As we all know, chromium plating is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium on metal objects. This CNC machining process is very common in our lives. This is because the chromium layer is decorative, provides corrosion resistance, facilitates cleaning, or adds surface hardness. Therefore, the bumper in the car is often chrome-plated.
What should you do if your chrome bumper has dents, scratches, or some unsightly pits or rust? This is a problem often encountered in life. If you are also suffering from this problem, then this article is worth your time. Here, we’ll share 3 simple yet effective ways to repair (or cover) bumper chrome chips. Without further ado, let’s get started!
What is chrome and chrome plating?
Before introducing the method, we need to understand what chrome is. Chrome refers to an alloy based on chromium and added with other elements. It is a refractory alloy (melting point is as high as 1860 degrees Celsius). Chrome has good antioxidant properties as well as seawater corrosion properties.
Chrome plating refers to the act of plating chromium onto other metals as a coating. Generally, they can be divided into four categories according to their use:
- Decorative chrome plating: The plating is thin, bright, and beautiful, and is usually used as the outermost layer of multi-layer electroplating.
- Hard chromium plating: It has extremely high hardness and wear resistance, which can extend the service life of workpieces, such as cutting and drawing tools, pressing molds, and casting molds of various materials, bearings, shafts, gauges, gears, etc., and can also be used for repair Dimensional tolerances of worn parts.
- Milky white chrome plating: milky white, low gloss, good toughness, low porosity, soft color, lower hardness than hard chrome and decorative chrome, but high corrosion resistance, so it is often used in measuring tools and instrument panels.
- Porous chromium plating (porous chromium): It takes advantage of the characteristics of the chromium layer itself to have fine cracks. After hard chromium plating, mechanical, chemical, or electrochemical porous treatment is performed to further deepen and widen the crack network.
- Black chrome plating Black chrome plating: black, with uniform luster, good decorative properties, good matting properties; high hardness.
How to repair a chipped chrome bumper
Here we’ll share with you three effective ways to fix a chipped chrome bumper, but if you’re going to try it yourself, be safe.
Method 1：Conceal small chips in chrome
Under this method, you have 3 options. Don’t worry, we will introduce you one by one. All you need to do is read on step by step.
Option 1: Try chrome polish with rust remover
You can purchase some rust remover such as Turtle Wax Chrome Rust Remover and follow these steps:
- 1. Make sure the surface of the object is clean and free of debris
- 2. Shake the rust remover well, then use an applicator or soft cloth to apply a small amount of rust remover to the affected area.
- 3. Wait for the rust remover to dry and form a mist on the surface.
- 4. Wipe and polish with a soft cloth
Option 2: Liquid chrome marker
If option 1 fails, perhaps you could try some liquid-liquid chrome markers. You can find different sizes of liquid chrome on the market, you can choose according to the size of the chrome notch on the bumper.
Option 3: Chrome spray paint
If the chrome gap on the bumper is relatively large, you can also choose to cover it with spray paint. However, you need to be very careful about putting a clear coat on top of it before using spray paint, as this will affect the color of your final spray paint.
Method 2: Re-plating chrome
If the options provided in Method 1 don’t satisfy you, don’t be discouraged. You have one final option: re-chrome plating. However, we strongly recommend that you entrust this method to professionals because the process is complicated. It will probably go through the following steps:
- If possible, remove the bumper that needs to be repaired first.
- Bumper surface preparation and manual cleaning to remove dirt and surface impurities.
- Residual organic contamination is removed using emulsion cleaning, alkaline cleaning, anodic electro-cleaning, or solvent cleaning by immersion, spray, manual application, or steam condensation.
- Then it needs to be rinsed-activated or electro-etched-rinsed
- Finally, immerse the bumper in the chrome bath – heat – time setting – rinse until complete
Method 3: Painting over chrome with another color
While Method 2 can completely repair a chipped bumper, re-chroming is expensive and not cost-effective for most people. If this is you, you can choose Method 3: Paint the top of the chrome bumper a different color. This method can save you a lot of money.
However, we do not recommend that you do this yourself. You need to find an auto repair shop to help you do it. If you’d rather try it yourself, we’ve also found a video tutorial on this method for you.
Conclusion
In this article, you’ve learned what chrome is, what chrome plating is, and how to fix a chip in the chrome on your car bumper. But if you want to completely repair your chipped bumper, then re-chroming would be your best option. Receiving all the benefits of re-chroming is all about choosing a reliable partner. Here, CNCMass will be your best choice. The professional team makes chrome plating something that can be easily completed.
