Spiral hoses for chrome plating

The silver spray technique uses chemicals dispersed in distilled water. These liquids are stored in tanks and are brought to the sprayers through hoses and other spare parts for the chrome plating system which form the spray station or the “chrome machine”.
We still use Polyurethane spiral hoses, which are supplied as spiral hoses : these spirals allow for more practical use, as an extended length of 4m or 6m hoses can return to its original spiral shape with a length of only 1 Mr. When you know the technique and the quick manipulations between the different guns connected to the hoses, you know that it is very easy to get everything tangled up !
These hoses, which allow the conveying of the diluted chemical products from the tanks stainless steel up to the spray gun, have many qualities.
Polyurethane spiral hoses are characterized by high resistance to abrasion, pressure and wear. On the other hand, their smooth and shiny surface avoids scratching painted surfaces (paints and bodywork) and ensures a permanent and lasting restoring force.
Polyurethane plastic has very good resistance to torsion and great elasticity. In addition, the temperature range goes from -20°C to +60°C max.
These polyurethane hoses withstand most chemicals and even acids. And above all, they are very chemically neutral, i.e. they do not react with very reactive products such as reducing agents, silver nitrate, tin chloride, soda, sulfuric acid , formaldehyde...
On the other hand, this pipe system is relatively affordable and available everywhere. In addition to being very robust and durable, these hoses are adaptable to the very practical quick coupling system and available anywhere in the world.

Hoses for chrome plating systems

The spraying of chrome plating products must be done with pressurized air. In general, the pressure is adjustable and it is between 2 bar and 4 bar, which is easily supported by these flexible polyurethane hoses.
It is possible to store the products in the tanks and in the hoses beyond of the period advise the use of mixed products. According to some, it is possible to use the products well beyond 24 hours. However, we recommend to mix, after having calculated the necessary need, only the quantity which one needs: indeed, the products remaining in the tanks and the pipes will quickly oxidize under the effect of the air and that can affect the properties of the products which will create less good reactions and which can produce stains or appearance defects.
When we make chrome, we demand a certain level of perfection and this requires measures drastic changes in terms of the application and the precision of the mixtures. Cleaning and rinsing are also a large part of the conditions to be met for the success of flawless silver plating.
After using the chrome plating system, the products remaining in the pipes must be expelled into a retention tank. chemical products (to be recycled in a recycling center or in a hazardous waste recycling company for companies).
Then, the pipes must be rinsed thoroughly with distilled water. Even rinsing residues must never be discharged into the sink or drains, as they can be very harmful for aquatic environments and the operation of treatment centers.
It is never advisable to leave the tanks and pipes to dry, draining all water from tanks and pipes. It is best to always leave the pipes and tanks with a little water to avoid the formation of dry deposits.
When you want to use the chrome plating machine after a few days or even a few weeks, you will appreciate have a system that works perfectly because it has been cleaned.

The different colors of the hoses

In a chrome plating system, there are three types of colors that allow and facilitate connections without making mistakes. Each error can be heavy in consequence and can cause contamination of the whole system from the tanks to the gun. The blue pipes convey the chemicals. Transparent pipes convey distilled water which is used for rinsing. The black hoses bring the compressed air.
It is very important to ensure that the hoses are correctly connected in the quick couplings because under the effect of the pressure they can dislodge and the liquids can be projected, which can represent a danger for the actors.
It is important, to have a system with air and liquids under pressure, to cut the pipes perpendicularly.

Maintenance of spiral hoses for chrome plating

Even with perfectly weighed mixtures and rigorous cleaning after each use, it is not abnormal to observe the formation of small pebbles or grains which are the result of the very natural reactivity of these metals in dispersion (nitrate d silver to Tin chloride). These small pebbles can get lodged in the nozzles and cause a spray defect: in such a case, and this happens frequently, all you have to do is unscrew the nozzle and expel the small stone. From time to time, it is good to do a deep cleaning in the tanks and pipes and for this, distilled water is not sufficient.
We recommend the use of bleach, c ie to close, in very small quantity in water (distilled of course) to soak the tanks, rinse and purge the pipes and the guns. After using chlorinated water, you can redo cleaning and soaking with distilled water, which you will completely expel before using the next silvering mixture.

Vats for chrome plating system
Chroming gun