4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 **SOLD**

[McGizmo]

Hi guys,

I had four Aleph2 kits electro polished and then nickle plated and finally chrome over the nickle. These four completed lights all have NG500 drivers with TX1J LED's and 15 ohm resistor "FT" tail caps. I machined off the knurl on the heads and have used HA-Black bezel rings to retain the windows. I just completed building these and snapped a marginal pic before the sun went down completely:

I am asking $255 for these lights and they will go to the first four persons to stake their claims here, in this thread, and upon completion of the deals, via e-mail. Please stake your claim here and then send me an E-mail with your mailing address. Priority or Global Priority Mail is included.

Thanks for looking!

 

[PeterB]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

I take one!

 

[McGizmo]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Peter,
Your light is headed to the post office, momentarily. Thank you sir! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif (there's three left in the tree if the racoons haven't taken off with them.)

 

[Ginseng]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Shiny!

Don, could you tell me why the chrome is over nickel? Is it for adhesion? Just curious.

Wilkey

 

[McGizmo]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Wilkey,

I am limited in knowledge to what I can remember being told by the platers and some artistic bridging of gaps. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I believe the nickel is needed for adhesion primarily as well as a good base for a chrome flash. I spoke with another shop one day who is expert on chrome plating Harley parts as well as custom auto parts. They have a tedius system where they do multiple builds of copper, polishing between coats, to fill the inperfections and voids in cast Al parts. I can't recall if they have a layer of nickle prior to the chrome or not. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

I don't know if it is even possible to plate Al directly with chrome but I have seen some examples of real poor plating with chrome as finish coat and Al as the substrate. I think the laminer bond is critical as is the case with synthetic coatings and I guess it's a science in itself with "trade secrets". I was told by my plater that the electro polishing of the Al initially does the best job of removing impurities and preping the metal for coating. Darn expensive process!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif

 

[Ginseng]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Thanks Don,

That iterative process sounds like it's time and labor intensive and of course, that has got to equal $$$. I don't know anything about electropolishing but I found this website that has some decent info on plating and anodizing: Product Finishing Online.

Wilkey

 

[cy]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

used to do chrome plating and electroless nickel. Chrome is typically flashed on nickel. flash meaning very thin 2/10,000th thick. copper/nickel is used as a base/filler and is typically 2-3 thousands thick.

electroless nickel is put on much thinner and can be deposited directly on aluminum. ahesion generally is better with electroless nickel. also deposit is very uniform VS std electroplating.

chrome can be deposited directly on a surface 15 mills or more. this proccess is called hard chrome. very expensive and durable. don't think it's possible to hard chrome aluminum.

some industrial uses for hard chrome are crankshafts and F16 landing gear.

 

[mattheww50]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

You can chrome plate directly on copper. The printing industry does it all the time. The Rotograuvere plates are initially engraved in copper, and then chrome plated. Once they are chrome plated you can get about 10 million impressions out of them on the printing press. Almost all of the high quality full color printing is done with rotograuvere plates, one for each colour.

Cannot vouch for the longevity, since the plate only has to last long enough for the press run, which is rarely more than a few days even for 10 million copies, but the plating is certainly very hard. it has to be to stand up to the printing process

 

[Ginseng]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing your info, guys.

Wilkey

 

[marcspar]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Don,

Save me one! I am having a sale right now to raise paypal funds so I can get one without wife & $$$ issues.......

Is it ok to run on the higher voltage re-chargeable cr2s?

For an additional fee, would I be able to get a matching 123 body?

Thanks,

Marc

 

[McGizmo]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Marc,
You got it. You will not harm the LED or driver with a Rcr2 but the drive current will be higher and the LED will be brighter. There is no protection for the battery either.

Doing a small run of chrome parts is real expensive. If you can wait until I send some other parts in for chroming, I am sure we can work something out. The cost of the plating could be as much as $20 in addition to the tube itself! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif

 

[PeterB]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Hello Don,

please reserve me also a chrome plated 123 body, if you do the next plating run.

Thanks in advance!

Peter

 

[marcspar]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Paypal enroute!

I'd love to get a chromed 123 body when you do have sufficient stuff to justify the cost of another run.

Thanks,

Marc

 

[Catman10]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

I don't want to contaminate this thread, but if they would also be included in the limited run, I would be very interested in a chrome A1 head.

 

[McGizmo]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Dang, the can said "Tuna"! How was I to know it was a can of worms! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nana.gif

A CPFer wanted a couple Aleph heads in chrome so in order to keep the cost reasonablydown, I also sent in 5 of these kits. Well one of the kits ended up with a dented head in transit or at the platers so it was a non-starter. Now it turns out that one of his heads has just enough plating build in the threads that his battery tube doesn't screw on. It is coming back and I will chase the threads. "Isn't that special!" just like these chrome parts! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nana.gif

 

[Anglepoise]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Now we understand why you want to offer us the PD in one colour, not a system, and designed for one battery size.
Your accountant will love you.......

 

[McGizmo]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

I think some enterprising fellow should step up and take on a "chrome run"! I will sell whatever raw AL parts I have and are needed to this person at a wholesale discount and they can handle the process!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif Oh, the process can be so enlightening and fun and rewarding for all involved! I get warm and mushy just contemplating it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/str.gif

Accountant? What accountant?!?!

 

[Anglepoise]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Mr. McGizmo,
I manufacture a 'machine' in another industry. I have been at it for the last 25 years. I used to offer individual mods to these machines, but it nearly drove me crazy and what little profit I made, vanished with the time spent trying desperately to give 'individual' service. Now I sell the best machine, at a competitive price, take it as is or leave it.I have not lost any customers and I still have my sanity and sense of humor.
Excuse the hi jack...<g>

 

[marcspar]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

Worms, what worms...... (probably better for you than the tuna, anyway)

Paypal sent!

 

[marcspar]

Re: 4 ea. Custom Chrome A2-CR2 for sale

The chrome adds a whole new look/feel to a great light.

When the priority mail box came, I thought Don had forgotten to put the light inside - it was so light, but there it was - the smallest possible aleph out there - shiny as a jewel.

As always, perfect beam. All it's missing is a little tritium...

Thank you Don for another beauty!

Marc /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif