Chrome gold 1 x 2 tiles and flaking chrome

[jonwil]

I have a number of Chrome Gold 1 x 2 tiles from various older sets (e.g. the World City police sets) and the chrome is flaking off. Is this normal for parts of this vintage? Is there anything I can do to protect the chrome that remains?

Has TLG done anything to make this less likely to happen in the future? (i.e. if I buy newer sets with the chrome, will it happen to those?)

Also, how likely is it that this will happen to other chrome parts in my collection (lightsaber handles, aquazone knives and harpoons, classic pirate gold coins, exhaust elbows etc) and what, if anything, can I do to help keep those parts from being damaged?

[Infomaniac]

I had the same problem with my old chrome swords

I'm not sure if there is anything you can do about it, except maybe spray-paint the parts again

I guess that the chrome was applied after the molding of the product, so the newer pearl gold colors might have better durability (because pearl gold is in the plastic itself).

Best of luck

[Shadows]

Has TLG done anything to make this less likely to happen in the future? (i.e. if I buy newer sets with the chrome, will it happen to those?)

It's basically impossible. The only way to chrome the parts is as a surface application, so it is at least as prone to wear as printing, probably more since it makes the part microscopically larger than it was previously. That means that any contact point will peel.

Also, how likely is it that this will happen to other chrome parts in my collection (lightsaber handles, aquazone knives and harpoons, classic pirate gold coins, exhaust elbows etc) and what, if anything, can I do to help keep those parts from being damaged?

It's very likely. Lightsaber handles do it in the middle where they hand snaps on and off, it just rips the chrome off eventually. I've never noticed a problem with the coins, but I usually just throw them in a chest and don't touch them. Anything else will rub off at contact points. I've noticed that under the exhaust pipes, they use some odd colours, which makes it even more obvious when it goes wrong. If they'd put that metallic silver armour colour under there, it wouldn't be so bad, but some of mine are yellow and red, so it really sticks out.

You can't really stop it except to avoid rubbing of any kind, which means that once a figure holds a handle, don't remove it, etc.

[CP5670]

I have a number of Chrome Gold 1 x 2 tiles from various older sets (e.g. the World City police sets) and the chrome is flaking off. Is this normal for parts of this vintage? Is there anything I can do to protect the chrome that remains?

Has TLG done anything to make this less likely to happen in the future? (i.e. if I buy newer sets with the chrome, will it happen to those?)

Also, how likely is it that this will happen to other chrome parts in my collection (lightsaber handles, aquazone knives and harpoons, classic pirate gold coins, exhaust elbows etc) and what, if anything, can I do to help keep those parts from being damaged?

I don't think there is any way to prevent it. If you don't use the parts much, they remain okay. The 1x2 tiles in my WC police sets look pretty good, but I haven't done anything with them. As ImperialShadows said, any kind of rubbing against other bricks has a possibility of taking off some electroplating. Once a hole forms in the chrome, it will also get bigger quickly.

Antennas and other thin pieces are affected by this more than anything else in my experience. See the entry on chromed parts here.

[Svelte]

All this advice to "stop rubbing" reminds me of a Victorian anti-onanism tract If you don't use it improperly, it won't drop off!

Even the new metallic gold coloured parts (such as Agents tiles or the Castle crystal pieces) will scratch off to reveal ordinary ABS underneath.

[Rick]

All this advice to "stop rubbing" reminds me of a Victorian anti-onanism tract If you don't use it improperly, it won't drop off!

Even the new metallic gold coloured parts (such as Agents tiles or the Castle crystal pieces) will scratch off to reveal ordinary ABS underneath.

You mean they're not really made of gold?

Seriously, I thought that the new not-so-shiny (what's the english word for this?) silver and gold parts were much less prone to this...

Edited July 10, 2009 by Rick

[Peppermint_M]

Old chromed parts chip all the time. The aquazone knives I can find (issues with thieving little boys...) are white now, all the chrome came off. One or two of my oldest coins and the spot on the harpoons where the minifig always held it are rubbed clean. If you aren't really careful, the visors for space helmets rub to silver from gold or blue.

It happens, sadly. The new pearl ones will last a lot longer.

[brickzone]

The new pearl ones shouldn't ever wear out, but the new metallic (but not chrome) parts actually wear off from rubbing in your hands actually faster than the chrome in my experience - just from the box and rebuilding once my Agents turbocar has some wear on the corners of bricks. Chrome parts you can build with carefully and they won't flake - although clipping in/out of minifig hands is guaranteed to scratch.

[Millacol88]

I have some older chrome parts (7-8 years), and they were just in a parts bin for most of that time, which resulted in most of the chrome being flaked off. However, I also have some chrome silver swords, that were not in a parts bin, or even gripped by a minifigure, and they are in great condition. Basically, if you want to keep the chrome from flaking off, you need to refrain from using the piece.

[Spyder]

Same thing has been happening to me, except with lightsaber hilts and the sort. I unfortunately don't have any chrome gold pieces from that long ago. By the way, these chrome pieces are about 10 years old.

You can see how much they are flaking and the clearish plastic underneath.