The difference is in
the preparation - polishing!
Before any wheel is chrome plated, the surface must be prepared. This is accomplished by working the visible area of the wheel with course to very fine emery cloth. This work is accomplished by use of various upright and semi-automatic machinery. This brings the wheel from a course to a smooth surface. However, the wheel's surface will be refined even further to a high-luster surface. Various buffing pads, again from course to fine, polish the wheels with the aid of various polishing compounds.
Now that the wheel has been brought to a smooth, high-luster finish, more preparation is performed on the finely-detailed nooks and crannies using complex hand-tools. This attention to detail is what makes CalChrome the industry-leading quality show chromer.
When a wheel is chrome-plated by our competition, automated machines are used to polish the wheel's face. In many cases, the interior window areas do not receive the proper amount of preparation (detail polishing). This lack of attention to detail becomes readily apparent once the wheel has been plated. The interior window areas are often bumpy and do not have the lustrous, reflective finish one would expect from a chrome wheel. CalChrome's additional preparation to the finely-detailed areas of the wheel brings the finest quality chrome to you- at no additional cost!
At California Chrome Wheel, we give each and every wheel the high level of polishing detail required to ensure a consistent, shiny finish. Many of our polishers have been refining the art of chrome polishing for over 15 years! You can be confident that your wheels will receive the incredible detailing that will produce a high-quality showpiece.
Click here to see our chroming process!
A unique customer number is engraved
on each and every wheel.
Reputation is our livelihood here at California Chrome Wheel. Our "Leader in the industry" label has been hard won, with innovations such as our unique tracking system.
By engraving each wheel barrel with a distinct customer number, production number and additional internal identification, we are able to track and identify each wheel throughout our entire chrome process.
With the number of wheels we process daily, this also guarantees you receive your exact piece back once completed.
| Competitor's Chrome Quality |
CalChrome's Chrome Quality |
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| The wheel has been chromed. Notice the differences in reflectivity of the interior windows. |
| OEM |
CalChrome |
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| Here is an example of typical Original Equipment chrome plating. Obviously the wheel has only been polished on the face, all automated. |
Here is an example of California Chrome Wheels chrome plating. All surfaces are uniformly smooth and lustrous, showing the quality of hand polishing. |
At California Chrome Wheel Inc we continually strived to make improvements in our chrome plating process in an effort to provide not only the best looking product, but also the highest quality and best resistance to corrosion possible.
To that end, we atCalifornia Chrome Wheel Inc have gone above and beyond what any other decorative plater today has done, and have had our chrome plating independantly tested against not only a typical chinese chrome plated wheel, but also against another high volume American based decorative chrome pating facility.
The results speak for themselves as the CalChrome plated wheel surpassed either of the other wheels by over three times the testing length and actually surpassed the standards set forth by Chrysler, Ford, and GM.
At California Chrome we also offer a non-corrosive and non-destructive form of mechanical paint and chrome stripping called Uniform Media Blasting.
Uniform Media Blast is a cold working procedure by which the part surface is bombarded with small spheres of uniform media that creates compressive stresses used primarily to increase corrosion resistance, reduce porosity in castings, increase the fatigue life, and prevent stress and cracking of metal parts. Nearly all fatigue failures originate on the surface of a part, however, Uniform Media Blast significantly reduces this problem since cracks will not initiate in a compressively stressed area.
The finished texture of the wheel (prior to polishing) depends on the casting design, and alloy composition. Uniform Media Blast may create a slightly rougher finish in areas that are not polished, but which actually aids in keeping the tires from slipping and rotating on the wheels in high performance applications.
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Front View of Wheels |
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Here is an example showing two wheels side by side, both made by the same manufacturer, both made from the same material, and both made using the same manufacturing process. Both have been chrome plated by California Chrome Wheel Inc. and are ready for mounting. |
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Top View of Wheels |
As you can see in these pictures, the face, windows, lips and outer barrel of both wheels have been expertly prepped and polished prior to chrome plating. As a result, the chrome is of a show room quality luster second to none. |
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Rear View of Wheels |
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Upon closer inspection it is apparent that the wheel on the left has had special prep work done on the inner barrel of the wheel. |
This image shows the inner barrel of a standard chrome plated wheel. While the entire surface has in fact been chrome plated, it does not have the mirror like reflectivity that chrome is known for. This is because the inner barrel is very rarely prepped and polished since obviously it is not as visible as the face of the wheel. |
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Polished Inner Barrel |
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This image shows the chrome wheel where the inner barrel has been specially prepped and polished. Note how the inner barrel of this wheel is just as reflective as the face or lips of the wheel. Due to the extra labor involved in this kind of polishing, it is usually reserved for show vehicles, only available through special order, and at increased cost. Call for details. |
Note that while the inner barrel is fully polished, the rear side of the hub and spokes are not specially prepped. |
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| Close Comparison of polished vs. unpolished inside back barrel. |
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2005 Pontiac GTO 18" Chrome wheels with full polish. |
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Click here to proceed to the testing procedures and results
