Resonable Cost to rechrome a C1 (1962)

[Clare Carpenter]

I have a couple of recommended sources (local to me) lined up as possiblities for handling my rechrome work. I haven't had them look at my pieces yet for an estimate. I'm not concerned with chasing the lowest prices and won't necessarily go with the lowest bidder. On the other hand I don't want to pay more than is necessary, customary and fair. What can I expect to pay for quality triple plating work?

My steel pieces are in very good original condition with the expected surface rust on the backsides but not needing any repair work at all. My cast metal pieces are all original and are also in very good shape. There is some minor pitting but nothing too serious. As I understand it, on the cast pieces all pitting has to be repaired or it will come back thru.

Is it worthwhile to do window cranks, grab bar ends, or should I just buy repros?

One middle man, well known for other specialized resto work, pitched me on his chroming "service". He doesn't do it himself but supposedly has the "best" guy. He recommended throwing away my grill pieces, which I wouldn't do anyway. He says he wouldn't touch those pieces but could do everything else TOP NOTCH. What's the difference between the grill pieces and the other cast stuff, like window posts?

I've been told the repros don't fit well and to use originals if possible. Mine certainly seem nice enough to use.

I am leary of sending stuff "out of town" to a chroming operation and want no part of exchange services. I want my stuff back on my car. I would appreciate any help, tips or any relating of your rechroming experiences. This is a first time experience for me.

[Louis Kolb]

Re: Resonable Cost to rechrome a C1 (1962)

For the chrome pieces on my 1961 Corvette, I chose to repair and replate instead of repoduction. Good quality originals are far superior to reproductions. My chrome went to Lemon Grove Plating Company in National City, California. The cost was about the same as buying new. The parts were shipped for cost estimate then returned COD. I live in South Carolina and California is a long way, so you have to rely on a company's reputation (trust). I had no problems and no rejects with Lemon Grove. My pot metal pieces went to a restorer in Florida that I contacted through my association with AACA (can not remember who that was) (I would have to search my records/receipts).

[Clare Carpenter]

I guess everyone bought theirs already restored...

or a maybe a couple of other possibilities:

...paid too much and are embarassed to say, or did it so long ago the price is no longer relevant. (that's a possibility with some in the NCRS) Seriously, and even though I got a couple of private emails, no one has related prices. What's the big secret?, or is it one of those, "if you have to ask, you can't afford it?

I'm thinking the range would be somewhere $1.5-2.5K (depending on the plating location and condition) for triple plating, show quality. Show quality defined as better than factory, a good quality, long lasting job. Am I in the ballpark?

[Jim S.]

Tuff Question !!

Clare,
The questoin you pose is very hard to answer.Prices vary from Plater to Plater form State To state,And mostly from condition to condition of the part being plated !Add to that the fact that most restorations Dont get "everything" rechromed and you start to see what your up against!
That being said ....If you go to http://arebachrome.com ,and then to their price list ,you should get a reasonable estimate of what you will pay, or at least a good reference point from which to shop arround .
I hope this helps,
Jim

[John M.]

Re: Tuff Question !!

Clare,
I have had a lot of C1 stuff rechromed, and would never send a pot metal part out for chrome if it was available new! You are pretty much locked in on windshield posts and door posts, but other parts that are available will usually cost more to chrome than you can buy them for. I usually pay about $160 each for windshield or door posts and about the same for each bumper piece, depending on how much repair work is needed. The items like the grille, side spears, parking lights, and the like, just get thrown in a box for future Swap meet or Ebay sales. Window cranks are put together after after plating, and are very hard to plate without removing the knob, and even then, you may not get a good job. Grab bar ends, console moulding and similar peices of potmetal trim, are impossible to tell from the original stuff. Generally speaking, The smaller the part, the less cost-effective it is to plate it. I too, have been pleased with Lemongrove plating as well as Frankford plating in Phila. Both do nice work, but both usually have turnaround times that can stretch to 12 weeks or better.

Regards, John McGraw

[Larry S.]

