Rechroming in southern California?

[egggplant]

Hi:

I'm looking for a place to rechrome my grill surround as well as some other miscellaneous parts.  Any suggestions for chrome platers in the southern California area?

Thanks

[jaxxonia]

Hello Graham,

I have had very good luck with De La Torre Plating located at 6887 Farmdale Ave., North Hollywood.  (818) 764-4372.  Over the past few years Jose has replated front & rear bumpers and other bits on my 1970 280SL.  He specializes in automotive chrome plating.  I've seen his work on a 1948 Tucker and a 1948 Franay-bodied Bentley with more chrome than you would believe.  He has been in business for a long time and takes his craft seriously.  He delivers on schedule, which I understand can sometimes pose a problem.  Not cheap, but you don't want a cheap chrome job.
Jackson

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[mdsalemi]

Graham,

Lore and legend has it that some SoCal chrome platers outsource to Mexico.  If the price is too good to be true, it generally is; you will get substandard work at a substandard price.  A lot of the cost of chrome plating is in the labor/handwork required to get a good job; not the actual plating.  Thus, the lure of outsourcing to low labor cost areas.  It would not surprise me in the least when someone starts representing Chinese and Indian chrome platers, if such things exist...

Take the advice of those who have used specific platers in your area and take the time to visit them and ensure you feel comfortable with the work.

[scoot]

quote:Originally posted by mdsalemi

Graham,

Lore and legend has it that some SoCal chrome platers outsource to Mexico.  

Hi Michael -
On a related note, perhaps forum members have recommendations for chroming done in Tijuana.  Seriously, I think that quality work can come from Mexico for less $$$$ (thanks to the EPA in part, cheap labor in part) and I'm wondering if it is practical to drive a trunk full of parts to TJ...
Scott

[mdsalemi]

Scott,

Well, I can tell you that one firm I've heard of--BumperBoyz http://www.bumperboyz.com/ has a less than stellar reputation

http://www.maverick.to/archives/mmb2/may00/messages/1553.html
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/185211/
http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/galaxie-pages/469141-bumper-boyz.html

A friend of mine had his 1966 Ford Galaxie Bumper rechromed there, and while it looked good for a while, it's starting to show some problems.  This is on a car that lives in a garage, never sees rain or winter...and the chroming is only 3 years old!  Next time, he says, he's staying local or using somebody with a better reputation.

But my goal here isn't to trash them, it is simply caveat emptor and to see where your chrome is going.  Too many of our chrome plated pieces are too expensive to replace to put them in the hands of people who don't know what they are doing--and shipping things across national boundaries to save a buck is just plain foolish, IMHO.

Perhaps, if one lived in San Diego or so, and had the ability to take a visit to a shop down that way, perhaps it would add a comfort level to the situation.

Chrome plating IS expensive.  If you can't afford it don't do it.  If there isn't any reputable chrome platers in your area, call some of the restoration experts.  It's funny how some of the same names keep showing up; these are the guys with good reputations.

N.B. Interestingly the same kind of nonsense happens in the piano rebuilding industry!  Yes there are representatives throughout the USA who will ship your piano to SAMA in Juarez, Mexico http://www.samapiano.com/ for a rebuild.  The results apparently, can be less than spectacular.

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=013718;p=0

Know your plater!

[jaxxonia]

Scott,
When looking for a chrome plater, I shopped estimates from about 10 places, including BumperBoyz.  As a caution, I would steer away from any shop that gives an estimate over the phone, like BumperBoyz did for me.  Chrome plating is an art much like body work in that a good estimate can only be rendered with a physical inspection.  I would also stay away from anyplace that cannot provide examples of their work & someone for you to talk to that has had their work done there. You may have better luck with a small shop in terms of not "losing" your precious parts, which is not uncommon. Plating takes days, sometimes weeks to complete.  Is it worth a vacation in Tijuana?  As Michael says, check the internet blogs on shop reputation.  There are MANY more bad ones than good ones.  De La Torre was recommended to me by friends that had their work done there and my body & paint expert.  It's a small operation that does things with old world methods.  A good chrome shop working area will not appear like a "clean room".  By the way, the rechrome on my bumpers is 3+ years old and still looks new.  Quality chrome plating is rare.  If you find a good plater, please let us know.
Jackson

