This work presents a study of a hard chromium plating process using low concentration H2CrO4 baths. In particular, the effect of different values of CrO3/H2SO4 ratio on coating properties such as adhesion, hardness, surface roughness, apparent density and microstructure were considered. To increase the solution conductivity, avoiding long deposition times and low throwing power typical of dilute solutions, the behaviour of various inorganic compounds was investigated. Specifically, the compounds suitable for obtaining brighter coatings with lower surface roughness values than those obtained using Fink's solutions were Na2SO4 and Al-2(SO4)(3) x 18H(2)O. A bath composition was identified, with a limited use of Cr(VI) in a solution able to produce coatings with a better surface roughness than those of conventional industrial baths.