chrome plating advice

[outlaw]

new guy here again.......
i intend to have some pieces chrome plated. they are not structural, just nit noid visual stuff, so hydrogen embrittlement is not an issue, however, since i've never had anything chromed, i was wondering if there is anythinig special i should know.. can i use a bumper chrome shop?
do i need to ask any specific questions? any special processes?
any thoughts on this appreciated.

outlaw

[Mr.Fixit]

Last time I got some trim pieces chromed, they came back from the shop shiney with new chrome, but with pitts. I asked the plating shop, they said that I never requested the pitts get polished out. WTF? So make sure you are clear about the expected quality of the finish when you drop your parts off.

[Bill V]

I don't mean to get off topic, but the experience that Mr. Fixit described is just the type of thing that bugs the crap out of me. It seems that not many folks take pride in the work they do anymore, but they still want to get paid for their half-a$$ed work. Now, how much longer would it have taken for this guy to polish out the pits before chroming? Not long and even if did cost a few dollars more it would have been worth it, right? Mediocrity is a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in this country.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned guy with an old fashioned work ethic. Ok, I'm hopping off of the soap box now.

[Slither]

Bill V,

I agree with you 100%!!!

[ohekk]

I've tried all the chrome platers in my city. either poor quality, over priced or incredible time to complete....and if it has to be redone...well that's another wait!!!

I've been using Speed & Sport Chrome down in Texas and am very happy with quality, cost and delivery time. Excellent customer service.

Any other recommendations?

[outlaw]

great advice guys, thanks a bunch. i would not have considered polishing thing... i would have assumed that would be part of the process.......and bill v, you're exactly right about fabrication quality, or just about anything for that matter, no one seems to care. i had some aluminum pieces welded on my radiator, hell it looks like my 10 year old did it. he ground off the huge globs but burned thru the existing tabs in numerous places. brand new radiator..PMO . all i know now is to NOT go back there.

ohekk.....got a phone number for texas speed and sport chrome, sounds like they have a real "work ethic".

thanks again guys!!

outlaw

[ohekk]

Speed Sport & Chrome
404 Broadway
Houston, TX 77012
713 921 0235 Craig Bierman

[ohekk]

I provide that reference with some reluctance.

I search like heck to find good vendors, then I pass the word and before ya know it, they're too busy to do my own work

It's happened with my engine builder, and my upholsterer , my painter...and heck even my favorite restaurants!

Wasn't it Yogi Berra that said:

"Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore because it's too crowded!"

Now if you want to know who NOT to go to...

[trularin]

While this tread is open, does anyone know if the chrome can be stripped off chemically?

I had items power coated as I hate having to spend all day Saturday polishing the chrome.

[BB427]

Chromemasters
Nashville, TN

chromemasters.com

Excellent quality!!!!!!!

Brent

[Rick Parker]

trularian: Chrome IS striped with acid, the parts are bathed in it to remove previous plating.

Chrome plating as you can imagine is a very caustic environment and looked at closely by the EPA. You don't find a lot of "old timers" still at it that have good work ethics, it is generally someone that is just looking for a job and actually learns the trade on the job.
I had a few bad experiences locally on two different occasions at the same shop where there was pitting in the plating which should have been caught and corrected while prepping the material. I was getting the rollbar and windshield side supports rechromed after I welded up and finish sanded a couple of screw holes that I wanted to move. Twice they came back unsatisfactory and finally the individual (owner) said it was the best he could do. (wrong answer) I went to a Custom Motorcycle (Harley) shop and asked who they had doing their chrome. Bikers as a general rule use more chrome than anybody and as you know want it to look nice. They recommended another smaller shop that I wasn't even aware of, that did a a large amount of chrome on aluminum. It turned out that they did a lot of the chrome for a vendor that makes aluminum parts and billet accesories for motorcycles and were used to doing chrome on aluminum. The parts were ready on time and perfect and at a lower price, how can you go wrong. For me this was a good find.

Rick

[outlaw]

thanks for the responses, i have something to work with now.
what a great site, and great people willing to help others.

roll on!

outlaw

[trularin]

Rick, thanks for the info.

I needed that for my hood pin/lock project.

You have been a great help.

Trularin