I have a bracket I made for my trolling motor. Might just have it powder
coated, but was wondering how much it would cost to have it chromed. Can
you give me any idea what that might cost? Approximately 2 square feet
surface area.
Steve
visit my blog at
Dunno about monetary cost, but a few years down the road I think you'll
find that chrome + rust is a lot more "expensive" to look at than flat
black + rust.
When you go shopping, shop for _really good_ chrome jobs -- cheap ones
rust quick, and unless your boat is going to be a trailer queen in a
storage shed, it's going to see moisture.
(By the same token, there are good powder coating jobs and sleazy ones;
I've seen powder coat jobs last for years, and I've seen ones that get
rust under the powder coat after just a year or two.)
It's been a long time since I had chrome done, so my recollection of prices
would do no good. But, if you talk to chrome shops, explain what it will be
used for, you probably don't want "show chrome". And prep is expensive. Ask
them to chrome over glass bead blasted, it is cheap and a very nice look,
less shiney than polished chrome. We started using chrome over bead blast
in the 1970's and it proved so popular the chromer added a bead blast
cabinet and began specializing in it. I think they used duplex nickel over
the bead blast to bridge the satin finish better.
Most plating shops have a minimum. The lowest minimum in the Mnpls
metro area was $50, fifteen years ago.
You'll want what they call "triple chrome". It starts with copper,
then nickle, finally chrome. Chrome itself contributes almost no rust
protection; that comes from the underlying copper and nickle. The
chrome is just for color.
Zinc plating or hot-dip wouldn't be as pretty as chrome, but would
probably hold up considerably better. I have parts I made for my boat
lift that I zinc-plated 4 or 5 years ago and they've been outdoors
24/7/365 since. Still no rust.
Steve,
I assume you have made this from steel. If so, hot dip galvanize and then
powdercoat. This works, even in salt water. Remember add
.020 for the zinc and another .020 for the powdercoat in holes for bolts or
clearances for other mating components.
Steve
coated, but was wondering how much it would cost to
2 square feet surface area.
Not always Iggy. Any void in the powdercoat will start the corrosion process and
sooner or later, there will be one. As the metal
corrodes it expands 17 to 1 and literaly jacks the powdercoat off the steel.
Zinc coating first gives the corrosion protection and
powdercoating on top protects the zinc.
Steve
My utility trailer looks like crap and it was powder coated. My bicycle
carriers looked
pretty nice after years of service. One a commercial carrier and the other one
something
I made and had powdercoated at work when we still powder coated things in-house.
Wes
--
"Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect
government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home
in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller
Thanks for the comments, guys. I have decided that $50 will just about buy
my year's pass for this lake, which just expired. The trolling motor only
cost me $60. So, I'll just do some good old Rustoleum. Maybe even TWO
cans! Or do a brown/green camo look. Yeah, that's it.
Steve
visit my blog at
Wire brush in a angle grinder when it looks bad and another coat of paint. I
got the
angle grinder, the cup brush, the rustoleum and free time tomorrow. Now if my
brother
would return my utility trailer he borrowed for a couple days two weeks ago. :(
There is a reason uncle has a key to my garage and my bother finds a locked door.
Wes
PS I love my brother dearly except when I want to strangle him. ;)
Cold galvanizing can and then overcoat with color.
Both Rustoleum.
Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
"Our Republic and the Press will Rise or Fall Together": Joseph Pulitzer
TSRA: Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Originator & Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member. http://lufk> Thanks for the comments, guys. I have decided that $50 will just about buy
opendns.com blocked it as a phishing site. Decided it wasn't worth looking at.
WEs
--
"Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect
government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home
in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller
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