• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Recommendations for Chrome work?

Share this page

Basil

Basil

Administrator
Staff member
Boss
Offline
I am in the process of restoring my hand brake assembly on my EType and went to get it re-chromed (probably along with some additional brightwork). There is only ONE place in Albuquerque that does chrome work. Based on past experience, I'd rather look for alternatives out of state.

I'm looking for recommendations for places that do quality chrome work and are "reasonable."

Thanks,
Basil
 
Basil, I just had a bumper done, and a friend had many Alfa pieces done in suburban Dallas. Seems to be the place all the enthusiasts go. Economy Plating 972 285 5112
 
Paul, mind if I ask what they charged for the bumbers? (and what was the end result?)

Basil
 
I'm about to do a batch of TC parts at a place in the LA area which was recommended to me by some old-time car guys. They say this place will do concourse work if you're willing to pay for it. When I get my parts back I can report to you if you like, and I'd be happy to help get your parts in and out of the place safely.
 
Basil, they got $150 to repair and replate. The bumper had a golf ball size dimple on the right side, and the left side was bent up about thirty degrees, from about the last six or so inches.
Can't tell from new looking at the front, but of course from the back you can see there's been work done.
 
Hi Steve,
Would that be Astro Plate & Polish in Van Nuys?
 
No, although I do know of the shop. I was recommended to a few places but an old-time enthusiast / restorer. The closest to me was Van Vuys Plating. He also recommended Orange County Plating. (I hope I have these names right) Another fellow in the Hot Rod community recomended Faith Plating in West Hollywood. I plan to take a small batch to Van Nuys and see how it goes. If all is well I'll take the rest.
 
Hi Steve,
I haven’t been to the other places you mentioned, testing the water (so to speak) is a smart move. You may want to take some pictures and write descriptions of each piece you send and give them a copy. I’ve heard horror stories about lost pieces. I had some anxious minutes myself when one of mine had been misplaced. Let us know how the pieces turn out, I’ve got to tear down my windshield soon.

Good Luck,
Greg
 
I'm going to start with headlamp buckets which would be less likely to lose than smaller parts. There are a couple small dents to be repaired so it should be a perfect test. I'll keep you posted. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Greg,Steve & Basil if you want top level chrome here in the LA area it is Chritians in east LA-not cheap and no regrets he does most of the pebble beach car plating.---Keoke
 
Steve, re: OC Plating. I had some stuff done with them a long time ago. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Where they hung the parts (using a length of coathanger or something by the looks of things) the chrome didn't take and there was an ugly nickel patch.

Making matters worse, they didn't choose to hang the parts by the most obvious places (ie: places that wouldn't be seen). Probably wouldn't give them another shot.

Edit: I should also mention that the don't (or at least didn't then) do the pre-plating buffing on any but the most simple parts.
 
Back
Top