Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

Bob AZ wrote:

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ

Polished stainless?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ
In all likelihood it was not chromed. More likely made of stainless
and polished, or aluminum, polished and "brightened". Usually on
tankers it is stainless.What isn't solid stainless may have stainless
covers. The wheels may be chrome plated aluminum alloys.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ

Probably polished stainless. Chrome plating takes 1 to 1.5 amps per
square inch. Do the math. Chrome-plating a semi-tanker would take
what some might regard as a serous bunch of DC amps.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

clare at snyder.on.ca wrote in message
...
On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ
In all likelihood it was not chromed. More likely made of stainless
and polished, or aluminum, polished and "brightened". Usually on
tankers it is stainless.What isn't solid stainless may have stainless
covers. The wheels may be chrome plated aluminum alloys.

Or wheel covers, which look pretty good on big truck wheels.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

(Many) years ago when I was a high-school physics teacher, we used a series
of films from the PSSC (the Physical Science Study Committee -- created to
improve physics education after Sputnik). One of these was from the "Magnet
Lab" at one of the better-known universities (Harvard?). In it they
demonstrated how parallel conductors are attracted toward each other, and
how conductors carrying current in the opposite direction are repelled from
each other, with half-inch solid copper bars! The physicist on camera would
call to someone off camera to "give me a thousand amps", and then "give me
another thousand amps" and so forth. The parallel bars, mounted several
inches apart, would bend toward each other when the current got high enough.
A U-shaped conductor tried to become a circle. Pretty impressive. I can't
remember how many total DC amps they ended up using, but it demonstrated
magnetic effects very effectively. That set of films as outstanding and a
lot of fun.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Don Foreman" wrote in message
...
On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:
Chrome-plating a semi-tanker would take
what some might regard as a serous bunch of DC amps.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

Bob Chilcoat wrote:

(Many) years ago when I was a high-school physics teacher, we used a series
of films from the PSSC (the Physical Science Study Committee -- created to
improve physics education after Sputnik). One of these was from the "Magnet
Lab" at one of the better-known universities (Harvard?). In it they
demonstrated how parallel conductors are attracted toward each other, and
how conductors carrying current in the opposite direction are repelled from
each other, with half-inch solid copper bars! The physicist on camera would
call to someone off camera to "give me a thousand amps", and then "give me
another thousand amps" and so forth. The parallel bars, mounted several
inches apart, would bend toward each other when the current got high enough.
A U-shaped conductor tried to become a circle. Pretty impressive. I can't
remember how many total DC amps they ended up using, but it demonstrated
magnetic effects very effectively. That set of films as outstanding and a
lot of fun.




http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/s...ets990813.html

Scientists in the Netherlands used a strong magnetic field to make a
frog float.
(scroll about 1/2 way down the page)

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 23:34:09 GMT, ff wrote:

Bob Chilcoat wrote:

(Many) years ago when I was a high-school physics teacher, we used a series
of films from the PSSC (the Physical Science Study Committee -- created to
improve physics education after Sputnik). One of these was from the "Magnet
Lab" at one of the better-known universities (Harvard?). In it they
demonstrated how parallel conductors are attracted toward each other, and
how conductors carrying current in the opposite direction are repelled from
each other, with half-inch solid copper bars! The physicist on camera would
call to someone off camera to "give me a thousand amps", and then "give me
another thousand amps" and so forth. The parallel bars, mounted several
inches apart, would bend toward each other when the current got high enough.
A U-shaped conductor tried to become a circle. Pretty impressive. I can't
remember how many total DC amps they ended up using, but it demonstrated
magnetic effects very effectively. That set of films as outstanding and a
lot of fun.




http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/s...ets990813.html

Scientists in the Netherlands used a strong magnetic field to make a
frog float.
(scroll about 1/2 way down the page)
And the frog didn't even seem to mind.
ERS

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ

I'm certain that it was polished stainless. However, if you really
want to "chrome" something large, there are some new chrome colored
powders available for powder coating that are pretty convincing. Ask
your local powder coater and they can definitely get their hands on
some for you.

