Hard Chroming a knife?

zombiehunter

zombiehunter

Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
105
There are alot of things that get "Industrial Hard Chromed" like high friction machine parts, gun parts, etc. Is there anyone who has hard chromed a knife? Is it possible and would there be any drawback to doing it?

I think black chrome would look bad a$$ on a knife as well.

-Jared
J.M. Place Handmade Knives
 
Description of Hydrogen embrittlement problems often seen in hard chrome plating. THinking that the problem scenario it describes about perfectly describes most knives(carbon steel, over 45 HRC, etc)

"Hydrogen gas is liberated at the cathode during various pretreatment and electroplating processes. This active hydrogen can embrittle both the chromium deposit, and the steel substrate whenever the workpiece is cathodic (i.e. attached to the negative pole of a direct current power supply). Certain steels are more susceptible to embrittlement than others. Typically, hardened or high strength steels are especially susceptible. Steels that have been heat treated to a hardness of Rockwell C45 or higher are often at greatest risk"
 
I have seen excellent examples of hydrogen embrittlement. The hydrogen atom is very small and will migrate to areas of high stress and cause cracking .Electroplated parts that are hardened must be baked after plating to remove the hydrogen...... But why do you need a chromed knife when you can get a stainless steel knife.
 
Happy to help.

Was discussing this with some friends last night, and guy(not knife maker) asked why you didn't just mirror polish stainless. Told him that good stainlesses(ie the S series from Crucbile) are not easy to get to that kind of polish, unlike the cheap "stainless" knives you see at gun shows, which is why I could see where this idea was worth thought.

But seeing what the process can do to knives, Guess best option is just to put out extra work to get a nice finish on real stainless. That way it's still shiny, and you get good corrosion resistance.
 
Originally posted by etp777
Happy to help.

Was discussing this with some friends last night, and guy(not knife maker) asked why you didn't just mirror polish stainless.
Click to expand...


Industrial hard chrome is actually a satin finish, as the parts to be plated are usually vapor honed, or bead blasted first. The hard chrome looks just like the surface finish.

It is a lot different than bumper chrome, a lot harder too.
 
Mike, to get a CHEMICALLY clean , not soap and water clean they should first reverse the leads and deplate. This gives a chemically clean surface but also produces a matt finish since material is removed .They then put the leads on to plate.
 
Originally posted by mete
Mike, to get a CHEMICALLY clean , not soap and water clean they should first reverse the leads and deplate. This gives a chemically clean surface but also produces a matt finish since material is removed .They then put the leads on to plate.
Click to expand...


All I know is, when I worked in the gun business the firearms were vapor honed as one of the last steps prior to plating. It produced a very fine satin finish.
 
Originally posted by mete
I have seen excellent examples of hydrogen embrittlement. The hydrogen atom is very small and will migrate to areas of high stress and cause cracking .Electroplated parts that are hardened must be baked after plating to remove the hydrogen...... But why do you need a chromed knife when you can get a stainless steel knife.
Click to expand...
for the newbies

Good Knife making s/steels will rust,like 154CM ats34 440c...
they are just barely
ss because of the Chromium added being just over 12.5%
D2 at 12.5 is not considered SS.

real SS doesn't make for a good knife..it's way too soft
and you can't temper it.

Chrome is a hard layer and is as dull as the steel under it.
because it's clear,,
it's the nickel plating under it that shines
at least in bumper chrome :) nickel/chrome
 
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