It seems to look ok, I hope it stands up and stays looking good. I'm still on the fence as to what to do about my chrome plating. I hear a lot of good things about this shop, but again there is the challenge of shipping parts along with the fact that it's a US shop and the Canadian dollar is low etc. etc. http://www.customchromeplating.com/ I really like what they describe of the plating and parts handling process but...
Chrome plating has seen the cost of doing business greatly increase because of the sins of the past. Industrial areas here in Los Angeles and elsewhere are contaminated by the old practices of industry, especially during World War II and up to the Vietnam War. When they wanted to dump stuff they just went out back and dumped it in the ground. Stoddard solvents, Carbon tetrachloride, PCB's, even plating solutions. Result, years later hell broke loose. Recent example, LA County shuts down the battery recycler Exide for emissions. Dig up the ground in Central and East LA, Vernon, and other industrial areas and start with the soil remediation. Cyanide and hexavalent chromium used in plating caused the SCAQMD to come down hard on chrome platers. Many places closed up. Some send all the parts down to Mexico for copper plating and buffing and bring them back to be chromed. Saves money and pollutes Mexico. Industrial wheel plating factory. Has many rectifiers rated at 6 volts and 15,000 amperes. A continuous rack of wheels, 15 at a time are lower and raised through the solutions and rinses slowly until they come out dry and plated. Similar process for bakery racks. Even the job shop has to deal with the hazardous materials and the chain of custody. No more dumping out back. They have to recycle and dispose using authorized companies. Maybe in the backwoods you can get away with dumping. But for all the bigtime Aerospace industry shops and little job shops it's comply or close. Chrome plating is expensive now and a big reason is regulation.
I see alright... beautiful work! thanks for showing how it's done. I have a 51 packard bumper that's really rough and will need to be narrowed. I'd like to do most of the prep work myself if the plater will let me.
I just sent 2 lower control arms ( 1 1/8 tubes about 18" long); a forged upper steering arm & pitman arm from a Ross box. All pieces have been ground, sanded, and DA'd, pits filled and blemish free. They called this morning having received them and it'll be $214.80. Trouble is that it is a slippery slope. Once I get them back the rest will pale by comparison. hard to know when it is enough without being too much. Just have to strike the right balance.
Yup I hope it lasts as well. The dollar definitely doesn't help but even shipping you have to factor probably a minimum of $100 extra onto anything you send to the U.S. just for that. And even the shop you mention when doing show chrome state it can be 50% more than what they estimate when it is done depending on how much work it actually takes. That would be a pretty nasty surprise at the end of the day especially when you have to tag an extra 25% on top of that for exchange. Right now with the dollar and shipping the U.S. just isn't feasible in my mind. You are pretty much 35-40% more expensive than what you would pay up here before you even start comparing prices when you factor in exchange and shipping. We are kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Did you ever get an idea on price from the Plating House in Toronto?
No, so far I have no idea on the Toronto deal. They want me to send pictures of the parts when I pull the car apart and they can give me a quote then. So, that will come over the winter, I still have some final things to do before I pull her apart for finishing. I have to agree on the not shipping anything to the US at this time. I'm starting to wonder if I should just have everything powder coated instead. I don't really like that idea however.
I wa s at a local car show here, and a local plater had a booth set up. He walked over to my truck to give me an estimate to re-plate this older re-pop chromed steel grill. No dents or loose bars, but the chrome is very thin. No pits yet. I about fell over at his price of $1,200.00 ! I won't be getting it done I guess...
Long time nothing tasty there Sorry, so busy, busy, busy Some American car, but forgot to ask brand/model
haha! Someone could open chrome workshop in US, i know how to run it and how to do right chrome I can help for some one year
Looks like some beautiful stuff Sudzhis.Takes me back to a time when you could almost afford all the chroming we were having done.What a great day it was going to the chromers to unwrap the newspapers for the inspection of another wonderful batch.How neat it felt in your hand all smooth and polished.I even miss the smell of the chemicals.,,
As nice as the work you do is, it's almost cruel to show it to us over here in our part of the world We can't find anyone here to do work that nice or even affordably any more as has been posted. As a result, my build will have powder coating for parts that I would have preferred chrome on. All in all I think it will be great anyway.
Oh yes Rod, u know mine favorite thing in this business is wrapping in ready to ship parts! Thanks for good words
Oh, yess, there is long way to states! But is still shipped parts to place what is more fare away than USA ps. sorry about mine language, so tired today
I'm going to try a place called ABA Chrome in Mexicali, BC Mexico. I have heard good things, but never seen any of their work in person. I will start with something easily replaceable just in case the quality comes out bad, or worse.
Some updates! Some pictures time by time (when outside is good weather than i take photos, in room photos is not so tasty ) Jaguar E-Type and RR Silver Cloud bumper set
Beautiful work, ^^^ and what did that cost to go from shitty to stunning ? Wonder if a hamb relay to Latvia ,,,,, ?
Price for chroming is +/- same around the world, but the main problem is a quality u get and time for this. There is lot of chrome workshops that take a good money but make a bad quality product. did not understand this!
Quality - Sometimes you just need bright work that's well protected from corrosion. And Sometimes you need a finish suitable for a mirror substitute. Sometimes the parts are pitted to shit and sometimes they are nice new pieces. A Hamb relay is when a member is already planning on traveling and they take or bring someone else's parts with them to save on shipping cost yet cover some traveling expenses. The funny part is I don't think many will be traveling to Latvia.
Yes, yes u are right! i am so far from USA. Other way i would think twice to send mine parts to USA for some chrome job. But i know that lot of americans send their parts to Mexico, on some Latino countries- in this situation i would choose Europe BTW loot of mine chrome goes to USA, to USA restored cars auctions like RM,...
I could use those 'pinin farina' scripts sudzhis, old buddy, old pal - you sure those aren't extras they sent by mistake? Just joking, beautiful work and I know how delicate those scripts are. I included what one probably looked like when you got them, the plating has all but disappeared except for the edges, how you stripped & prepped them is a true skill.
Actually there was no big trouble with these logos. I would say easy except that it is potmetal and little fight with it! i just dont know USA prices. But they must be near to 15 USD for 10x10cm steel. (not work on bumpers, there is less price)
Beautiful looking chrome you've been posting. I think you're my long lost cousin from Latvia, welcome back into the family. All the stuff I need chromed are family heirlooms, so that'll be pretty cheap, right?
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