It's common for us to be asked for "Chrome Stainless Steel" when referring to the mirrored appearance of Stainless Steel, and this can cause some confusion, especially on our website when we ask you to select the type of finish.
Well, let's clarify this in a very concise, simple, objective way, without going into too many technical details, so that you can understand, even superficially, the difference between the main types of surface finishes that you can find in parts for musical instruments.
First of all, it's important to emphasize that the result of a surface finish depends on the surface of the raw part, as most of these finishes have a low micron (thickness) and "copy" the surface of the part, that is, a smooth part will be shinier than a brushed or satin part.
METALIZATION: Consists of the electrochemical deposition of copper, nickel, and chromium. It provides a mirrored appearance to the part and, as it is possible on plastics, it is commonly used on tuning machines and metal parts that require different colors such as Gold and Black (Onyx). It is the predominant type of finish on gold-plated parts for instruments.
- Mechanical Resistance: Low
- Aesthetic Resistance: Medium
NICKEL: Galvanic process by immersion that consists of applying a layer of Nickel to the surface of the part. More commonly used on metal parts. Its natural appearance is a slightly yellowish mirror. The popular Cosmo Black is a name given by a traditional international company when Nickel is done in a dark color. In Brazil, we call it Black Nickel.
- Mechanical Resistance: Low
- Aesthetic Resistance: Medium Finish not offered by Ramme, text for instructional purposes.
CHROMIUM: Same process as Nickel, but a thin layer of chromium is added. Its natural appearance is a more intense and slightly bluish mirror. Used on bridges and various plates such as control, neck, and jack.
- Mechanical Resistance: Low
- Aesthetic Resistance: Medium Finish not offered by Ramme, text for instructional purposes.
GOLD STAINLESS STEEL: Atomic sublimation process through a vacuum chamber. Used on high-performance stainless steel parts. Complex process, but extremely efficient. Exclusive to Ramme Custom in parts for Instruments. It is important to note that the resulting golden hue of this process is darker than the traditional metallization used in parts for instruments.
- Mechanical Resistance: High
- Aesthetic Resistance: Very High
GOLD PLATING: Application of a thin layer of 24k Gold over Stainless Steel, on the polished or brushed part. It promotes the real gold color. It is a process that adds enormous aesthetic value to the part.
- Mechanical Resistance: Medium
- Aesthetic Resistance: High
BLACK STAINLESS STEEL: This result is achieved through a process called DLC, Diamond-Like Carbon. It is a thin film of carbon with physical and chemical characteristics similar to diamond. The inherent characteristics of DLC are: high hardness, low coefficient of friction, and resistance to chemical corrosion.
- Mechanical Resistance: Very High
- Aesthetic Resistance: Very High
BRUSHED STAINLESS STEEL: This is Stainless Steel in its natural state, brushed with sandpaper where a slightly scratched visual aspect is sought, but uniform and with parallel scratches.
- Mechanical Resistance: High
- Aesthetic Resistance: High
POLISHED STAINLESS STEEL: The mirrored result is obtained by gradually varying the sanding until a polishing cloth is reached, achieving the shine of the raw material part.
- Mechanical Resistance: High
- Aesthetic Resistance: High
The mechanical resistance treated here refers to parts that may undergo some type of light to moderate friction, being aware that there is no surface finish, for this specific use, that can withstand severe actions.
The aesthetic resistance refers to normal use, without excessive mechanical factors.
A very important observation is that there is no eternal surface treatment. Some last longer and others less. This does not mean that one is good and the other is bad. Each one has an application and is used according to the need and possibility.
A raw, polished, or brushed part can be scratched, a Metallized one can fade, and Nickel-plated or Chrome-plated parts can peel or rust.
All this depends on the environment in which it is exposed, the care taken when handling it, constant maintenance, cleaning, and the non-use of products inappropriate for each type of material and/or finish.