Well, not really but still... I just got a quote for straightening/replating the bumpers for my '60 Ford... $1K each. I knew plating costs have gone way up, and this is for triple-plate, not the crap that Bumper Boyz does. Any comments?
North Star Plating in Minnesota raised their prices by 80% in December. When I asked why, the guy said, "that corporate didn't think we were charging enough." Now $1200 for a 49 Buick bumper, just the bumper bar, no guards. So there is no reason other than greed!
Up here chrome shop are getting few and far between. Absolutely no new business are opening, to much environmental hoo-haa they don’t make it easy when your dealing with the chemicals required to do chrome. It took my boss 2 years to find a building for our shop, most land lords ran away when they heard forklift repair ( grease and oil ) there are a few places left that do Chrome on old stuff it was expensive 15 years ago when I got done stuff done!! but most places only want to deal with new production stuff, not our project rusty bits, to much time involved so they price it high . sucks.
The other thing that was interesting is none of the local platers (South Sound) have exactly sterling reviews. All were roughly 3 out of 5, not exactly confidence-inspiring....
You should check with Chip Carrier @ Tri-City Plating in Elizabethton Tenn. They did the triple plate (nickle/nickle/ chrome) on my 53 Bumpers for $500.00 each. That price included minor straightening. Beautiful job. I shipped them via USPS and they shipped them back freight 4 weeks later. I think the shipping both ways was less than $300.00. Your shipping from there would cost more I am sure.
Over the last 15 or so years worldwide governments have started cracking down on "hazardous" elements in manufacturing (Google RoHS and Weee directives) specifically lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium... more recently they have also started looking at chlorine, antimony and bromine (bromine gets a pass only if it is being used as a fire retardant in plastic) Most countries and regions have set total ppm (parts per million) limits on these elements in any product. This of course spills over into plating one way or another. I spoke with one of my customers that workes in the plating industry (non auto related) and according to him the permits and related inspections have gotten outrageous. Inspecters seem to think that the chemical bath tank levels should remain constant and they don't want to hear about evaporation. Additionally, it took forever to get them to understand that the amount of material that goes onto the part and leaves the building has to come from somewhere (the tank). Not sure how much this has spilled over into car part plating in the US but I am sure it is a factor in pricing going up. Chappy
I wonder if that is the official company line or the view of some worker on the floor. Everything has gone up and because of gov't. regulations this industry has suffered a lot. As an aside there is but one chrome shop left in the Kansas City area and they don't do bumpers--what does that tell you? No "greed" here in this area, I guess. I had my Dodge truck bumpers plated by Highline Plating in Cuba, MO a couple of years ago. I think it was about $400 each and they did great work.
I think it was an employees perspective on the situation. He sounded very disgusted about the price increase.
Ever notice that many, if not all of the former plating facilities are now Superfund sites? Hate to say it but most were run irresponsibly for decades, and that abuse is what brought the current regulations. Also, remember that not so long ago, every car had two massive bumpers that were subject to damage, and were cut, rewelded, and rebent prior to replaying to salvage them for accident repair. I can’t think of many cars made in the last forty years that had chrome bumpers. Not exactly a growth market, is it?
@Crazy Steve perhaps a better thread title may have been "bumper sticker shock" I am lucky to have great shop in the hood. I remember though about 23 years ago, having bumpers for my 68 442 plated at oregon Plating for $800 a pop. In retrospect a grand an end isn't that horrible.
I wouldn't expect to be able to do them for much less these days. And realistically decorative chrome plating is probably about 90% catering to hobbiests these days so as mentioned their business is not exactly growing.
I had both bars, overriders and grill amongst other miscellaneous things done years ago for my 46 Olds as well as polishing all the SS trim. It was done right and triple plated by an old craftsman; nickel, copper and chromium. Outstanding job and it WASN'T cheap! It took a while to do however as he was retiring he did me a a favour and didn't charge full retail price as I wasn't in a hurry. Very time consuming and labour intensive and then there's all the applicable licensing fees, environmental factors and chemicals to consider. Lots of overhead before you even commence work and then electricity to run all the equipment.
