Rhodium, chrome, black chrome question. . .

[warhawk]

Hi Gents: Hope all is well with you and your families. Just curious. . . I know how chrome looks like but how does rhodium look? Is it shinier and stronger material compared to regular chrome? Also. . . how does black chrome look? Does it look like a shiny gun-metal finish?

I'm looking forward to hearing your responses and if you can kindly post a pic that would be great. Thanks for listening.

WARHAWK

REAL MEN WEAR PINK: Proud Sponsor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

[warhawk]

bump . . .

 

[arthurdl]

I think you can find the answer here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/256931-Rhodium-vs-Chrome

 

[Big Jim]

Black chrome is mostly used for industrial purposes where its hardness is need. For example, racing engine builders in days past, used hard chrome (black chrome) for crankshaft journals to improve their life under hard use. The journals were ground down a bit undersized and then the chrome deposited, and then the journals final ground to the correct finished dimensions.

Black chrome has long had attraction to some. It is an art to get the color consistent. It can vary from slightly smoky to very dark. It sometimes has some purplish swirls in it. Custom motorcycle shops seem to use it more than anyone else. It can be an interesting contrast when used as accent on some engine parts. Years ago, a friend had black chrome applied to the exhaust pipes on his bike. It sort of looked like the chrome had been overheated and he loved the look.

The grill and other chrome trim on the front of my Ford Fusion Sport is "smoked chrome". It is only a little darker than normal chrome and I like the look. I have a black chrome front license plate frame, and although some darker, looks better than a bright chrome one. Most people don't even notice that the chrome is different even when parked next to an otherwise identical car.

If you think you would like that on a razor, find a plater that is familiar with black chrome, as it takes someone with black chrome experience to get it to come out right.

 

[Teppanyaki]

I took some photos of some different razors I have to see if the differences show up. The GEM single edged (disassembled) and the Damaskeene are . . . something. The Aristocrat is rhodium, the nail clipper I believe is chrome, the handle is the Toro Mastiff handle (? chrome), and that's about it. I hope that provides a visual difference.

 

[bosseb]

Black chrome is really difficult to photograph. It has this very warm tone in contrast to the very cold tone of ordinary chrome.

If you want to see some crappy photos of black chrome (and some better one's) check here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/355024-Stainless-replated-in-black-chrome .I was having problems with both cameras.

The maybe best representation of black chrome that I have been able to make is probably this one:



or this one:

 

[rxonmymind]

Rhodium is what chrome is under a bright light but in a natural setting. It has more reflection or radiance off it's metal than chrome. While I like black chrome it reminds me of a razor in need of polish unfortunately. It has that "dirty" or overly dark satin look to it. Now that plating job Dave recently did on that Aristocrat was a stunner! That I would make an exception too. Man what a beauty. Of course you get someone who knows what their doing Dave can turn a #2 pencil into amazing.

 

[pbnj]

wow thats nice