than stainless steel, and also makes the object lighter weight.

Chrome Plating | Bend Plating

If you’ve decided that you need chrome plating application, whether it is a small, single order or a larger, industrial project, you’ve come to the right place. Sure, you can buy something that is stainless steel, but we here at Bend Plating can also cover whatever you’ve got with chrome. We can answer all your chrome plating inquiries and don’t worry; we will be honest and tell you to go ahead with stainless steel too. Give us a call to discuss your project today.