Every separate masterpiece is plated before complete assembling of the faucet. The Most common colour used for brassware is chrome. This plating, presenting a light blue glint, is obtained by dipping components into successive baths, according to an electrolytic process.
Chrome, a hard and stainless metal is highly protective. Matt and shiny nickel finishes, slightly different from chrome, are also obtained by electrolysis. Gold plating is realized on special request.
Chrome and nickel items are manufactured in small and medium series, and main items in each HORUS range are usually available in stock, allowing a quick delivery of orders.
Some other finishings, named decoration finishes, are obtained through a different process: it is no longer a layer on component, but rather a reaction of brass material itself, obtained by immersion into an acid bath, which modifies final outside aspect of the piece. This process is bound to be manually achieved.
It is actually a tricky operation, the result of which depends on several parameters : the piece dimensions, the bath grade, surrounding conditions in temperature and hydrothermy, time in bath…Mastership of all these conditions requires a high quality knowhow.
Then, components are usually matt, satin or glossy varnished, before being put in an oven in order to be protected from everyday use.
Bluish chromium is the most common finish for faucets. It requires first an electrolytic bath, ensuring the prior deposition of a layer of nickel, followed by rinsing to avoid “pollution” of the chrome plating bath that follows. Chrome can also be brushed, matt velvet, mirror…
Semi-precious or even precious finishes, such as silver and gold, fashionable in the 1980s, are also applied after nickel plating. They are lacquered or matt, aged or brushed.
Surface treatment with electrolytic baths is carried out in three phases: first a preparation phase (stripping or degreasing), followed by the surface treatment itself and, finally, rinsing. For each operation there are one or more baths, chemical in the case of stripping, electrolytic in the case of finishing: the deposit is obtained in a bath containing the metal, which is electro-deposited under direct electrical current.
Electrolytic black nickel, tin/black nickel or black chrome deposits, which range from bright intense black to metal gun, have been around for a long time. The former are fragile, imposing a protective transparent polish deposit.
While black and white have been used a lot in shiny or enamelled bathrooms, the trend is moving towards the velvety-silky look achieved by new epoxy paints for fittings.
Nickel plating can offer different aspects, satin, brushed, matt, velvet, mirror… The nickel finish, more “yellow” than the chrome finish, has the particularity of presenting an attractive silver effect.
Stainless steel is a steel alloy intended to be used as a material for the manufacture of materials, most often for construction. It is made from iron (more than 50%), its main base. Its Carbon (1.2%) and Chromium (more than 10.5%) content gives it its stainless character, which enables it to resist corrosion and provide the strength necessary for all the work it is used for.
Stainless steel, which can remain rough, polished or satin-finished, and accepts direct PVD finishes.
However, stainless steel, which is not cast but machined, is also expensive. Moreover, it only allows the purified forms we know and little aesthetic differentiation.
Stainless steel is a steel alloy intended to be used as a material for the manufacture of materials, usually in the construction industry. It is made from iron (more than 50%) as its main base. Its Carbon (1.2%) and Chromium (more than 10.5%) content gives it its stainless steel character, which enables it to resist corrosion and provide the strength necessary for all the work it is designed and used for.
Stainless steel, which can remain rough, polished or satin-finished, and can accept direct PVD finishes.
However, stainless steel, which is not cast but machined, is also expensive. Moreover, it only allows the purified forms we know and little aesthetic differentiation.
Stainless steel is a steel alloy intended to be used as a material for the manufacture of materials, usually for construction. It is made from iron (more than 50%) as its main base. Its Carbon (1.2%) and Chromium (more than 10.5%) content gives it its stainless steel character, which enables it to resist corrosion and provide the strength necessary for all the work it is used for.
Stainless steel, which can remain rough, polished or satin-finished, and accepts direct PVD finishes.
However, stainless steel, which is not cast but machined, is also expensive. Moreover, it only allows the purified forms we know and little aesthetic differentiation.
Stainless steel is a steel alloy intended to be used as a material for the manufacture of materials, usually for construction. It is made from iron (more than 50%) as its main base. Its Carbon (1.2%) and Chromium (more than 10.5%) content gives it its stainless steel character, which enables it to resist corrosion and provide the strength necessary for all the work it is used for.
