California Chrome Wheel Inc. Chrome Exchange Specialists
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Summary
  1. Wheel Pickup
  2. Receiving - Large
  3. Receiving - Individual
  4. Unpacking
  5. Inspection
  6. Tracking
  7. Tracking - Detail
  8. Paint Strip
  9. 1st Stage Polish
  10. Detail Polishing
  11. Semi-Automatic
  12. Jitterbuff
  1. Soap Bath & Rinse
  2. Chemical Etching
  3. Copper Plate
  4. Copper Plating
  5. Copper Buffing
  6. Copper (detail)
  7. Semi-Bright Nickel
  8. Bright Nickel
  9. Microporous Nickel
  10. Auxiliary Anode
  11. Auxiliary Anode (installed)
  12. Chrome Plating Solution
  1. Final Rinse
  2. Completed Part
  3. Inspection & Cleaning
  4. Tracking
  5. Foam Wrap Boxing
  6. Protective Ring Boxing
  7. Paletized Shipping
  8. Wheel Delivery
  9. Tire Mounting
  10. Installation
Introduction

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)

CalChrome Chroming Process
Pickup and delivery: The CalChrome Trucks
1. WHEEL PICKUP
Local pickup is available in many regions on the West Coast.
Receiving large orders via LTL trucking
2. RECEIVING - Large Orders
Wheels are unloaded, sorted and prepped for processing.
Receiving individual orders via standard shipping
3. RECEIVING - Individual Orders
Individually shipped orders are received daily through ground delivery services.
Unpacking of individually shipped orders
4. UNPACKING
Individually boxed wheels are unpacked by hand.
Inspection of incoming wheels for damage
5. INSPECTION
Wheels are inspected, and checked against included paperwork and photos are taken.
Each wheel is engraved with a unique tracking number
6. INSPECTION
Wheels are inspected, and checked against included paperwork and photos are taken.
Detail of tracking number engraved on wheel
7. TRACKING - Detail
Detail of tracking numbers.
The wheels are stripped to bare aluminum
8. PAINT STRIP
All paint and primers are removed.
First stage of polishing for large areas of the wheel
9. FIRST STAGE POLISHING
This procedure prepares the larger facial area of the wheel.
Polishing detail areas of the wheel with hand tools
10. DETAIL POLISING W/ HAND TOOLS
This work is necessary to process the detail relief areas of the wheel (windows).
Semi-Automatic polishing for the outer lip of the wheel
11. SEMI-AUTOMATIC
This procedure brings the lip and outer edge area to a high luster.
Jitterbuff eliminates waves in broad areas of the wheel
12. JITTERBUFF
The flat part of the wheel is worked to eliminate waves in the material.
Wheel is completely cleaned to remove polishing compounts
13. SOAP BATH & RINSE
The wheel is put through a special operation to remove all polishing compounds.
Aluminum is chemically etched which aids in metal adhesion
14. CHEMICAL ETCHING
The wheel is put through various chemical baths to etch the surfaces.
Wheel is copper plated to help fill in porous aluminum casting
15. COPPER PLATE
Copper plating helps fill imperfections in the porous, aluminum casing. Not all platers utilize this important step.
Wheel after copper plating prior to copper buff
16. COPPER PLATED WHEELS
After the completion of this procedure, copper wheels must again be polished before the next plating step can occur.
Copper buffing brightens and smooths the surface further
17. COPPER BUFFING
Upon completion of the copper plating, the surface of the wheel needs to be brightened to a high-luster finish.
Tight areas and windows are buffed by hand
18. COPPER BUFFING (DETAIL)
Once again, the relief areas (window) needs to be brightened to a high-luster finish.
Semi Bright Nickel
19. 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.
Bright nickel plating bath
20. BRIGHT NICKEL
Bright nickel is the metal that is primarily responsible for the bright shiny reflective qualities of a chrome wheel.
Auxiliary anodes
21. MICROPOUROUS NICKEL
Micropourous nickel (particle nickel) provides improved CASS-resistance due to a high amount of incorporated micro particles in the final nickel layer.
Auxiliary anodes
22. AUXILIARY ANODE
This device is placed on the wheel and helps to ensure complete and even coverage.
Auxiliary anodes
23. AUXILIARY ANODE ATTACHED
This device is placed on the wheel and helps to ensure complete and even coverage.
Chrome plating bath
24. CHROME PLATING SOLUTION
Alloy wheel shown after being dipped in chrome solution.
Final rinse
25. FINAL RINSE
Any remaining solutions are removed.
Completed part
26. COMPLETED PART
Here is the completed part. It has been paint-stripped, polished, copper-plated, copper-buffed, nickel plated, and chrome plated.
Final cleaning and inspection
27. INSPECTION & CLEANING
As each wheel is cleaned and inspected, it is identified by the customer number that will determine its packaging.
Tracking info on completed wheel
28. TRACKING
Completed wheels are tracked once again to ensure proper delivery.
Custom boxes for the ultimate protection
29. INDIVIDUALLY BOXED SHIPPING
19 inch and larger are boxed with our proprietary foam molding process for shipping via UPS, OnTrac, or palletized shipment.
Custom boxes for the ultimate protection
30. INDIVIDUALLY BOXED SHIPPING
18 inch and smaller are boxed with protective rings for shipping via UPS, OnTrac, or palletized shipment.
Palletized wheels shipping out via LTL truck
31. PALETIZED SHIPPING
Large volume orders are loaded onto pallets and shrink wrapped.
Boxed and wrapped wheels shipping out via UPS
32. WHEEL DELIVERY
Individual orders, including mummy wrapped tire & wheel packages can be shipped via UPS.
Orders with tires are mounted and road force balanced
33. WHEEL MOUNTING
Wheels with tires are professionally mounted and road force balanced.
Local installations are also available by appointment
34. INSTALLATION
Installation directly to vehicle by our trained technicians is available to local customers.
 
California Chrome Wheel Inc. hours of operation
including telephone / internet sales and installation services:

Mon-Fri Saturday Sunday
8:00-5:00 PST By Appointment Closed
Shipping & Receiving:
28315 Constellation Road
Valencia, CA 91355
Billing:
PO Box 802936
Santa Clarita, CA 91380-2936
Phone: (661) 294-0170 | Fax: (661) 294-0104
All manufacturer logos are used for identification purposes only,
and does not represent an affiliation, authorization nor licensing with such manufacturer.


Copyright ©2006 California Chrome Wheel. All Rights Reserved. The use of this site, and the terms and conditions for the sale of any goods and services, is governed by the Terms of Service Agreement. By using this site you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service Agreement and the disclaimers and caveats contained in this site, and that you accept and will be bound by the terms thereof.

California Chrome Wheel Inc - The Chrome Wheel Exchange Specialists Chrome Plate Your Wheels