John P.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

"Bob AZ" wrote in message
oups.com...
Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ


you guys are reminding me of something i saw on the internet. i couldn't
remember if i heard about it through this group, i think not, i think it was
posted to Ranger Power Sports.

http://www.hpill.com/topic/2005/06/3...shiny/#more-58

these are not the best shots of it. i tried the manufacturers website but
for some reason their links to this shiny car are not working for me.

http://www.mtm-online.de/en/

(toward the bottom of the page, thumbnail photos "mtm Audi A8 D3 polished"

http://mtm-online.de/img/mtm/a8poliert/a8poliert.jpg

ah, here it is, got through somehow...

http://www.mtm-online.de/de/showbild...rie= galerie1

there's other links to it, and it's story out there. they said not
everything is aluminum/chrome, some is painted plastic (bumpers etc.).

i usually don't like "chrome" but this car looks pretty cool.

b.w.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ

Gasoline tank bodies are mostly built from rolled Aluminum plate,
and they get shiny from lots and lots and lots and lots of buffing.
They don't make plating tanks that big.

The little things that are Stainless can be buffed out, and the
brass or carbon steel parts can be dipped in the 'Shiny Stuff' plating
tank relatively easily, for exposed nuts and hardware they make plated
cover caps that snap over the carbon-steel hardware. The ALCOA Forged
Aluminum wheels can be ordered factory polished.

The frame rails on the tractor would be a huge problem - they're
HSLA steel, hence the big "Do NOT Weld Cut Or Drill The Frame Rails"
stickers on both sides - which is why they come pre-punched like a
Swiss cheese. If you want to add another fuel tank bracket or
something, just find a convenient hole and use it.

I suppose you could order the truck custom and get the bare frame
rails chrome plated before assembly begins, but you're going to pay
some serious coin for that option.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 06:13:24 GMT, Bruce L. Bergman
wrote:

On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:

Always been curious!

On the freeweay I saw a semi-tanker and it was ALL chrome plated except
for the tires, light lenses and wiring and hoses. Does some plating
shop have big enough tanks for this? If not what do they do to chrome
plate something this large?
Bob AZ

Gasoline tank bodies are mostly built from rolled Aluminum plate,
and they get shiny from lots and lots and lots and lots of buffing.
They don't make plating tanks that big.

The little things that are Stainless can be buffed out, and the
brass or carbon steel parts can be dipped in the 'Shiny Stuff' plating
tank relatively easily, for exposed nuts and hardware they make plated
cover caps that snap over the carbon-steel hardware. The ALCOA Forged
Aluminum wheels can be ordered factory polished.

The frame rails on the tractor would be a huge problem - they're
HSLA steel, hence the big "Do NOT Weld Cut Or Drill The Frame Rails"
stickers on both sides - which is why they come pre-punched like a
Swiss cheese. If you want to add another fuel tank bracket or
something, just find a convenient hole and use it.

I suppose you could order the truck custom and get the bare frame
rails chrome plated before assembly begins, but you're going to pay
some serious coin for that option.

-- Bruce --

I actually saw one on the 405 some time back. Chromed frame rails on
a dairy tanker..then things slowed down..and I was able to take a
better look..and it was an over sleeve..or cover on the outside of the
frame rails. Looking into the frame..the inside of the rails were
black and you could see the attachment bolts

Gunner

The aim of untold millions is to be free to do exactly as they choose
and for someone else to pay when things go wrong.

In the past few decades, a peculiar and distinctive psychology
has emerged in England. Gone are the civility, sturdy independence,
and admirable stoicism that carried the English through the war years
.. It has been replaced by a constant whine of excuses, complaints,
and special pleading. The collapse of the British character has been
as swift and complete as the collapse of British power.