Another vote for Chip @ Tri-City Plating! He has now done at least 8 bumpers for me over the last 2 years. Since I am running all over the country Transporting, I drop them off when I am close & check back with him 4-8 weeks later when I plan on being in the area again & he tells me whether or not they will be ready by that day. Just a great guy to deal with! Just picked up these 3 bumpers two weeks ago. God Bless Bill https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
https://www.tricityplating.com/ They also have a selection of plated bumpers for sale with free shipping on that e-**y auction site.
Steve; get ahold of Electro shine in Sidney BC. The very best anywhere. They do chrome for the Mercedes gull wing show winners up here. If you can get them to Blaine, perhaps Seawings can pick them up. And our dollar is down. You may get lucky.
I think you will see more cars with painted bumpers due to these prices. I figure that’s why the ones on my car were painted when I got it, the fellow probably ran out of money before he got them done, so they got painted instead. I love chrome as much as anybody, but I can’t afford to get mine and my grill rechromed, it would probably be over $5 grand! Mine will get paint again, but this time it will be a metallic silver with a clear coat. Not as nice and shiny as chrome, but will contrast nicely with the body color. If the next caretaker of it wants shiny stuff, they can do as they please. I’ll put that money elsewhere, I can’t see the bumpers from behind the wheel anyway!
That brings a thought to mind , what about powder coating , do they have a " chrome" look that would be acceptable ?
Steve... maybe @Bandit Billy will disclose his heretofore secret go-to guy in Vancouver (the original, for you Canadiens) WA.
I agree, Tri-City is the best you can get! All chrome plating is high priced but you get what you pay for at Tri-city, I could not be happier with the bumpers they done for me!
ATBumpers down here in the Bay Area lists their prices online. I don't really need show chrome so it looks like I can get my '54 bumpers shiny for $440 each. Hoping their price list is currently updated! https://www.atbumpers.com/
So guys I feel your pain. I have a Jones for chrome reverse or OEM wheels for the Vair. I cant find a source for the 13" diameter wheels and the chrome shop in Anchorage is no longer in business. So now my only option is to send my wheels out to have them chromed. Then pay the shipping back up here. THAT SUCKS
I wonder what the initial amount of funds it would required to start up a chrome shop, dealing with nothing larger than a bumper. How much of the equipment (dip tanks etc..) could you build on your own just to save a few bucks. This could be an opportunity for someone.
Years back, I recall one of the TV shows and didn’t Billy Gibbons take some old street rod in, and had “chrome paint” done on it? I think maybe on the roof? I recall from watching it It looked like chrome. Now I don’t know if a cost comparison, but Ceramic coating might be an option as well. The headers I had done buy JetHot for my kids OT car, look like a duller version of chrome, something you might liken to a 60’s bumper that was 4 or 5 years old. It’s possible they do a different process for super shiny? A set of shorty headers and a y-pipe was around 500? Or so, have to look for the receipt.
Chrome Tony and his offspring Chrome Troy @ Pacific Plating in the original Vancouver. Results may vary but I dropped off my brake pedal arm that I drilled on Monday and he said to pick it up later that day. I did polish the metal beforehand and I tip well. I dropped this AC piece and cracked it (pot metal). Took it to them and Chrome Tony said he can weld it up and Troy will chrome it. On my PU thread I posted some amazing work they did to restore the 41 PU waterfall hood ornament that had a bit of pot rot and my 41 super deluxe bumpers/guards. They do quality work.
My dad was a CPA, and he had a client that owned an aircraft parts company. The EPA was out to make an example of this guy, because of the plating the company did during WW I and II....meanwhile, the guy was only 12 years old when WWII ended, but, since the business went down the family line, he got the brunt of it...they were looking to fine this guy something like twice what the business GROSSED over a 10 year period.....it was going back & forth, it literally ruined his life...3 days after he died, the case was kicked out or reduced or something, I don't know the exact details......I do custom mold making & casting, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before I'm a target.....this is exactly why companies outsource now.....
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