Nearly 50-60% of the cost of chrome plating an aluminum part goes to pay for the prep work the other 40% is the electroplating (dipping) process where the zink, copper, nickel, and chromium are deposited onto the part. Who knows what it takes to prep an aluminum part for this process. For the "do it yourselfer", what should the surface finish be like (glassy smooth or some " fine roughness").

 

If you want a nice smooth chrome finish, you have to get the part polished first before it gets dipped.

 

It must be polished.

Just like painting a car, the finished product is only as good as the surface below.