Theodore Dalrymple,

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

Eric R Snow wrote:

On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 23:34:09 GMT, ff wrote:



Bob Chilcoat wrote:



(Many) years ago when I was a high-school physics teacher, we used a series
of films from the PSSC (the Physical Science Study Committee -- created to
improve physics education after Sputnik). One of these was from the "Magnet
Lab" at one of the better-known universities (Harvard?). In it they
demonstrated how parallel conductors are attracted toward each other, and
how conductors carrying current in the opposite direction are repelled from
each other, with half-inch solid copper bars! The physicist on camera would
call to someone off camera to "give me a thousand amps", and then "give me
another thousand amps" and so forth. The parallel bars, mounted several
inches apart, would bend toward each other when the current got high enough.
A U-shaped conductor tried to become a circle. Pretty impressive. I can't
remember how many total DC amps they ended up using, but it demonstrated
magnetic effects very effectively. That set of films as outstanding and a
lot of fun.





http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/s...ets990813.html

Scientists in the Netherlands used a strong magnetic field to make a
frog float.
(scroll about 1/2 way down the page)


And the frog didn't even seem to mind.
ERS


Probably felt like a magic fingers back massage.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

Bob Chilcoat wrote:
(Many) years ago when I was a high-school physics teacher, we used a series
of films from the PSSC (the Physical Science Study Committee -- created to
improve physics education after Sputnik). One of these was from the "Magnet
Lab" at one of the better-known universities (Harvard?). In it they
demonstrated how parallel conductors are attracted toward each other, and
how conductors carrying current in the opposite direction are repelled from
each other, with half-inch solid copper bars! The physicist on camera would
call to someone off camera to "give me a thousand amps", and then "give me
another thousand amps" and so forth.


I used to work on an arc heater for one of our wind tunnels that was
under construction at UT Arlington. When it was to be used, we had to
notify the power company so that they wouldn't trip our substation
offline when the heater fired up. I don't remember exactly how much
power it consumed over all, but the DC power panel showed 2000 volts
and 1000 amps as nominal operating levels to fire the heater. The
converters and control system added a bunch of required power on top of
that.

Craig C.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

"Bruce L. Bergman" wrote in message
...
On 6 Jan 2006 21:05:22 -0800, "Bob AZ" wrote:

The frame rails on the tractor would be a huge problem - they're
HSLA steel, hence the big "Do NOT Weld Cut Or Drill The Frame Rails"
stickers on both sides - which is why they come pre-punched like a
Swiss cheese. If you want to add another fuel tank bracket or
something, just find a convenient hole and use it.

Does that apply to the end of the frame behind the rear axle, on a typical
medium/heavy duty straight truck? Body fabricators around here invariably
weld ICC bumpers and trailer hitches to the rear of the frame channels, with
apparently no ill effects.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

I used to work for a chemical co that had electrolytic cell lines for
chlorine production. The cell lines typically ran at 800VDC, 60,000 amps.
The DC bus bars were 10" x 20" solid aluminum logs. Occasionally, an
operator would get too close to the bus bars with a pair of channelocks in
his pocket only to have them to leap out of his pocket and attach themselves
to the bus.

Randy

wrote in message
oups.com...
Bob Chilcoat wrote:
(Many) years ago when I was a high-school physics teacher, we used a
series
of films from the PSSC (the Physical Science Study Committee -- created
to
improve physics education after Sputnik). One of these was from the
"Magnet
Lab" at one of the better-known universities (Harvard?). In it they
demonstrated how parallel conductors are attracted toward each other, and
how conductors carrying current in the opposite direction are repelled
from
each other, with half-inch solid copper bars! The physicist on camera
would
call to someone off camera to "give me a thousand amps", and then "give
me
another thousand amps" and so forth.


I used to work on an arc heater for one of our wind tunnels that was
under construction at UT Arlington. When it was to be used, we had to
notify the power company so that they wouldn't trip our substation
offline when the heater fired up. I don't remember exactly how much
power it consumed over all, but the DC power panel showed 2000 volts
and 1000 amps as nominal operating levels to fire the heater. The
converters and control system added a bunch of required power on top of
that.

Craig C.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

R. O'Brian wrote:
I used to work for a chemical co that had electrolytic cell lines for
chlorine production. The cell lines typically ran at 800VDC, 60,000 amps.
The DC bus bars were 10" x 20" solid aluminum logs. Occasionally, an
operator would get too close to the bus bars with a pair of channelocks in
his pocket only to have them to leap out of his pocket and attach themselves
to the bus.

