Rechroming

Looking for a recommendation for a good rechroming firm, distance no object.

Back in the sixties, when my car was born, quality control was at an
all-time low. But even so, the shiny bits lasted for at least ten years
before they started pimpling. Lasted long after the body had fallen apart.

Over the years I have had quite a few bits rechromed. In every case they
looked superb on arrival - but never lasted. A year or so at best.

Current situation - all my chrome, replated five years ago, is in a mess -
always treated carefully, washed and waxed, no abrasives but even so is now
resembling a teenager with acne.

There was a pretty good article in Classic and Sportscar (or might have been
Octane) recently about how rechroming should be done, with a list of people
who do it. But.... does anyone on this NG have any personal experience?
Ideally, a job done some ten years ago which is still in good nick.

Bit like looking for a reliable builder or plumber, I think, but I'm sure
the assembled wisdom of this NG will point me in the right direction!

Geoff MacK

Geoff Mackenzie (gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying :

Back in the sixties, when my car was born, quality control was at an
all-time low.

.... which then continued to decline until the end of the 70s...

In article <59c5ncF2jkqvlU1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net>,
Geoff Mackenzie <gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

Bit like looking for a reliable builder or plumber, I think, but I'm sure
the assembled wisdom of this NG will point me in the right direction!

I'll bet there will be BS or similar specs for chrome plating and you'd
need to specify which one you want. Penny pinching on the materials seems
endemic these days - all many seem to do is something that will last a
reasonable warranty period like a year or so. And of course few modern
cars have any chrome plated steel.

--
*If you remember the '60s, you weren't really there

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Adrian <toomany2cvs (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Geoff Mackenzie (gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying :

Back in the sixties, when my car was born, quality control was at an
all-time low.

... which then continued to decline until the end of the 70s...

Quality control was bad in the 60s, tailed off in the early 70s and the
less said about the late 70s the better.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

Dave Plowman (News) <dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk> wrote

In article <59c5ncF2jkqvlU1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net>,
Geoff Mackenzie <gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:
Bit like looking for a reliable builder or plumber, I think, but I'm
sure
the assembled wisdom of this NG will point me in the right direction!

I'll bet there will be BS or similar specs for chrome plating and you'd
need to specify which one you want. Penny pinching on the materials seems
endemic these days - all many seem to do is something that will last a
reasonable warranty period like a year or so. And of course few modern
cars have any chrome plated steel.

Just a thought - customised motorbikes seem to use a lot of chrome. It

might be worth asking the same question in a motorcycles NG.

Jim

In article <mzgYh.7801$Ro3.6507 (AT) text (DOT) news.blueyonder.co.uk>,
Jim Warren <jimwarren (AT) OMITblueyonder (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

I'll bet there will be BS or similar specs for chrome plating and
you'd need to specify which one you want. Penny pinching on the
materials seems endemic these days - all many seem to do is something
that will last a reasonable warranty period like a year or so. And of
course few modern cars have any chrome plated steel.

Just a thought - customised motorbikes seem to use a lot of chrome. It
might be worth asking the same question in a motorcycles NG.

Or uk.d-i-y - lots of fonts of knowledge on all things there. ;-)

--
*Beware - animal lover - brakes for pussy*

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Geoff Mackenzie" <gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote

Looking for a recommendation for a good rechroming firm, distance no
object.

Derby Plating (01332 382408) have an excellent reputation, but aren't

cheap. A friend whose judgment I trust has used them for many years,
and has put a lot of Rolls-Royce and Bentley stuff their way - his own
and for other people.

I've also seen recommendations for Standard Chrome of Coventry (024 7668
3624), but don't know anyone personally who has used them.

I'm sure everyone will be interested to hear who you choose, how big a
mortgage you need, and what sort of job you get. With a 10-year
follow-up.


--
Kevin Poole
**Use current month and year to reply (e.g. apr2007 (AT) mainbeam (DOT) co.uk)***

Looking for a recommendation for a good rechroming firm, distance no
object.

I had my wheelnuts replated at Nuneaton Fine Finishing, pretty good job done
and there's no real problems with them now after a couple of years.

The only niggle I had was that when they'd cleaned off the burrs on the nuts
I supplied, it was quite difficult to find a decent socket that would fit
properly, so I ended up with a slightly larger socket with some insulation
tape inside it - this has the added effect that the surface that contacts
the newly-chromed nut is relatively soft.

Mike.

On 26 Apr, 18:28, "Geoff Mackenzie" <g... (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

Looking for a recommendation for a good rechroming firm, distance no object.

We use ACF Howell in Walsall and been happy with the results and
service. Their number is 01922 649992 . In fact, our postie, who is a
classic bike collector also uses them. I can't remember who I
originally got the recommendation from but I did a fair bit of
research at the time and they came out best.
__________________________________________________ ___
Simon Denman
Classic Motoring - Jaguar E-Type Convertible Classic Car Hire
Web: http://www.classicmotoring.co.uk
Tel: 01452 864050

In article <4631bd12$0$8751$ed2619ec (AT) ptn-nntp-reader02 (DOT) plus.net>,
Mike Edwards <test (AT) test (DOT) com> wrote:

The only niggle I had was that when they'd cleaned off the burrs on the
nuts I supplied, it was quite difficult to find a decent socket that
would fit properly, so I ended up with a slightly larger socket with
some insulation tape inside it - this has the added effect that the
surface that contacts the newly-chromed nut is relatively soft.

Surely an edge drive - Metrinch or similar - would get round that problem?

--
*Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites? *

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.