Good thinking Rs1.

Basically a mechanical polish via a polishing belt can remove the vast majority of surface stratches, and about 1mm of surface pitting. This is sufficient in most cases to produce a mirror finish. This is the cruical part of the process.

The actual chrome electroplating does not fill in pits, does not restore the metal and does not actually add a shine in itself. It merely serves to preserve and protect the metal underneath, as well as any basecoating such as zinc (which IS shiny).

So to cut a long story short, the chromed result is only as good as the polished result. The polished result is only successful if the base workpiece is not deeply pitted or damaged.

From a cost perspective, I ensure the main highlights are polished for a good finish, and the visible surfaces are paid special attention to. The bottom line is the cost of the finished products would skyrocket if hand polishing was used for extra detailing, or if the whole workpiece was worked at the polishers.

An example...

Note the recessed areas are not polished. They just appear almost matt silver, whilst the highlights are deeply reflective... this is the difference between polished and non polished.

That rocker cover sells for £90.00, but to have the recessed areas polished, so the whole thing is one giant mirror finish, would be more like £200! And even then there would be no contrast, and it would look wrong IMO.