Warbird Information Exchange

Understood and I realize that. Please don’t have a come-apart on me. I guess I should have taken the time to craft a better answer. The decorative parts are not of much concern. As far as the industrial chromed parts are concerned, chrome plating is a necessary evil and done primarily on chromally steel parts which I believe are less susceptible to embrittlement and only in places where it is deemed absolutely necessary but I’m not a “former spurt” on the science. The trade off is a corrosion resistant and hard wearing long life surface. I’m not certain cad plating has the same embrittling effect on the base material as chrome does. Once again, I’m not a “former spurt” on the science.

John

John,

Nobody came apart on you. Sorry if you feel that way.
I simply disagreed with you, and backed my position for why I disagree, including reference that there is a material spec just for the procedure in question. In your first post, you insisted that everyone should have issue with chroming because of hydrogen embrittlement issues. I addressed that issue, and I gave two examples of approved chrome plating.
You then said you do not have issue with the decorative plating, yet that is what is done to a spinner, and was the question at issue leading to these last posts on this thread. Chroming spinners.


And for general info to everyone else reading this thread, yes, Cadmium plating causes hydrogen embrittlement in hardware. there are very specific guidelines regarding the baking process and time intervals between plating and baking for cad (and chrome) plating among others. Here is the important part: Never trust your plating of any aircraft part to a shop not capable of or farmiliar with the proper material spec for said operation. Someone's life may depend on it!

_________________
Expert:
Ex: Former.
Spurt: A drip under pressure.

We're cool and I'm OK with being educated as long as there is a reference trail behind the "Testimony!". As a rule learning something is the only reason I hit the internet. That said I like to see the paper trail so to speak since there is a lot of, well, BS flying out there. You suggested there were tech references to chroming but unfortunately did not supply a link to them. Not questioning you but I would like to see them.

No, I said I did not have an issue with chrome plating decorative parts, not decorative chrome plating on functional parts. The latter I do have issue with. I call a spinner a functional part. If it fails for any reason you have problems. If a doorstep or handrail fails...who cares? I think we’re on the same page…?

John

Wow,

Nice throw-back. You made some generalized B.S. comment like this:

Everybody in the aircraft world should have an issue with it since it produces hydrogen embrittlement in many metals, including aluminum, plated by it. It also makes the cracks in the base material very difficult to detect. Just not a good idea.

I countered with not only 2 examples of chrome parts that are certified by both the manufacturer, but obviously the Fed's, but I also stated that I really do not wish to waste the time to look up (and post) the actual material specs(on this site), but they are out there for those that do not know, and I stated that hydrogen embrittlement is easily prevented by following approved procedures.

I am no expert either, and I did not like the tone of what you inferred in your last post. If you really want me to recite to you the most current specs for both procedures that I stated were available, I would be happy to do so all you needed to do was ask.

From memory here are two. There are more:

Spec for cadmium plating of aircraft hardware: spec QQ-P-416

SAE/AMS spec for hard chrome (IIRC) is 2406L (or current letter)

These are all off the top of my head after a couple of brew's, and it is late. If you really wish to continue I will be happy to look up the most current revisions that I can find for you at my normal shop rate.

_________________
Expert:
Ex: Former.
Spurt: A drip under pressure.

Thank you for supplying the spec’s Mike. That's what I was asking for so I can delve more into the topic and learn. I was absolutely not inferring anything negative towards you in the last post. Once again the written word is no match for a spoken conversation.

Regards,
John

More reading on the subject for those who wish to feed their inner nerd. I appologize for the broad brush I used in my earliest post on this subject. It was in error and based on old hangar talk heresay. Mike is correct that when done correctly, plating of many types can be successfully accomplished at minimal risk.

Regards,
John

http://www.omegaresearchinc.com/Publica ... .html#figa

Polished aluminum looks 1000x better than the look favored by the chromosexuals....

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.