Chrome chassis with silkscreen.

Anthon · Jan 26, 2019

Hello,

I have a small production making fender type cabinets, selling it to DIYers. I also sell DIY kits, and finished amplifiers.

I was curious to who can make vintage fender type chrome chassis with silk screen and what the price would be. Europe? China?
I might order up to 100 pieces (different kinds of chassis) if the price is right.

Has anyone tried making this type of chassis? Maybe it would be worth the while of investing in production tools myself. I guess you will need a CNC plasma cutter, metal folding machine, chrome plating setup and a silk screening setup.

Some of them are pretty expensive, up to 120 euro a piece and I need them all the time.
Besides, it would be nice to be able to manufacture custom types.

ruffrecords · Jan 26, 2019

Is chrome plating still allowed in the EU??

Cheers

Ian

Anthon · Jan 26, 2019

ruffrecords said:
Is chrome plating still allowed in the EU??

Cheers

Ian

Actually, good question. I have no idea.
I know some dealers still sell these types of chassis in EU. Perhaps hoping nobody would notice? It is a niche market.
Fender still makes their amps with chrome plated chassis, so I assume it's okay?

ruffrecords · Jan 26, 2019

Anthon said:
Actually, good question. I have no idea.
I know some dealers still sell these types of chassis in EU. Perhaps hoping nobody would notice? It is a niche market.
Fender still makes their amps with chrome plated chassis, so I assume it's okay?

Current ROHS legislation in the UK says "All the components and subassemblies of EEE placed on the UK market must contain less than the maximum prescribed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and two specified flame retardants."

EEE stands for Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

Do you have a link to a EU seller of these chassis?

Cheers

Ian

cyrano · Jan 27, 2019

Chrome plating without hexavalent chromium has always been possible. It's even more efficiënt using trivalent chromium.

It just results in a different colour...

This colour has been adapted using additives, ever since ROHS came into view.

So, no problem, even when old chrome coating looks a bit different. Maybe one of the reasons why some people love vintage. Some people don't notice the difference, some do...

I don't think that's a reason to risk millions of cancer cases, both with workers that apply chrome plating and people working on treated parts (welding, grinding, recycling).