[abe280SL]

Boy that is a tuff one.  Fifteen+ years ago I had to rechrome one of my bumpers and a few other parts.  I tried a reputable place that did Harleys in Van Nuys with poor results.  Due to CA environmental laws they couldn't use some chemicals for quality work.  I had to ship it at a place in Oklahoma for tripple plating/chroming.  Fifteen years later it still looks as good as new.  Unfortunately, I think the environmental laws have cought up with all 50 states.  That is why I might consider a quality place across the border who can do it the old fashion way.  Its not just about the "art" but the ability to have the proper chemicals to do the right job.  Maybe the Harley people can give you some tips or calling a quality restoration shop.
The funny thing about those who complain about the labor quality in TJ....guess who does the labor in the So California shops?
abe

[mdsalemi]

I could be wrong, but there is probably little or nothing in the way of environmental laws that prevent a chrome plater (or a cadmium plater or any kind of industrial processor) from doing a good and proper job.  It's in the way that they do it.  So, if Sam and Joe had a filthy and sloppy chrome plating shop in Torrance (but did good work), they are apt to blame the rules and laws, when cleaning up their process and operations would have allowed them to continue.  Sometimes this isn't practical of course, but the existence of places like Prime Plating, and Burbank plating kind of disprove the environmental excuse for California at least.  I heard all this environmental nonsense, in general and also specifically about California, when I went looking for Cadmium platers.  Lo and behold the two I found were in California.  I've since found others.

Nobody has complained specifically about labor quality in TJ; it's the results that count; the long term quality of the plating work; and the ability of the people you buy the work from to stand up for what they do.

If you try to cut corners and or save money on a chrome plating job, you will probably end up disappointed--maybe not the day you get the job back, but sometime after.  It isn't inexpensive.

Talk to the good guys who have a reputation for doing good work, find out about their processes and their work.  Talk to those who have had it done.  I've used Graves, B&L, and Prime on the list below.  Others have weighed in with good people they've used too.  But we've also heard some "horror stories" where much good advice was dispensed; ignored (usually because of $$$ or location); and the results were disappointing.

http://www.gravesplating.com/
http://www.blplating.com/index.htm
http://www.prime-plating.com/
http://www.burbankplating.com/
http://www.thefinishingtouchinc.com/

[thelews]

Don't forget Jon Wright, www.customchromeplating.com  Excellent work, priced according to level of finish.  Very busy.

[egggplant]

Does anyone know anything about Van Nuys Plating?  I got a recommendation from someone about it a few years agi.

Thanks for the help.

[mdsalemi]

Hello Graham and others,

As one of the largest states with one of the largest industrial bases, metal finishing is alive and well in California;chrome plating included.  Subject to regulations of course, like every state.  EPA regulations, OSHA regulations apply to all states.  California is probably the most stringent with its own rules but it hasn't shut everyone down--just made compliance and safety more of an issue.  You can comply or close down.  Some have chosen to comply and stay open and serve those who need serving.

I have no experience with any of these guys, but they do exist:

http://southbaychrome.com/
http://www.bumper.com/  Looks a little cheesy to me...
http://www.verneschromeplating.com/
http://www.ocplating.com/
http://www.calchrome.com/  and yes,
http://www.vannuysplating.com/index.html

That's who I found in about 10 minutes.  If I lived there and really researched it, I could probably add a few names to the list.

IF you want decorative chrome plating, and IF you want it in California, and IF you want it in the southland, it's there.  You do not need to go to Mexico.

As John (thelews) points out you can go elsewhere too.

Graham asked for some names, now he has them!  If he doesn't like what he sees, he can then go out of state.

You can call the Classic Center--I'm sure they send some things out and I'm sure they stay local.  Also, don't forget the MBCA: contact your local SoCal Sections, and make a few inquiries, I'm sure more names will come up.  There's a lot of restoration done there.

