I know chrome can be hard and have a low coefficient, but certain types of nickel plating are just as rugged and may even be better suited to the job. Nickel Boron has a slicker surface than chrome, goes on evenly and has a semi porous nature to it (not 100% sure, but it looks like its able to take and hold oil).

I've got a kit to plate small things, but the idea of me re-plating the ways on my mill have crossed my mind. It would be a net project if I do end up doing it - but I wanted to ask around and see what people had to say about this.

At some point I want to mess around with hand flaking on a scratch piece of steel, it would an awesome to know but one that will take a long time to master.