Chrome is a great way to start some nice galvanic corrosion here in the winter. The chrome won't rust, but everything connected to it will
Will I still be welcome?
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Dammit! And I just dropped my frame off at the plater's, too!
So, seriously, is what you brought up a concern? I don't even know how those things are held on. Would there be a way to add a protective coating between the factory grill's paint and the chrome overlay's backside? Or is the chrome shell held on with adhesive, or something, that wouldn't adhere to whatever you added in between?
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I'm not asking for a picture right now but a before picture with the after picture would be nice.
Kiwi TJ
Just asked myself if I’m crazy and we all said No
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Hey @Squatch (in keeping with the master derailer ) is that a 36 Chev or Dodge in your profile....Add some spats and it would make a smooth looking tail-dragger. 
*EDIT and a chrome grill ( Phew !! I managed to tie in this message with the thread
)
*EDIT and a chrome grill ( Phew !! I managed to tie in this message with the thread
)
Generally the OEM manufacturers find a way to electrically isolate the chrome from the steel. I imagine that's typically done with paper, tape, rubber, plastic fasteners, etc.Dammit! And I just dropped my frame off at the plater's, too!
So, seriously, is that a concern? I don't even know how those things are held on. Would there be a way to add a protective coating between the factory grill's paint and the chrome overlay's backside? Or is the chrome shell held on with adhesive, or something, that wouldn't adhere to whatever you added in between?
If it's hooked up to a galvanized piece of steel, the steel will still be protected by the galvanization, but the zinc coating will be eroded more quickly.
Stainless steels are also great at accelerating corrosion on carbon steel and aluminum. The stainless itself is protected, but it creates a battery with the exposed steel and aluminum and creates a galvanic cell.
The rate of corrosion also depends on the exposed surface areas of each component. So stainless fasteners in aluminum may accelerate the corrosion of the aluminum, but if the surface area ratio of stainless to aluminum is small enough, the effect won't be noticeable. But if you used carbon steel bolts in a stainless base, they would rust incredibly fast and ultimately fail.
Carbon steel and aluminum are generally close enough on the galvanic series that they don't create significant galvanic corrosion except in the most extreme environments.
The reason galvanization works is because the zinc coating is sacrificial. It creates a galvanic cell with the steel if both are exposed, and the zinc corrodes and flakes off while the steel does nothing.
You'll see the same thing on metal boats, where a bunch of zinc anodes are bolted to the hull below the waterline. If any paint flakes off the steel, a galvanic cell is created between the steel and the zinc, and the zinc quickly corrodes while the steel is mostly untouched.
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'36 Dodge. Like my hair color, it's long gone!Hey @Squatch (in keeping with the master detailer ) is that a 36 Chev or Dodge in your profile....Add some spats and it would make a smooth looking tail-dragger.
*EDIT and a chrome grill ( Phew !! I managed to tie in this message with the thread
Thank you for such a detailed reply. There are many things stated that I never realized. The one that really jumps out at me is regarding the use of stainless fasteners. I never stopped to consider that while the fastener might never corrode, the material around it does at an accelerated rate. Wow!
Correct. How did you know? Is it the only car you can buy and not get?
I see people on a Corvette forum ( I have an 81) saying they are finally getting theirs. What color and specs did you go with?
The easy way to compare the compatibility of metals is with a chart called the Galvanic Series:
Metals on the Anodic side (top end) are attacked by metals on the Cathodic (bottom) side. The greater the difference, the greater the rate of attack. So aluminum will cause a small amount of corrosion on plain steel, but not enough to notice in most cases. But stainless steel will cause significant attack on carbon steel.
In order for galvanic corrosion to occur, a circuit must be completed. Half of this circuit is a direct electrical connection between the two materials, such as a bolted connection. The other half is made up of the electrolyte, or the (typically) liquid (or gas) reacting with the metals.
If there is no connection or no electrolyte, there is no corrosion. A boat is immersed in an electrolyte, so rapid corrosion can occur. A car in the desert is exposed to very little electrolyte, and is not generally subject to significant galvanic corrosion.
But it doesn't just have to be immersed in an electrolyte: it can occur at small scales, particularly when salt water splashes in your car off the road. The entire vehicle isn't immersed in a continuous electrolyte, but little spots have created independent galvanic cells. You can even get galvanic corrosion in dry air, particularly salty air. (Think of an old car rusting away near a beach.)
That mini-cell versus immersed cell is why cathodic protection isn't used on cars - you would have to place a zinc every inch or so to be effective. But you can dip the metal - via galvanization and get uniform coverage of the anode. Meanwhile, the guy with the boat can just stick a few zincs on the back and call it done.
Orange and Ito many specs. A base unit would be great but but it is impossible not to order so many extras with so many great extras.
very nice it would match my TJ. I would love a convertible 2020 although the hard top ones look like a cool Hot Wheel! Congrats.
And the reason galvanization is called that is because it is literally driving a galvanic cell in reverse. A piece of steel is immersed in an electrolyte containing zinc, and an electric charge is forced into the steel and the electrolyte, causing the electrolyte to deposit onto the steel.
Galvanization is essentially charging a battery; galvanic corrosion is essentially discharging a battery.
Galvanization is essentially charging a battery; galvanic corrosion is essentially discharging a battery.
Again, thank you! It's way beyond anything I was aware of.
I feel you, I did a couple of bikes with chrome out the ass & it was just too much to deal with. It's like black paint - looks great if you're a nazi about it but if you let it go you'll see every last fade & swirl.
Wow, so you're the dude to never have a casual conversation with about chrome at a party. Total chrome nerd, I love it. That's good info.
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