Chrome plating aluminium

[ferrus]

Some of the ICS Campagnolo parts were chromed.
I don’t see the point really as alum can be almost mirror polished.

 

[Canuk]

Some of the ICS Campagnolo parts were chromed.
I don’t see the point really as alum can be almost mirror polished.

I suppose it's for durability of finish, I don't know how long polished aluminium lasts, even if lacquered

 

[ferrus]

6000 series seems to retain a shine for ages and isn’t prone to oxidation. Other types might need to be anodised or at least waxed/lacquered. I use Poor Boys wheel sealant which works really well.

 

[ferrus]

Many Campag hubs for instance are highly polished without anodising, White Industries also. They stay pretty shiny for months - especially after fervent use of the Autosol!

 

[Canuk]

6000 series seems to retain a shine for ages and isn’t prone to oxidation. Other types might need to be anodised or at least waxed/lacquered. I use Poor Boys wheel sealant which works really well.

I polished up a 1st version C Record chain set at work to a mirror finish and it lasted a good 3 years before it started to wane

 

[ferrus]

I polished up a 1st version C Record chain set at work to a mirror finish and it lasted a good 3 years before it started to wane

That’s good to know. I’ve had much less luck success with chainsets as they tend to be made from more fatigue resist alloys which need to be anodised. A Centaur MTB crank went furry in a couple of weeks.
Strangely, White Industries USA polished cranks aren’t anodised and seem to hold up ok (not the Sugino made versions). They’re the only un-anodised cranks I know of.