Chrome plating prices...did I get ripped off

[jimtweet]

I just dropped off

4 BBS RS centers
4 BBS RS hubs
4 BBS RS center plates

$1050 for triple plating...

seemed high to me, I never had anything plated before so not sure if this seems correct.

[John Rogers]

Back in the day when I had my last HD, I would get parts chromed every winter and sent them to Kentucky as there were no places in the North East that did real "triple chrome plating" because of the copper coat in the middle. It is nasty stuff to put it mildly! The place used to tell me that was the largest part of the price and the polishing of the parts once the old chrome was removed was the next as it was all hand work. Having said all that, if you have real triple layer plating then it should last a very long time and the $$$$$ will be worth it.

[gacook]

Wow, that's a chunk of change! I just did the opposite (stripped all the chrome off my wheels); cost me $10 for a can of stripper, a few bucks for various sand paper, and a few hours of my time

[vash]

I thought chrome plating wheels was less than ideal ? Just asking because I don't know.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[vash]

Double clicked.

[john walker's workshop]

back about '73, i got all the chrome done on my '49 cad convertible for $1000. now it would be $8-10K. thank EPA.

[HardDrive]

Yup. Chroming costs are $$$$.

[widebody911]

Sounds like it wasn't too bad of a deal. I spent ~$4000 having various pieces re-chromed on my T34, and there's really not that much chrome on it, compared to early American cars.

[jimtweet]

you guys have made me feel better, thank you. I just talked to a buddy of mine who runs his own restoration business on the side and said that actually sounds cheap for triple plating.

[D bot]

I've never had anything plated but that sounds reasonable, you will see why, keep reading. The price you listed is approx $260 a wheel & associated parts. Are they also doing any polish work before hand? That is what will make or break a chrome job. Most places do though as it's necessary. Then they copper plate for the base and then the chrome dips.

Powdercoat will run you anywhere from ~$75 to $150 per wheel for coating alone so I would say that it's not a bad deal at all. Many chrome places have closed and as John Walker mentioned the EPA has been stepping up as chrome is a very toxic process.

Please post pics when you get it done. Chromed RS are an amazing thing. I had a set of full polished once and they were very nice.

[Evans, Marv]

I had four small pieces chromed last year. Two were trim pieces for the pop out windows, & I don't remember what the other two were, although I recall they were of similar size. Those cost $170 after I talked them down twenty dollars. Here they send a lot of work to TJ to be plated since the EPA can't extend its reach into Mexico. The place I used years ago had to close because of environmental restrictions. I thought at that time prices were high enough. I noticed several months ago they tried to start up in another community in the area but couldn't get permitted.

[Robert Adams]

Just used Becker Plating in Neptune, NJ. They've been there since the 40s.
I got two door sill plates and 4 rear Targa window trim pieces done for $175.
He's also doing a set of horn grills included in the price.
I did a lot of shopping around before I ended up there though. Started at almost $900, then got down to about $600 and then a friend of a friend (rodder and cycle guys) sent me to Becker. Very glad I went!

Having them also do all my yellow & clear Zinc plating too. Took about 10 lbs of nuts, bolts, washers and two sets of latches front and back. That's running about $150.

A little late for you this time, but keep them in mind for the next time!
I'll post a couple pics when I get a chance.

Doesn't sound like you got ripped off though, just good to have options for a second opinion sometimes.

[sammyg2]

The labor in prepping the metal is very expensive, as if the environmental fees and costs to stay out of jail.

Not many chromers left in California, most of em gave up or moved south of the border.

[SoCal911T]

I recently re-did a set of RSs and did a high polish rather than plate and it was dirt cheap. Probably wouldn't work in your case though since your doing the centers too. Do you anticipate any issues with the perimeter bolt fitment after plating?

Here's a before/after:

[WolfeMacleod]

There's a place in Nashville called Advanced Plating.

They're very, very, very good. They do a lot of stuff for the guitar industry, as well. You know.. highly decorative stuff.
Some platers don't do "decorative" stuff.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

There's a place in Nashville called Advanced Plating.

They're very, very, very good. They do a lot of stuff for the guitar industry, as well. You know.. highly decorative stuff.
Some platers don't do "decortative" stuff.

I send them my more difficult parts, and they are even more not cheap than average. They did 4 KG bumper guards for me (which were in bad shape and I had modified them) and it was over $1000.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I send them my more difficult parts, and they are even more not cheap than average. They did 4 KG bumper guards for me (which were in bad shape and I had modified them) and it was over $1000.

Been using them for a while now. They supply most of the guitar US industry with hardware. In-house stamping and machining, too.