The cheapest metal chromium

[Kovanca Polock]

The cheapest method of chrome plating

[DIYer]

Thanks Kovanca Polock! We've added your Chrome Plating Method to our Miscellaneous category,
as well as to your builder page: Kovanca Polock's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Chrome Plating Method by Kovanca Polock

tags: plating

[thirdbike]

Just a quick question: What metal is the spoon made from other than being non magnetic?

[Kovanca Polock]

stainless steel

[piper184]

where does the chrome come from?

[Kovanca Polock]

As part of a stainless steel

[thirdbike]

Now I'm confused. You're suggesting that two identical metals are used connected to opposite terminals of a 5 volt DC output and screened with a piece of plastic. I've done a fair amount of plating but you're explanation of stainless steel for both the spoon and the metal strip just doesn't seem to make sense - but I am willing to hear the an explanation. That being the case, why not use two pieces of the stainless sheet
Thanks

[Kovanca Polock]

I did not have two spoons that are not magnets, it is poacure that it does not have a value to obtain a solution.

[piper184]

Been researching this a little today as college chem classes were more than 40 years ago. It seems I have forgotten a lot.
Anyway, putting stainless at the anode (+) will cause chrome to leach out of the stainless steel. It seems you need a Ph down around 1 and it can form as trivalent or hexavalent. The first being harmless and the second being a really nasty poison. Once in solution though, you can reverse the process and deposit it back onto the cathode (-) although I don't quite understand which version is being deposited. It seems a lot depends on the electrolytic solution and the base metals.
I do remember a lot of shops that did chrome plating were put out of business when they tightened up the regulations

[thirdbike]

Been researching this a little today as college chem classes were more than 40 years ago. It seems I have forgotten a lot.
Anyway, putting stainless at the anode (+) will cause chrome to leach out of the stainless steel. It seems you need a Ph down around 1 and it can form as trivalent or hexavalent. The first being harmless and the second being a really nasty poison. Once in solution though, you can reverse the process and deposit it back onto the cathode (-) although I don't quite understand which version is being deposited. It seems a lot depends on the electrolytic solution and the base metals.
I do remember a lot of shops that did chrome plating were put out of business when they tightened up the regulations

So if the chrome is leached from the Positive anode then one has to assume that deposition is occurring at the negative cathode. I would think that the parts needing plating would be attached and not another piece of stainless. A better explanation is clearly needed.