Chrome plating in CA?

[dwsfca]

Does anyone have a good (inexpensive ) source to have the bumpers etc. rechromed?

A guy at a local (SF)body shop said they just did a rear bumper for a 230 SL for $230 (cost to customer).  My experience is that if you just mention it is for a MBZ at any shop that does chrome plating it will cost $400 minimum.

There must be a shop that will just rechrome a piece of steel regardless of what it is from at a reasonable price.

Sorry for the venting, but it chrome is chrome!

Anyone have any Ideas?

Thanks,

Dan

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by dwsfca

Does anyone have a good (inexpensive ) source to have the bumpers etc. rechromed?

A guy at a local (SF)body shop said they just did a rear bumper for a 230 SL for $230 (cost to customer).  My experience is that if you just mention it is for a MBZ at any shop that does chrome plating it will cost $400 minimum.

There must be a shop that will just rechrome a piece of steel regardless of what it is from at a reasonable price.

Sorry for the venting, but it chrome is chrome!

Anyone have any Ideas?

Thanks,

Dan

Dan,

Is it possible you don't understand the chrome process?  It is a significant amount of skilled, hand labor in addition to an expensive electro-mechanical process frought with strict EPA regulations--that's what drives the cost.  In the case of bumpers, the typical process is:

dechrome
derust as necessary
weld cracks
hammer dings
beadblast back
grind smooth
buff
degrease
copper plate
buff
nickel plate
buff
chrome plate
buff and finish.

If you have it done in the USA it is going to cost some amount of money that I'm certain you will consider unreasonable.  Your average plater doesn't give a hoot whether the large chunk of steel is from a 1958 300SL, a 1968 280SL, or a 1971 Pinto; it takes the same amount of work depending on size and the origin of the piece is not relevant; condition and size are vastly more important.  Various intracasies of the parts make some pieces easier to plate then others; this is why most platers want to see the piece before quoting.

All that being said, you are in a good position in being somewhat close to Mexico...how's your Spanish?  My guess is you can carry your bumpers across the border; hop into a taxi, and tell the driver you want to be taken to a chrome plater--I guess it would be that easy...you would not be the first nor the last who did this.

Also, in the LA area, there is a company called "Bumper Boyz" http://www.bumperboyz.com/main.htm and in the past they had Mercedes rechromed bumpers available at prices considerably lower then many of the mainstream suppliers.  My experience with three platers is that the didn't ask or care what car the items came from.

You get what you pay for, and if you want an inexpensive chrome job, you just need to go looking.  I saved a few bucks a couple of years ago on my bumpers, simply taking advantage of the favorable (at the time) exchange rate between USA and Canada $$$.  If you can't take the pieces yourself, the taxes, customs, shipping, etc. would make it not worth your while. You won't find inexpensive work at a place like Graves, or those like them.  But it can be done.  Just don't be sorry a few years down the road.  Perhaps one of the better platers in California is Santa Ana Plating. http://santaanaplating.com/

Some tidbits from other forums:

55forder
Plating is a breeze for me. I live in San Diego, and Mexico is 20 minutes away. In mexico, there arent any pollutant/environmental laws, or crazy taxes to pay for chrome platers. I did my 55's bumper, and grill for $100 + a tip. I can pretty much give them a bunch of anything, and its always $100. To top it off, they are ALWAYS done the next weekend.

I see a problem though, as the chrome shop is right in the middle of a shantyville neighborhood. I wonder what the birth defect rate is in the neighborhood? Its a shame, but the chrome is SUPER thick, and stays shiny forever.

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 16:56:39 EST
From: Oldbenz1@aol.com
Subject: Mexican chrome platers

I did a bit of research and found the emails concerning rechroming.  The fellow who sent the info to the list is Manual Evia
(mevia@curacao.sureste.com)  He had some work done in Merida, but also mentioned two companies in Mexico City.  They are:  Ramon Pages Duhalt, phone-(5)5870666, (5)5876184 and Compania estaniadora nacional, phone- (5) 3611188. Sr. EVvia may have more information now- his email to the list was in December.  There is also at least one plater in Tijuana who has an office in San Ysidro, CA.  Can't give you a name for certain, but "Cromadora" pops into my mind.  I have heard that they do high quality work at prices far less than
U.S. platers.
Rich S.

Cromadora Delgado
Tlaloc #32 Col. Tlaxpana
Del. Miguel Hidalgo, M=E9xico D.F.
C.P.- 11370
Tel.- (525) 592 2410
Attn.- Sr. Prudencio Monroy / Jefe de Taller

The price for each bumper would be around $100.00 usd plus customs,
shipping and handling.

I am collecting data regarding custom clearance for this matter, as soon as available it, it will be in the email.

There are some other shops here in Monterrey N.L. that have had the
experience in this and may be interesting to know their prices (I am in this too).

If someone wants to get more information, feel free to ask.

J. Fernando Rojas O.


So, here's some information which you can use. I hope this helps.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[TR]

Mike -- A question about re-chroming the grill trim: As I recall you've mentioned re-chroming the grill surround might result in problems with re-fit to the body.  If I'm incorrect and you didn't say this please excuse & ignore.  I plan to have the front/rear bumpers & grill pieces rechromed before too long.  But I'm confused about the potential problem of grill surround re-fit.

Any description / advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Tom in Boise

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by TR

Mike -- A question about re-chroming the grill trim: As I recall you've mentioned re-chroming the grill surround might result in problems with re-fit to the body.  If I'm incorrect and you didn't say this please excuse & ignore.  I plan to have the front/rear bumpers & grill pieces rechromed before too long.  But I'm confused about the potential problem of grill surround re-fit.