Randy

wrote in message
oups.com...

Bob Chilcoat wrote:

(Many) years ago when I was a high-school physics teacher, we used a
series
of films from the PSSC (the Physical Science Study Committee -- created
to
improve physics education after Sputnik). One of these was from the
"Magnet
Lab" at one of the better-known universities (Harvard?). In it they
demonstrated how parallel conductors are attracted toward each other, and
how conductors carrying current in the opposite direction are repelled
from
each other, with half-inch solid copper bars! The physicist on camera
would
call to someone off camera to "give me a thousand amps", and then "give
me
another thousand amps" and so forth.


I used to work on an arc heater for one of our wind tunnels that was
under construction at UT Arlington. When it was to be used, we had to
notify the power company so that they wouldn't trip our substation
offline when the heater fired up. I don't remember exactly how much
power it consumed over all, but the DC power panel showed 2000 volts
and 1000 amps as nominal operating levels to fire the heater. The
converters and control system added a bunch of required power on top of
that.

The Milwaukee Road railroad ran straight electric
locomotives over the Montana Rocky and the Washington
Cascade mountains. A train going up might draw 6000 amperes
at 3000 volts DC. Going down, it would regenerate maybe
1/2 to 1/4 of that back into the lines.

The system had a 100,000 volt AC "highline" that roughly
followed the railroad right-of-way. Every 25 miles or
so was a large brick substation. The 100,000 volts was
transformed to about 11,000 volts and that ran synchronous
motors that turned DC generators to make the 3000 volts
DC. Everything was designed so that it would run "backwards"
and feed the breaking energy back into the highline and
run the watthour meters backwords as the trains came
down the hills.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

On Mon, 9 Jan 2006 00:16:59 -0500, "ATP*"
wrote:
"Bruce L. Bergman" wrote in message
.. .

The frame rails on the tractor would be a huge problem - they're
HSLA steel, hence the big "Do NOT Weld Cut Or Drill The Frame Rails"
stickers on both sides - which is why they come pre-punched like a
Swiss cheese. If you want to add another fuel tank bracket or
something, just find a convenient hole and use it.

Does that apply to the end of the frame behind the rear axle, on a typical
medium/heavy duty straight truck? Body fabricators around here invariably
weld ICC bumpers and trailer hitches to the rear of the frame channels, with
apparently no ill effects.

Well, if the only thing that's back there at the very end of the
frame rails is the ICC bumper, it's not normally a high stress area
and it'll probably be fine. The lady in the Honda that plows into it
at 70 while looking down to dial her cellphone, however... _

If they did the same thing (welding, drilling, cutting) in a
stressed area like the vicinity of the saddle hitch or the rear axle
hard-points, or they stick a pintle hitch on that welded-on rear
bumper for towing a trailer with a real load in it, then they beat on
the truck hard, you'd soon have a two-piece frame-rail from a crack in
the Heat Affected Zone or a stress riser around a hole.

"Cracks Happen." And lawyers happen too, hence the sticker.

I'm sure there's a proper welding process and post-weld heat treat
that can be followed to avoid cracking, but I have no idea what it is.
I know what I don't know, and the solution is to go find an expert
first before making big trouble for myself.

Note that on straight trucks the box body isn't welded to the truck
chassis, it's held on with big U-bolts around the frame rails, and/or
with plates and tabs bolted through existing frame holes.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

Chrome Plating BIG Things
 

It was stainless- You can buy stainless sheet prepolished, with a
plastic cover sheet on it. You roll it, or bend it, peel back enough of
the plastic to not catch on fire when you weld it.
You can also electropolish stainless- which means no buffing.
They use a big DC power supply, hooked up the reverse polarity of what
you would use for plating- so the top layer of stainless is being
stripped off. They do this in a mild acid bath, usually heated- it will
give you a mirror like shine on stainless bar, round, or sheet.
They also use a similar process to electropolish the INSIDE of
stainless pipes in factories like Coke plants and dairies- plug the
ends, fill with acid, and add electricity. Then drain and rinse, and
the insides of the pipes are shiny and clean.