Searching for recommendations, based on your recent experience.
Plating of pot metal to steel parts.
Prefer shops located in the NE US, that have a reputation for quality chrome plating.
This includes all proper material preparation for show quality chrome.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thank you
Fran
Updated:
Show quality chrome requires much attention to detail to prepare the part, and typically uses a triple plating process of copper, nickel, chrome. Many plating shops are not interested processing pot metal.
Not all chrome shops apply this process and material plating thickness.
The recommendation of Paul's Chrome is typical of the process required to create 'show chrome'
Paul's Chrome Plating
Paul's chrome is now closed and out of business
https://www.carchrome.com/
They don't like doing pot metal because the pieces they get are generally junk and full of pits. The pits need to be filled by successive layers of copper and a lot of hand work which makes the cost go through the roof. 2nd layer is nickel which is like primer to paint. It's yellowish in color and was used as the final finish in the 30s. Bright shiny chrome is the top coat.
https://www.iversonautomotive.com/services/types-of-restoration/pot-metal/
Curious what parts you want chromed?
Basically 75-90% of the cars chrome.
Bumpers, door handles, front side marker lights, backup lights, gas cap, headlight trim surrounds, tail light bezel surrounds, vent window uprights, sail panels..
Cores are very good, other than the typical sail panel pot metal pitting.
Well based on my experience, its usually cheaper to replace those parts than replate them and they end up looking better.
Vent window uprights are stainless
Quote from: Coralsnake on December 20, 2023, 05:04:30 PM
Well based on my experience, its usually cheaper to replace those parts than replate them and they end up looking better.
Vent window uprights are stainless
To add to Pete's post ,besides the high costs a typical problem related to rechroming is that the polishing process before chroming typically noticeably rounds off edges making parts like door handles ,side marker lights ,back up lights ,gas cap, taillight bezel surrounds and even the headlight surround with rounded edges making them less then concours worthy. Been there done that . The chromers want the best shine and are less understanding about the edge definition . In concours venues for instance if I can tell that the profile of the part has a less then crisp defined edge there is a deduction. Not to say the the rounding of edges is a absolute with all chromers but it is typically the vast majority.
Try Qual Krom in Erie, PA. I didn't know about Paul's. They did my Fairlane bumpers this year and came out beautiful. There is another place near Dallas called North Texas Quality Chrome, but I haven't used them.
Qual Krom gone too
fwiw librandis did all the chrome on out pebble beach cars.
Ogden Chrome does the show chrome for the Kindig it Design shop in Salt Lake City, Utah. Check out ogdenchrome.com.
Mark
I have been using FRANKFORD PLATING IN PHILLY FOR OVER 30 YEARS .
MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM SHOW CHROME as there is a difference in the process from there standard chrome.