I was just sitting here thinking of my next project and I think I want to have some parts chromed. How much does this usually run? Im thinking mostly frontend parts and whatnot. Does it vary by which part of the country you are in? What do you Southern Cailifornia guys pay?
You need really deep pockets. Get used to trading gold (money) and lots of it for chrome. If you need any diecast parts done you had better really hold on. Paint is always cheaper and powdercoat is even cheaper yet
decent quality chrome is big bucks where i am at. you are almost better off finding a used chromed axle etc. and like mercdeuceman said, even more for diecast. diecast seems to rust from the inside out so even a part that looks ok ends up with pits after they dip it. the headlight rings and hood scoop on my 58 ford wagon looked better before i had them chromed!!
Just had 13 SMALL pieces for an o/t car done. die cast mostly for a 1967 le mans. $900.00 but they look perfect. Look up the shakeypuddin straight axle thread. he paid at least that for the chrome on his front end.
I think most chromers would tell you they need to see the part first. It really depends on condition of the part, material make up, what level of shine you want, and most importantly, the quality of the shop. Chrome is generally one of the things in life that you get what you pay for. If one shop is much cheaper than all the others, I'd really question it. They're usually cutting corners somewhere. Not always true, but buyer beware. Environmental impacts/costs have caused many chromers to shut down. Those that remain have more expenses and less compe***ion.
i was quoted an estimate of 400 bucks to plate a 23 ford radiator shell, that's a brand new steel shell needing no stripping or repair work.
Thanks for the advice guys. I was thinking of doing a complete chrome frontend, but I was debating on trying to piece together some chrome parts and hope they match, or just getting raw parts and have them chromed. Ive never even looked into chroming so I have no idea what it cost.
I have used the same guy for years and overall pretty happy. Every once in a while he does one that I dont like and he is always willing to redo it. I have found with all of the platers I have used over the years that price is generally very fluid. Kinda depends on how many pieces you are doing, the complexity of the polishing involved and how busy the shop is. Cash is always king and better deals can be had with greenbacks in hand With regards to T-Buckets grille shell. Yes it was new and didnt need repair but it needed polishing and that is where the real bucks add up. Its all labor and if the polishing is **** then the end result is ****pier. If the shop cuts corners in their chemicals you will get a yellow cast instead of that nice blue we all like. It takes a good plater who really knows what he is doing to "throw" the chrome down in a crevice of a part so it doesnt shadow out. All of that cost money. Plus throw in the EPA and their requirements and the cost of chrome has become a major investment when you are building a rod So how much do we pay was the original question. It depends on the shop and the quality of the work you recieve. As with everything else, cheaper isnt always better.
Get ready to take out a 2nd on your house. I was quoted $350.00 for a '40 Ford bumper, I can get a new one from Drake, chrome with Ford Script for $325.00
I bought a plastic sandwich bag of bolts and nuts for $125.00 and the shop owner said that was a good deal. Go figure!!
When I was building my 47 Fleetline a few years back, I found that the smaller shops were better on prices. I found a little older cat that my buddy referred me to who did *****in polishing in house and sent out chroming to someone else but still very reasonable pricing.
Chrome costs yikes. I did meet a guy in Santa Maria who said he was the cheapest around and would beat anyones price...I will look for his card. He's in So. Cal....He offered to chrome the 54 since he noticed it was all original
I have wondered for a very long time about THREE different alternatives to chrome...maybe some of you have too. 1) That chrome paint...not the fizzcan stuff but the REAL chrome paint that requires special equipment and contains real silver. Saw the stuff at SEMA and it was amazing how MUCH it looked like chrome. I'm wondering about cost and wether or not anyone has done this. 2) Is there anything close to Edelbrocks Durashine that commercial powdercoating shops are able to spray? That stuff looks exactly like chrome and I can't imagine it would cost nearly as much. Does Edelbrock sell the Durashine system as a stand alone product or service? 3) Is there another type of powdercoat or paint that consumers are able to use that looks at good as either of the products above? Honestly, if it looked as good as chrome or VERY close that would be good enough for me. Anyone have any ideas or experience with alternative to chrome?
My guy has been doing mine for years I just got some stuff back from him 53 chev150 horn cap $10.00 4 inch drop axle $250.00 tie rod ends $40.00. $300.00 for a 55 Chev rear bumper He has always been & good maybe not the best but I am not all that picky. 2 Week turn-around also.He works out an old hotel
i had a quote of like three grand one time to repair the dents in the grille of my grandpa's truck and re chrome it. I don't remember now where that was from. I hope thats not standard, cause if it is i'm gonna paint everything!
Quality is the first thing to look for, find someone that has found a good plater they are happy with and use them. It is all unaffordable, so get it done correctly the first time.
If you are having any load bearing components such as steering and suspension, you will need to have them embrittlement relieved or heat treated immediately after they have been chrome plated - three hours or less is best, as otherwise you risk component failute - as in breaking. There is a reason race cars do not have chromed components. Safety is no accident. Add this to the cost of your chrome. You need hexavalent chrome not the cheap*** trivalent chrome that most shops are offering in CA nowadays. Get a couple of quotes from a reputable plating shop by taking them there so they can look at them and then gulp!
chroming is a lot of work.After striping you have to buff it out. then copper plate then buff again. Then nickle plate then chrome. Buffing is a art and these guys earn thar money. it's hard big things are heavy and hard to hold. And its dirty work. And the chemicals are nasty. If you have a cut on your hand from buffing the chemicals will find it even with rubber gloves on. And then you are playing with electricity and water at the same time. And then the EPA lots of bs. Thats just part of why it cost to have things plated. OH yea don't go into a plating shop and ask to have something dipped. You might end up getting dipped.