[psmith]

I would add that because the grill surround is so expensive and according to some recent posts, tricky to get to fit right, I would try some smaller less critical parts first and see how they do.  If they pass that test, tell them about the cost and fit of the grill and see what they say.

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by psmith

I would add that because the grill surround is so expensive and according to some recent posts, tricky to get to fit right, I would try some smaller less critical parts first and see how they do.  If they pass that test, tell them about the cost and fit of the grill and see what they say.

Here, here, Pete!  You are SO spot on correct.  I went through 2 rechromed grills from some guy in SoCal (guess where they were done??) before we found one that fit on try #3; that was the grill surround that was NOT replated!  Bought that one and had Graves do it.

The grill surround and other LARGE pieces are too easy to distort in the final finishing to risk with people who don't know them.

[wwheeler]

You mention that a chrome job can look good at first but then starts going bad. What exactly does it look like when it starts heading South?

[gugel]

FWIW, when I first started looking for a chrome plater in SoCal I heard that De La Torre Plating was very good, but when I took them some parts for an estimate, I found them extremely obnoxious.  Also, the estimate was ridiculously high -- he clearly wasn't interested in doing the job.  Obviously my experience differs from that of others -- perhaps he just took a dislike to me.  

I used Verne's, whom Mike mentioned (http://www.verneschromeplating.com/) and was quite happy with their work.  However, they wouldn't accept pot metal parts for plating (the caps for the posts behind the doors).

I also used Supreme Plating and Coating, 330 East Beach Ave., Inglewood, CA  310-671-3640, and was satisfied with the work.

Chris Earnest

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by gugel

FWIW, when I first started looking for a chrome plater in SoCal I heard that De La Torre Plating was very good, but when I took them some parts for an estimate, I found them extremely obnoxious.  Also, the estimate was ridiculously high -- he clearly wasn't interested in doing the job.  Obviously my experience differs from that of others -- perhaps he just took a dislike to me.  

I used Verne's, whom Mike mentioned (http://www.verneschromeplating.com/) and was quite happy with their work.  However, they wouldn't accept pot metal parts for plating (the caps for the posts behind the doors).

I also used Supreme Plating and Coating, 330 East Beach Ave., Inglewood, CA  310-671-3640, and was satisfied with the work.

Chris Earnest

Chris,

Your point about obnoxious is pretty funny: in Warren, MI there is a well known plater called "Fini Finish". http://www.fini-finish.com/  It looks like today, they have merged or something with another company, but when I was looking for B&L--a firm I ended up using for all my trim work--I ended up driving past this place on the way to B&L.  I stopped and looked.

First, they make a specialty not only in plating, but in restoration of pot metal.  So, that crusty old door handle from a 1938 Buick barn find can be restored to better than new; for a price of course.

The problem was, the guy who ran the place was a "piece of work".  I guess he got so tired of people asking the same stupid questions over and over again (remember, someone restoring a 1965 Corvair is of a different ilk than someone restoring a Classic Duesenberg) that he basically painted a series of FAQ's all over his building!  You had to walk around the entire building reading all this stuff to make a determination of whether or not you deemed yourself worthy of entering!  Heaven forbid if you came in, asked for a moment of his time, and the answer was on the building!  He'd been known to throw people out, I was subsequently told.  I read all these questions, and determined that he would do things his way, at his price, on his timetable, and got a bad feeling.  Few other places in the country will restore pot metal, but he would.  Thankfully I didn't have any pot metal restoration to do.  Just finding this place was a hoot, actually.

William Wheeler, there are many reasons why a chrome job can go bad.  Here are a few: NOT stripping to base (i.e. just removing chrome and replating over existing copper and nickel); not enough time in the bath(s) yielding a "thin" plaing; improper base finishing; not enough copper or nickel plating.  The results can be chrome that starts peeling, and or discolorations showing through that can't really be polished out.

[hauser]

Try Greg Cox at Artistic Silver Plating.