The Chromed Thread (Taranaki) Traditional Cache

WARNING: DO NOT climb any fences for this cache. PLEASE stay on the side of the public walkway and away from the cliff; it’s fenced off for a reason!

Bring a pen… and note this is a high muggle area so please be discreet.

This cache is electroplated with chromium for corrosion protection… ironic, as electroplating is kind of like corrosion, but in reverse and requires electricity.

Some folks might be familiar with cheap and nasty chromed auto parts that seem to start rusting after about 5minutes in an area like coastal or marine Taranaki. Yet many Bolt, bicycle, car and motorcycle manufacturers and restorers seem to stick with chrome? Not all chrome plating is created equal, and it’s not something to try at home…

In the case of electroplating a Bolt, this can often leave it with hydrogen gas trapped in the steel. This can lead to cracking, especially of high strength Bolts. Good manufacturers ‘bake’ their Bolts after any acidizing or electroplating to get the hydrogen back out. Personally, I prefer Electroless Nickel (EN) plated Bolts as the threads get a much more uniform coating that you can’t get with electroplated chrome… 9 out of 10 engineers prefer... ! http://www.twi.co.uk/technical-knowledge/faqs/process-faqs/faq-what-is-electroless-nickel-plating/

I suspect the chrome job on this cache is on the lower end of the quality scale!