[Clare Carpenter]

Excuse me Larry if I ruffled your feathers...

My attempt to be humourous, (though perhaps a bit on the sacarcastic side) wasn't meant to offend anyone. Humour, especially sarcastic humour, sometimes gets misinterpreted on a web forum. Subtle delivery, as spoken, is an art form hard to deliver in written form. I read some of the sarcastic threads here on this forum and I know the parties involved are old friends just jousting. Others reading it might be shocked and think otherwise.

Anyway, we've all paid too much for cars, parts and services, or made other related mistakes, somewhere along the line. That's a fact. I can laugh about mine, cry, or be ticked off. I'd rather laugh, and if you've been to an NCRS event lately you know what I mean about my reference to age. We're not exactly a bunch of young turks, (sometimes what my mind forgets, the mirror in the morning reminds me of). So I'm sorry if I ruffled your (or anyone else's) feathers.

[Clare Carpenter]

Thank you gentlemen for your input

Jim, that's exactly what I was thinking and what I attempting to gauge. In other words, is it worth getting it done locally, or shipping it out, if I can get the same quality work done, for enough less money to justify the shipping and the additional anxiety of having my parts that much further out of my control. Both of the local (MI) shops referred to me are known for their quality plating work and I've been told NOT CHEAP. However, I haven't received any estimates.

John, Good point on the cast metal pieces. I had thought it would make better sense to buy repros for some of the stuff. I've had quite a few guys tell me to me that if my grill pieces are in any kind of shape at all, to use them vs the repros. Mine are in amazingly good shape and my cove pieces don't need a thing.

Eveyone seems to agree that cast grill repros don't fit as well as the originals. What about the quality of plating difference between grill repros and original bumpers custom plated? They sit right next to one another, so it's easy to pick up. Do you get hit in judging for the obvious differences?

One of the local shops recommended to me, http://www.fini-finish.com is known for their cast metal plating restoration and plating abilities. The other shop was recommended for bumpers, etc. My plan is to let them see my stuff and make an estimate. Then I'll decide what way to go.

One last question: What is the best way to insure that my pieces don't get mixed in with someone else's job? I would guess it's difficult to mark pot metal pieces.

[Chris S.]

Re: Resonable Cost to rechrome a C1 (1962)

I have done alot - I mean alot of chrome plating
1 - you get what you pay for.
2 - be clear with your chromer your expectations

I have used Advanced Plating for all my custom work
I used Paul's Plating for all my 54 chrome.
I plated every OE part - even the teeth.
Plan on 5 to 6k for every chrome part on the entire veh.
But I have very high expectations from a chromer

Get references
Look at their prior work
There are alot of crappy chromers out there
Be careful - as many will just grind down your OE material - making it thinner vs the long and tedious process of filling and repairing pits properly.

I have no problem shipping to my chromers.
There is nothing that I have sent them that did not come back - perfect

[Chris S.]

Re: Resonable Cost to rechrome a C1 (1962)

additionally
Pauls takes a photo of each of my parts
Provides an up front estimate - prior to plating
you get your parts back

I would also rechrome my orig pieces vs buying used ( your going to end up rechroming them anyway ) or repro
Not 1 pc on mine will be repro

[Chris S.]

Re: Resonable Cost to rechrome a C1 (1962)

sorry - 1 more
triple chrome - means copper plate, nickel plate, then chrome plate
the copper plate gives the part its depth and fills all the imperfections
many so called triple chrome are really nickel, nickel, chrome
Cheap way to reduce their cost but still charge high triple chrome prices
Beware of the cheaper chromers
sorry for rattling on- I am like a raccoon - I am attracted to shiney objects

[Bill B.]

Re: Resonable Cost to rechrome a C1 (1962)

Chris, hahahahoohooteehahaa!!!! I live on a lake in Texas and I was just reading your post----a Raccoon walked by my door at the very same moment----the critter had such a silly expression before he ran off. Best hurting stomach laughing I have done in years--Thanks

[Clare Carpenter]

Coons and chrome!

I had a good laugh on that one too!