Frequently Asked Questions

We offer a comprehensive range of metal finishing services including zinc plating, nickel plating (bright and semi-bright), chrome plating (decorative and hard chrome), aluminum anodizing (Type II and Type III), copper plating, brass plating and buffing and polishing services. We also provide specialty alloy plating for unique applications. If you have a specific requirement not listed, contact us to discuss custom solutions.

Standard turnaround for most plating services is 3-5 business days. Anodizing and chrome plating typically require 5-7 business days due to additional processing steps. For high-volume production orders, we provide estimated timelines based on current workload. Rush service is available for time-critical projects for an additional fee. Contact us for specific timing on your project.

Absolutely! We provide free quotes for all projects. For accurate pricing, we need details about your parts including material composition, quantity, dimensions, current surface condition and desired finish. You can request a quote through our contact form, by email or by phone. Large or complex projects may require physical inspection of parts for precise pricing.

While our facility is located in Oak Harbor, WA, we serve clients throughout the Pacific Northwest including Skagit County, Whatcom County, Snohomish County and beyond. We regularly ship parts to customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. We can also coordinate freight shipping for clients nationwide.

Our processes comply with various industry specifications including ASTM standards for plating thickness, adhesion and corrosion resistance. We maintain detailed process documentation and quality records for aerospace and automotive customers. Our quality control procedures include thickness testing, adhesion testing and visual inspection of every batch.

Decorative chrome is primarily aesthetic, providing that brilliant mirror finish you see on automotive trim and motorcycle parts. It typically involves a layer of nickel underchrome for brightness, topped with a thin layer of chrome. Hard chrome is an engineering coating applied for its hardness, wear resistance and low friction coefficient. It's much thicker than decorative chrome and is used on hydraulic cylinders, engine components and industrial equipment.

Zinc plating provides excellent sacrificial corrosion protection for steel and iron. The zinc coating corrodes instead of the base metal, protecting even scratched or damaged areas. Zinc is cost-effective, provides good coverage on complex shapes and can be chromate-converted for enhanced corrosion resistance in clear, yellow or black finishes. It's widely used in automotive, construction and industrial applications.

Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts the aluminum surface into a durable, corrosion-resistant oxide layer. Unlike paint or plating, this oxide layer is integral to the aluminum and won't peel or chip. Type II anodizing provides decorative finishes in various colors. Type III (hardcoat) anodizing creates a thicker, harder surface ideal for wear resistance and aerospace applications.

In most cases, existing finishes must be completely removed before replating. This typically involves stripping, cleaning and sometimes polishing to achieve proper adhesion. We offer stripping services for many types of coatings. Some substrates may require special preparation. Contact us with details about your parts for specific recommendations.

Plating thickness depends on your application and specification requirements. Decorative chrome is typically 0.00001-0.0002 inches thick. Hard chrome can be applied up to 0.01 inches or more for wear applications. Zinc plating typically ranges from 0.0002-0.0005 inches. We can plate to your specified thickness or recommend appropriate levels based on your application requirements.

We offer both barrel and rack plating methods. Barrel plating is ideal for small parts in higher quantities as parts tumble in a perforated barrel during plating. Rack plating uses fixturing to hold parts individually, which is better for larger parts, precision components or when maintaining exact orientation is critical. We recommend the best method based on your part specifications.

Parts should be clean and free of oil, grease and heavy rust before arriving. Remove any plastic, rubber or other non-metallic components that shouldn't be plated. If you need masking of specific areas, indicate this clearly when requesting a quote. We can handle light cleaning and surface preparation as part of our service for an additional charge.

We accept parts shipped via common carriers, freight services or hand delivery. For outbound shipping, we can coordinate freight quotes or use your preferred carrier. All parts are carefully packaged to prevent damage during transit. International shipments require proper customs documentation which we can assist with.

We welcome single-piece orders! There is no minimum quantity requirement. However, very small orders may be subject to a minimum job charge. For production volume orders, volume discounts are available. Contact us for pricing on your specific project.