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"CHROME PLATING"-Found or Lost Art????

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toysrrus

toysrrus

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Well Folks; Some Interesting News Flash relative to the Cost of Chroming! "I`m quite certain Not New News"!!

You may recall I have a Luggage Rack for My TR that I bought for $65.00: Well; After getting Quotes from Various Chroming Houses (Thanx to many of You for Your Input); The Avg. Cost has been between $300 - $350.00! "That`s Not Good"! I could have bought an OEM rack from Moss for $375.00; Oh Well; Live and Learn! What I am going to do; Is get a Quote to "Polish the Rack"! Its Stainless Stl & there is a Local Polishing House not 20min from Me: I`ll keep You folks Posted:

Is It a Found or Lost Art? The Art of Chroming is "Lost" but the Art of "Found Money" for the Chroming Houses has definitely been found by them!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif

Happy Bunny Day to All;

Regards, Russ
 
You can partly blame the EPA because all of the regulations that have been added drive the cost up. Another thing is the price of nickel has gone throgh the roof it runs around $20 per pound right now and the chrome is also expensive. Finally add the cost of labor and it is enough to make your head spin! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif
 
Same reason you don't see many tanneries anymore. All the alligator hides harvested here in Louisiana are salted and shipped overseas to be tanned, to make those fine gator shoes and belts and wallets.
 
The Chinese OEM rack that you can buy cheaper is built in a factory without any environmental controls at all...they simply dispose of the dangerous wastes in a nearby river or simply dump it on the gorund. That helps keep the cost down...
 
It's regulations involving the toxicity of heavy metals.

They're having the same problem getting chroming done in the UK now, for the same reason, so it's not an 'EPA' thing, it's a 'non-3rd-world-country' thing.
 
Many chrome shops have invested heavily in new technologies that are more 'environmental friendly'...others have chosen to shut the ddors rather tha spend the large $$$.

The cost of chrome has escalated because of the cost of copper and chromium...the Chinese, again, are competing with the Western world and paying top $$$ to get the natural resources that we need for our products. They can pay higher prices because their cost of production is so low...then they undercut prices because they can.
 
If anyone reading this ever gets a chance to tour a plating facility, please do it. You will come out understanding two things.

One, why the price is so high if a triple plate is done.

Two, why you, nor any of your family, will ever work there.
 
Hi There Folks;

Just rec`d another Quote for the Luggage Rack! $400.00 and a 12wk. (At Best) Delv! I have`nt had a Chance Yet to get to the "Polisher" so, No News there: Will keep You People Posted but looks like "Chroming the Rack" is definitely Out! "TOO BAD"!!!

Have a Nice Fri. 13th;

Regards, Russ
 
Most people expect their chrome pieces to be nice and shiny. That is an expensive step. The chrome baths aren't exactly cheap, but the man hours involved in polishing the pieces add up to a good sized chunk of change. If you're willing to take a dull piece home to polish yourself, the cost of plating is much lower. But it takes quite a while to shine up fresh plated pieces.

Part of the high cost estimates you've gotten also has to do with the substrate. Adding an additional layer of chrome over existing chrome is relatively easy and not very expensive. However to initially chrome plate a steel (which is what you want done), that requires many steps, with multiple layers of different metals in order to get the chrome plating to adhere and stay in place.

Cheap office chairs with peeling chrome are a good example of what happens when you just plate chrome directly to steels. I don't think you'd want that look.
 
On my bumpers, the copper was so shiny from polishing, it was hard to tell that it had not been chrome plated yet. I agree, that is where the labor gets up there.
 
So, with all this talk about chrome platers, are there any recommended companies that you guys have had good experiences with? I'm in need of plenty or rechroming on this GT6 that is lying in peices all over my garage...
 
Hi There Rich Floyd;

Here are some Phone No`s to contact for Your Chroming Needs: These Shops have been suggested by Several People on this Forum as well as some Friends that have used them, "On Occasion"!!

New England Chrome: 866-528-7176 - Ct.??
Nu-Chrome: 800-422-8012 - Ct.??
Pauls Chrome: 800-245-8679 - W. PA
Graves Plating: 256-764-9487 - Ohio
A1 Plating: 256-381-6170 - Ohio

Have a Blast & Please keep Us Informed of Your Findings! Sounds like You have a Ton of Stuff! I hope Your Wallet is Full of that "Green Stuff That Grows on Trees"!!!

Regards, Russ
 
Thanks for the contacts - I'll definitely be calling these guys.

Speaking of powder coating, I was flipping through the Eastwoods catalog and I noticed they're selling "single stage" chrome powdercoat. I guess their "two stage" would be chrome powder w/ hi-gloss clear coat over it. Has anyone actually seen something done this way? I know it will only be "so good" and not near the finish of a hi-polished real plated part, but maybe it would be OK for smaller stuff like the metal frame for the small pop-out windows aft of the windshield at the top of the door (whatever you call them) and smaller chrome parts such as levers and cranks.

Any thoughts on chrome powder coating??
 
Personally I`ve never heard or Seen anything relative to Chrome Powder Coating! I surely am Interested in Hearing & Hopefully Seeing what Its All about!

I`m thinking about putting My Luggage Rack on Ebay & Get a New One from Moss; It cost Less, Hassle Free etc etc!! Live and Learn!!

See Ya All later;

Regards, Russ
 
I had my rims "chrome" powder coated. It really came out shiny light silver, but I knew what I was getting and liked the result. Don't expect it to look like chrome.
 
An alternative to chroming some parts would be to have them Jet Hot coated. Now, obviously this is not chrome but leaves a very tough, very shiny surface on some parts. I have had some engine bay parts Jet Hot coated, tired of the paint constantly being chipped. Such as, the large tubular cross-brace the holds the front frame risers, the radiator braces and front valance braces as well as the valve cover. Leaves a shiny silvery finish that is polishable. Of course Jet Hot is ideal for headers as well but the heat will eventually cook it to a dull finish. Probably re-polishable but who cares. Not chrome but way, way cheap in comparison.
 
Great article in yesterday's Providence Journal about NuChrome in fall River, MA.

You can find it at the projo.com website, but you'll have to sign in first.
 
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