The anodizing process is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of aluminum parts. Anodizing increases corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and provides better adhesion for primers and glues than bare aluminum. Anodic films can be used for cosmetic effects by applying a thick porous coating that can absorb dyes and it can be used to prevent galling of threaded components. Furthermore, anodized coatings are also non-conductive.

Chrome plating is done through the process of electroplating, a technique that reduces dissolved metal cations in an electrolyte salt bath to allow a seamless metal coating to form on the desired object. Soil or dirt is first removed from the desired object and often, the underlying metal is pretreated before being placed into a chrome plating vat. Depending on the type of metal being plated, the process requires different pretreatments to etch the metal for specific metal types to roughen surfaces and prepare the metal for chrome plating. An electric current is then run through the plating bath for a specific amount of time. Metal objects can be plated at a slow rate or a fast rate depending on the current. The amount of time required varies based on the thickness of the chrome plating needed and the current applied.