Chrome Plating---any tips on getting this done?

I would like to have the bumper guards on my VS chrome plated.

Anyone know of a place that does good work at a reasonable price. I have a quote of $145 EACH which doesen't seem very reasonable to me!

A lead would be appreciated. Thanks!

might be cheaper new

DIY- http://www.caswellplating.com/index.html

they are incredible easy to polish.

have you tried that?getting it polished up to 1000 grit and with a good cream polish - it would look just like chrome.

i did mine in about 10 minutes per

There are two very different kinds of chrome plating.

"Flash chrome" is a one step process applied directly over your steel part. It will last until the warrenty ends and then it will peel off in your hand, in razor blade like shards.

Good chrome plating is a three step process. Three different plating layers, each applied separately and in proper order. It's expensive only because the EPA has made control of the resulting emissions given off from the large plating tanks expensive to capture. Most of the plating companies left southern Cal for Mexico back in the 70s. A few shops remain today and they are expensive.

Don't shop price, shop quality.

Unfortunately, both processes produce a product that looks IDENTICAL to the untrained eye - you'll never know until it's too late! Check out the credentials of the shop you choose. Get educated.

Check with any local high end hot rod shop for their source.

Jack the 1000 sand and polish works very well and you can coat the bright work with a number of clear coatings that last a year or so.

Talk to a Harley shop guy they know where the good chrome is done.
(Can you just imagine the aftermath of a Harley dude getting a shit chrome job?)
~Alan

Actually, $145 each sounds just about right.

The only place I would send something to on the entire East Coast is Nu-Chrome in Fall River Massachusetts. It will be done right and last for years and years, but it's $$$$

gn

Jack,

Chrome = Open wallet.

If you want quality you have to pay for it. The more you have done at one time the easier on your wallet. I paid $650 to have six pieces of 356 Porsche turn signal parts done.

Jack, I think your bumper guards are aluminum, which I don't believe works well for chrome plating anyway. A good polish should make them gorgeous. If you have trouble, perhaps there's some place you could send them to be polished. I can check with Mike Lempert and see where he gets his wheel blanks done.

Aluminum can be chromed with no problems. Far less easier to wipe the chrome with Windex than polish the aluminum

Thanks for the tips and comments--much appreciated.

I am really tired of polishing the aluminum. I used to polish the aluminum spinner on my Cessna Cutlass and never enjoyed doing it---or the fair results.

Dusty Johnson has a polish that really works and he gave me a sample that really did the job but I'm almost out of that and want a permanent solution. His polish is the answer for the aluminum on a Nardi steering wheel though.

Gordon--you are right about the 3 step process. I'll use Advanced
chrome plating in Nashville. The wait is 10 weeks but the season is almost over so I gfuess I'll go ahead and do that. I'm thinking the front hood handle too.

You all can put your sunglasses on next time you see me coming!

Thanks again.

Jack - What's the name of that polish you got from Dusty?

Was it Mother's Aluminum polish? That's what I use with great results on my windshield bow, horn grills, engine grill and Nardi steering wheel spokes. Almost looks like chrome afterwards.

The one polish I live for is "FLITZ" it comes in a silver colored tube of about 6 oz's and is very expensive, but it goes a long ways in polishing metals, plastic and fiberglass... this tube has lasted me a while and I swear by it... made even my wind shield glass guard bite right up and look awesome... The biggest impact was on polished metals, not chrome, the chrome stuff came out sweet, but the polished stuff really shines. It even cleaned my glass lens covers for the headlights. took that dull looking film right off... Remember FLITZ...

i use the FLITZ spray speed wax..like a mini detailer for paint, chrome. has carnuba in it and gives a great shine in no time. costs about 8 for 16oz.

"HOT ROD MAGAZINE's Stroker McGerk was credited with saying...."If it don't GO, bore and stroke it......If it still don't GO, chrome it." Now I know Jake put the horsepower back there somewhere.......I'm just sayin...... ;-)

You can be certain that ant shiny metal I have in my car has nothing to do with it's GO! It has plenty of that!

Dusty made that polish and sent me a sample after I complimented him on his bright work (polished aluminum) on our trip to Morro Bay last April. He has a formula that really is a miracle. I still have enough to keep my Nardi wheel lookin' good for quite a while---but not enough to keep the bumper guards shining. Dusty's polish even has a pleasant coconut fragrance! Great stuff.

I have zero chrome under my engine hood. The engine is a neat installation with no flashiness.

I feel different about a part that is designed to shine though--like a bumper guard.

I use the Mother's Aluminum Mag Wheel Cleaner and like Jim says it turns aluminum into "chrome" but the rag turns black with all the scum it pulls out.

Hey Ricardo, where you been hiding? Welcome back.
Hoss

Jack, your car is never stopped long enough for anyone to tell what the hell your bumpers look like. They looked fine to me. ( I think )

Hi Hoss! Still lurking here occasionally. Right in the midst of an alternator swap in my car but needed to order the 356 front pulley half (closest to the alternator), hub and shims from Klasse 356. Turns out my assembly came with a mix and match of parts straight from VS: VW shims but the rest of the parts were 356 and the hole in that pulley half as well as the hub got chewed up despite always having had the correct belt tension. I'm guessing you need to use the correct Porsche shims or the assembly will get damaged.