Decorative chrome plating, also known as nickel chrome plating gives your item smoothness, corrosion resistance and reflectivity. Unlike hard chrome plating, which has thickness measured in the thousandths of an inch, decorative chrome plating is so thin that it is measured in the millionth of an inch.

Chrome coating involves adding a thin plate of chromium to your object by depositing it by way of electrolysis on a corrodible metal. It is used in many industries such as appliances, hardware, automobile, wire, dental as well as medical.

To find out more about bright and decorative chrome plating types and styles:

1. Look at traditional shiny, bright chrome finishes. This finish is great for automobiles.

2. Consider a more contemporary matte or satin custom chrome plating finish. These are great in homes for hardware on doors and cabinetry.

3. Look for chrome plating companies that offer color chrome plating.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out shiny, bright and decorative chrome plating

Shiny, bright and decorative chrome plating is the most common chrome plating. It gives a mirror-bright finish that gives your object high corrosion protection.

I recommend: Consider the bright and decorative chrome plating services of Chromplate. Chromplate can apply chrome plating to plastic, glass and metal. Chromatic also offers bright chrome finishing for your appliance, wire, medical, stamping or automotive need.

Go with dull/satin or a polished chrome coating

Bright and shiny isn't everyone's cup of tea, so consider a brushed satin or polished look to your chrome coating. The matte look can often give a more contemporary feel to hardware in the home, used on items such as door handles or plumbing or cabinetry hardware.

I recommend: Check out the satin processing from Master Finish. They specialize in the plumbing, door hardware and automotive industries. California Polishing & Plating offers many polished and satin finishes.

Consider color chrome plating

Check out color chrome plating for added style to your piece or vehicle. Consider any color of the rainbow or gold chrome plating.

I recommend: Take a look at the photo gallery of the color chrome images from Atlas Plating. XXX Chrome Plating also has an extensive image gallery of color chrome images.

Take advantage of chrome coating videos to learn more about decorative chrome plating types

Learn more about the different types and styles of chrome coating by observing those who apply them. Watch the application process to see how the chrome finish is different from object to object.

I recommend: Check out the "New Chrome Plating Video" from JLV Productions. The video has over 60 minutes of training on different chrome coating types and styles. Order the triple chrome plate video from Caswell. This video is intended to go with its Triple Chrome Plating Kit. The video covers such topics as safety, applications procedures, power supplies and more.

Bright and decorative chrome plating is used in a variety of industries to enhance the products that companies provide. Chrome plating is most popular in the automotive industry, but many other industries also use chrome plating to add design and strength to their products. Decorative chrome plating often refers to nickel plating but also denotes color chrome plating.

Decorative chromium plating can be done inside the company to save time and money. Some companies choose to outsource their chrome plating jobs, especially if they are large. There are two major types of decorative chrome plating: color and hard. Finding the right chrome plating options may appear overwhelming. Follow the list below and have beautiful decorative chrome plated items in no time.

1. Buy chrome plating equipment to do your own chrome plating.

2. Use color chrome plating for vibrant decorative chrome items.

3. Strengthen items with bright, hard chrome plating.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy equipment to perform chrome plating services in-house

Many companies that need large amounts of items chrome plated choose to do the plating in-house. Price it all out to be sure that the overhead on the equipment is more than if you use a chrome plating services. Also consider purchasing used plating equipment to keep your overhead low.

I recommend: Visit the Plating Sales website to browse through the chrome plating solutions they offer. PC Chrome offers chrome plating solutions for bright and decorative chrome plating. Locate used chrome plating equipment in all sizes at UsedPlatingEquipment.com.

Locate color chrome plating services

Color chrome plating changes the entire look of an item. Color chrome coating can be done on both metal and plastic materials and is the most bright and decorative chrome plating available.

I recommend: Visit the picture gallery of XXX Plating to review their previous work. Request a quote to receive pricing information. English Custom Polishing provides high quality gold chrome plating services. Find an array of colors available for custom chrome plating on plastic at M&M Metalizing Sales.

Find hard chrome plating companies

Hard chrome plating is a special process used to strengthen the plated item and give it a bright shine. Hard chrome plating is mostly used in industrial plants and for items that receive heavy wear.

I recommend: Upload and send pictures of your items to CRC Chrome to request their chrome plating prices. Get decorative, hard nickel chrome plating from the Chromeplate Company. Order hard chrome coatings on plastic metal and ceramic items at Industrial Plating.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always ask for sample pictures, sample products and references before using a new company's chrome plating services.

Businesses use chrome plating to electroplate a thin layer of chromium to metal objects. Doing so gives a decorative, corrosion resistant, easy cleaning surface that increases your surface hardness. Decorative chrome plating is also called nickel-chrome plating, and it is different from hard chrome plating, which is a heavier coating. Chrome coating involves electroplating nickel onto the object before you plate the chrome, and it is what gives the object its smoothness and makes it corrosion resistant. It is also what makes it reflective. Because the chrome coating is millionths of an inch in thickness (as opposed to thousandths of an inch with hard chrome plating), most of what your eye sees is the nickel (or sometimes a copper coat) underneath.

Chrome plating services also come in color chrome plating, such as gold chrome plating. It can be done on both metal and plastic materials.

To find out more about working with bright and decorative chrome plating:

1. Add bright and decorative chrome plating to your vehicle. Make a statement on your personal or business cars, trucks, boats or motorcycles.

2. Consider chrome plating services for everyday items.

3. Check out what else chrome coating is good for.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use chrome coating to jazz up your vehicle

Shine up your show vehicles with the best in chrome coating. Decorate your wheels, your bumpers, your hardware and more with bright and decorative chrome plating from a variety of vendors.

I recommend: Look at the custom restoration and show chrome restoration chrome programs offered by Decorative Industrial Plating. Use their services to improve the appearance of your best looking show car. Starbright Chrome Plating does a wonderful job with custom plating and polishing vehicle items including hardware, wheels, bumpers, grilles, as well as hardware. The company can also plate other items, including plumbing, fire engine parts, jewelery, medical and dental items.

Consider chrome coating for everyday items

Business may think about having chrome coating added to items used by consumers in everyday life. Used with plumbing, appliances, medical items, dental items and more, chrome coating comes in contact with many items used on a regular basis.

I recommend: Use Leonhardt Plating’s decorative chrome line to apply on consumer items, such as appliances and plumbing fixtures. Consider Chromatic Plating for both the appliance and medical fields. They also cater to the stamping, wire goods and store fixture industries.

See what else is available for chrome coating

Check out what else you can work with when it comes to chrome coating.

I recommend: Orange County Plating can handle plating steel, aluminum die castings, zinc die castings, and billet aluminum as part of their decorative chrome plating services. Check out the decorative chrome plating available from Chromplate. The company's process is available for plastic, glass and metal.