CHROME or STAINLESS?

Very common questions --- What is the difference between CHROME and STAINLESS? Will one hold up better than the other? There is a difference.

Chrome

Contrary to popular belief, when something like a nerf bar is “chrome” it is not solid chrome. In fact, any accessory with the word chrome in it means it has been finished with chromium plating. It is a finish created by electroplating a thin layer of chromium on the surface of metal (such as steel, aluminum, or zinc alloys) or ABS. This gives auto accessories a futuristic style and reflective surface while protecting the core of the accessory from corrosion.

Polished Stainless Steel

When an auto accessory is stainless steel it’s stainless steel from the inside out. Stainless steel is an alloy made by adding chromium and nickel to steel. The amount of chromium and nickel varies by grade, but their addition gives steel a natural resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel is considered a very strong and corrosion-resistant metal. While it is heavier per square inch than aluminum, many enjoy its subtle difference of reflective sheen. The term “polished” really just refers to how the stainless steel was finished. It means after the accessory was shaped, it was then buffed and rubbed with an abrasive compound until a mirror-like luster is achieved.

Kentrol often hears about Chrome vs Stainless Steel when it comes to differential covers. If you own a show car, truck or Jeep and you don’t feel like crawling under your vehicle to constantly polish and clean a differential cover, you’ll want to purchase a stainless differential cover. Trust us, it’s worth the extra few dollars to do stainless and we often hear about it after a customer gets tired of lying on the ground or putting the vehicle on a lift to clean the differential cover.

Kentrol covers all of our stainless steel items with a limited lifetime warranty.