“Chrome” describes a plated surface, not a metal. Under it sits brass, stainless steel or zamak, and the difference between them is what decides whether the threads survive being tightened twice.
The three bodies
Brass is the traditional choice: heavy, machinable, forgiving at the threads, and it takes plating well. Makers who use it say so, because it costs more.
Stainless steel appears increasingly on modern taps, usually stated as 304. It is corrosion-resistant in itself, which matters if the plating is ever chipped.
Zamak is a zinc alloy, cast rather than machined. It is cheaper, lighter, and more brittle where a thread is cut. A listing that says only “chrome” or “high-quality material” is usually describing zamak.
What lead-free means
Some listings state a lead-free brass. That is a statement about the alloy used for parts in contact with drinking water, and it is regulated where the tap is sold. It is worth noting when a maker states it and not worth inferring when they do not.
What this changes for you
Very little on day one, and quite a lot the second time a fitting is undone.
Questions people actually ask
Does a heavier tap always mean brass?
It correlates, since brass is denser than zamak, but a heavy tap can still have a cast body. The specification is the answer; the weight is a hint.
Can chrome plating be repaired?
Not practically at home. Once the plating is chipped through to a zinc alloy, corrosion works underneath it and lifts more plating. That is the argument for stainless steel under the finish rather than for a thicker finish.
Last reviewed 5 September 2026