Chrome plating of an aluminum wheel is an intricate and time-involved procedure. Below are some of the major steps required to chrome plate a wheel. Additional proprietary operations contribute to the wheel's final form. (Our Clientele)
1. WHEEL PICKUP
Local pickup is available in many regions on the West Coast.
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2. RECEIVING - Large Orders
Wheels are unloaded, sorted and prepped for processing.
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3. RECEIVING - Individual Orders
Individually shipped orders are received daily through ground delivery services.
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4. UNPACKING
Individually boxed wheels are unpacked by hand.
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5. INSPECTION
Wheels are inspected, and checked against included paperwork and photos are taken.
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6. TRACKING
Each wheel is engraved with a unique tracking number.
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7. TRACKING - Detail
Detail of tracking numbers.
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8. PAINT STRIP
All paint and primers are removed at low temperature so wheels dont warp.
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9. PAINT STRIP
All solutions are rinsed, collected and recycled.
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10. BEFORE / AFTER STRIP
Showing before and after of the paint stripping process.
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11. SEMI-AUTOMATIC
This procedure brings the lip and outer edge area to a high luster.
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12. DETAIL POLISING W/ HAND TOOLS
This work is necessary to process the detail relief areas of the wheel (windows).
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13. FINAL POLISHING
This final procedure polishes the larger facial areas of the wheel.
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14. JITTERBUFF
The flat part of the wheel is worked to eliminate waves in the material.
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15. SOAP BATH & RINSE
The wheel is put through a special operation to remove all polishing compounds.
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16. CHEMICAL ETCHING
The wheel is put through various chemical baths to etch the surfaces.
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17. COPPER PLATE
Copper plating helps fill imperfections in the porous, aluminum casing. Not all platers utilize this important step.
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18. COPPER PLATED WHEELS
After the completion of this procedure, copper wheels must again be polished before the next plating step can occur.
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19. COPPER BUFFING
Upon completion of the copper plating, the surface of the wheel needs to be brightened to a high-luster finish.
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20. COPPER BUFFING (DETAIL)
Once again, the relief areas (window) needs to be brightened to a high-luster finish.
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21. COPPER BATH
After the wheel is copper buffed, all of the polishing compound must be washed away to ensure proper adhesion of the following metals.
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22. INSPECTION
Copper plated wheels are inspected prior to receiving following nickel and chrome layers.
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23. SEMI-BRIGHT NICKEL
Semi-bright nickel provides the base layer for excellent corrosion resistance in multi layer nickel systems and function as a "barrier" to prevent base material corrosion.
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24. BRIGHT NICKEL
Bright nickel is the metal that is primarily responsible for the bright shiny reflective qualities of a chrome wheel. |
25. MICROPOUROUS NICKEL
Micropourous nickel (particle nickel) provides improved CASS-resistance due to a high amount of incorporated micro particles in the final nickel layer. |
26. AUXILIARY ANODE
This device is placed on the wheel and helps to ensure complete and even coverage.
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27. AUXILIARY ANODE ATTACHED
This device is placed on the wheel and helps to ensure complete and even coverage. |
28. CHROME PLATING SOLUTION
Alloy wheel shown after being dipped in chrome solution. |
29. FINAL RINSE
Any remaining solutions are removed.
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30. INSPECTION & CLEANING
As each wheel is cleaned and inspected, it is identified by the customer number that will determine its packaging.
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31. COMPLETED PART
Here is the completed part. It has been paint-stripped, polished, copper-plated, copper-buffed, nickel plated, and chrome plated.
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32. TRACKING
Completed wheels are tracked once again to ensure proper delivery.
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33. INDIVIDUALLY BOXED SHIPPING
19 inch and larger are boxed with our proprietary foam molding process for shipping via UPS, OnTrac, or palletized shipment.
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34. INDIVIDUALLY BOXED SHIPPING
18 inch and smaller are boxed with protective rings for shipping via UPS, OnTrac, or palletized shipment.
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35. PALETIZED SHIPPING
Large volume orders are loaded onto pallets and shrink wrapped.
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36. WHEEL DELIVERY
Individual orders, including mummy wrapped tire & wheel packages can be shipped via UPS.
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37. WHEEL MOUNTING
Wheels with tires are professionally mounted and road force balanced.
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38. INSTALLATION
Installation directly to vehicle by our trained technicians is available to local customers.
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