Any description / advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Tom in Boise

Hi Tom (and others interested)

Yes this is another one of Mike's "been there, done that" stories.

The grill surround is arguably one of the most difficult pieces to fit properly.  When "all is proper", the surround fits the nose panel like a latex glove fits your hand.  Note that the grill surround is chrome plated brass.

The issues that affect this fit are:

a) Thickness of the chrome plating
b) Thickness of the paint/primer components and any fillers on the nose panel
c) Actual stamping of the nose panel (different die sets)
d) Actual stamping of the grill surround.(different die sets
e) How the surround has been "worked" or "repaired".  Improper buffing will alter the shape and fit.

In addition, the grill surround is prone to a stress crack in the upper right hand corner (when looking at it head on.

Getting a perfect fit is difficult and why an experienced body man, particularly with 113's, is helpful.  Grill surrounds are expensive.  If you want one that doe not fit well, Tim Kidder at K&K will happily sell you one for a good price.  Apparently someone tried to remanufacture them once and it wasn't easy.  Tim's got a few on the shelf.

In my case, I bought a "rechromed" grill surround from 1boygenius on eBay.  It didn't fit.  He sent another.  It too, didn't fit.  My restorer, admittedly a perfectionist in body work, said we need a third.  1boygenius sent a third--it fit perfectly--but was not replated.  We struck a deal for a discount, and sent the surround out to Graves for replating.  When it was in the "iterative" process of being fit to the nose panel that was being refinished (note the nose panel was new), that stress crack broke on the newly rechromed surround.  The restorer spread the crack, brazed it up, ground and polished it, and sent the surround back to Graves for replating a second time.  May G*d smile on me and make that the last time I have to spend any time or money on a grill surround...

Bottom line?  To get the look of my car, it took a new nose panel; three grill surrounds, and two platings and a repair on the final keeper.

PS.  Don't try this at home.  Professional restorer.

Donations gladly accepted for my sanity fund.


Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[TR]

Mike -- Wow...that's a tough, but understandable tale of pain.

I've looked over that terrific photo you sent and your efforts (aka agony) appear to be worth the beautiful result.

If you'd started with an undamaged, original and matching nose panel and grill surround (which is what I have) do you think re-chroming of the grill pieces would still be something to be concerned about?

Tom in Boise

[dwsfca]

Michael,

I understand the chrome plating process quit well having actually worked in such a shop in Upstate NY many years ago(long before environmental issues were thought about).

My concern is finding a shop that does not automatically double the price just because it is a MBZ part!

Thanks for the 2 websites, I will check on them.  I'm in SF so Mexico is really not an option.

Dan

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by dwsfca

Michael,

I understand the chrome plating process quit well having actually worked in such a shop in Upstate NY many years ago(long before environmental issues were thought about).

My concern is finding a shop that does not automatically double the price just because it is a MBZ part!

Thanks for the 2 websites, I will check on them.  I'm in SF so Mexico is really not an option.

Dan

Well Dan, if you have to ship your items somewhere it really doesn't matter too much where it is...

Check my previous posts, I've listed the three platers I used.  They all did excellent work, and nobody cared where the parts came from or where they were going.  They were just interested in doing the best work on what was presented to them.

By the way, if that $230.00 price for the rear bumper is accurate, and you were satisfied with the look of that work, I'd suggest that it is a very good price indeed, and would jump at the opportunity--again, if the quality meets your needs and expectations.  To do all my bumpers--in Canada, was about USD $1,100 in 2001.  Minor repair included.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by TR

Mike -- Wow...that's a tough, but understandable tale of pain.

I've looked over that terrific photo you sent and your efforts (aka agony) appear to be worth the beautiful result.

If you'd started with an undamaged, original and matching nose panel and grill surround (which is what I have) do you think re-chroming of the grill pieces would still be something to be concerned about?

Tom in Boise

Tom,

If you have a nose panel and grill surround that are fitting well and to your expectation, AND you just want to remove the well fitting surround and have that replated, you would in all likelyhood not have any issues.  It is when you are changing sheet metal, or surrounds, or both--when you might have some challenges.  Or, if you were repainting and not taking down to bare metal, such that the new paint is sitting on top of old paint--that too might pose a fit issue.

But if you are just taking original fitting pieces, your biggest challenge will be not having the piece damaged in the buffing process.  Based on previous experiences, my restorer would not let anyone but Graves handle the grill surround.  They had experience with it, and knew what it was and how to handle it.  I'm certain they are not the only chrome plater to do that piece, but I had to go with the recommendation of my restorer.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[TR]

Thanks Mike.

Tom in Boise

[n/a]

I used a local plating shop in Escondido California, called : Escondido Plating : (760) 743-4148  . They do alot of restoration work for US and Euro cars. They are a small shop , probably one of the last that are allowed in our area, and are quite reasonable. They are probably not concours quality, but I am pretty picky, and I was happy . I plated almost EVERYTHING that could be plated.

[n/a]

I too have used Escondido plating for many high end restoration jobs, (280SL, Maserati, Harley) and have had much success. They do a great job. Usually 5-8 weeks.

Michael

[n/a]

You get what you pay for in chrome plating.  Not cheap to do it properly. Try Christiansons in Los Angeles. They do all the Nethcercutt work. It doesn't get any better than that.

Tom Hanson in CA