Drill and tapping Chrome parts
 

Does anyone have any advice for drilling and tapping holes in chrome parts? Is it better to drill and tap holes before chroming, or after? Does it really matter? I am sure if I drilled and tapped holes in parts to be chromed, as soon as I got them back, I'd have to at least tap the threads again. That's why I wonder if I should just drill the holes to size, for tapping, and then tap them when I get them back from the chrome shop.

What does everyone think?

Re: Drill and tapping Chrome parts
 

You can also get oversize taps to account for the chrome plate thickness. Something like a H7 or so. Talk to your plater about that and they should be able to suggest the right size for you.

Re: Drill and tapping Chrome parts
 

Thanks Jeff. I'll look into that.

Re: Drill and tapping Chrome parts
 

You could always drill & tap, and then screw a screw in it while it is being chromed. When you get it back from chrome, remove screw. Then you'd have some chrome screws.

Re: Drill and tapping Chrome parts
 

And a rough edge around the hole where the screw was removed...