Forget the chrome type paints - does not look l**** real chrome Endurashine is a powder coat type process but can look really gaudy. It will scratch and chip much easier than chrome and has a tendency to give a ripple effect. Clean with Windex and a soft cloth. Yes it is done commercially - I had some intake manifolds done at a place in Downey CA - here's the link: www.americanpvd.com
Sounds like the guy I use. Is he in Montclair?? My understanding is Concept Powdercoating in Rancho Cuca****a has the exclusive contarct with Edlebrock to do all of the EnduraShine. I get all of my powdercoating done by them because I think they are the best. I took a Buick intake manifold in and asked if they could EnduraShine it and they said no because of their agreement with Edlebrock. That was a couple years ago, so it may have changed Well said. Many years ago I was a partner in a plating shop. Those that dont know think you take in a part and they just "dip" it. No big deal, right? Very wrong. Its a very labor intensive business, chemicals are very expensive and the epa restrictions and regulations all add to the cost. And yeah, try standing there all day in rubber boots on a platform, lifting racks of metal parts in and out of tanks filled with caustic chemicals, and applying just the right amount of current so the part plates evenly and doesnt shadow. A good polisher and plater is worth what they earn
Good chrome will have a blueish tint to it. The copper first plate gives it that tint. When it is left out the chrome will be whiter looking and will not stand up as well. Make shour when you talk cheep chrome thy aren't leaving out the copper plate
Hexavalent chrome will have a bluish tint. Copper plating gives off no tint once plated over. It is covered by the nickel/chrome over it. Copper is the paint-job equivalent of a high build primer, and does not really provide anything more than that. The durability of the part is in the nickel/chrome. HotRodJim is spot on about the custom plating. It is a very dangerous, dirty, and highly skilled job. I got a finger tore off on a buffing wheel when i was 19. Almost every day I get a new scratch/burn/bruise. My forearms are full of small scars. But I love taking a rusted out broken piece of junk and turning it into something worthy of showing off. I like going to car shows and seeing chrome that I myself polished and repaired. It is a rewarding job in my eyes. Chrome platers are hard working guys who do not make a lot of money, yet catch a LOT of flack because of "high prices." I don't drive an old minivan because I like it. I have reached the point where if a potential customer tries to negotiate the prices down, I tell them no, even if business is slow. No way am I going to bust my rear and risk my safety to most likely break even on cost. Maybe I should jack up the prices then cut them back down so the customer feels better? I dunno. If it were easy and overpriced, everyone would do it themselves and offer it cheaper to make a buck themselves. The biggest problem is most people have no idea of how little they know about the custom chrome business/process. It is not a rip-off. Although, as in every business there will be some bad guys to look out for. Back to the original question, we have to see the parts. And beware of plating suspension parts; because of hydrogen embrittlement issues.
Hey Josh ,dont forget two strikes on the flyte bar ,gives a cloud that green limes up just lovely.voila ,english blue chrome !
I was surprised that there doesn't seem to be any consistency in pricing. We drove over to Delaware to a small town chrome shop with obviously low overhead because we were told that they were reasonable. I had 2 perfect valve covers. No dents. No pits. They said 250 bucks...................................................each!!!! 500 for a pair of valve covers that need no work other than polishing. Another buddy got a set done for 200 bucks but he did have to send them off. It was a quality job from a quality famous shop. I've always been leery of the big time shops that do big time work for Daddy Warbucks customers at big time prices. I think that the loss of compe***ion has allowed the chrome shops to charge what ever they want and the customer just ***umes the position. In the above case you can't use the amount of labor involved or the quality of the materials argument. Ask around and shop around. We did ask around and lost a half a day on a wild goose chase. I took some parts to a local shop in a high rent industrial complex got a decent price and put it on my credit card. A month and a half later the phone was disconnected. I got the charges nullified and I did get my parts back. Again this guy had done work for several of my friends with no problems.
This sissybar was $150.00 to chrome and I had a couple of 56 Ford pickup grills chromed for $250.00/each. It can get get pretty pricey if you have a lot done. Larry T
I just had this `31 plymouth radiator cap redone , it cost me $125 and I was very happy with the price and the work , my plater sends all his stuff to Argentina where labor is cheap and epa rules don`t exsist.
And then we ***** because nothing is "Made in USA" anymore? I'll send my stuff to ChromePlaterJosh so he can eat. The reason there aren't chrome shops in every town is because of the EPA regs. We all want safe drinking water, don't we? I just heard about the clams in the Pacific that are developing cancer from being near the Aluminum smelting plants out there. The humans have a higher rate as well. I guess because they are in Argentina, we don't give a ****? There is a price to be paid for quality and safety. Sometimes it is going without chrome...
if I could have found someone to do the job right locally I would have , all the examples I had seen of their work ****ed , nobody is willing to put the work into repairing pot metal , quality wins.
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