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Can anyone tell me where I can send my Tail light housings to get Chrome and what would be a fair price.
Also I might send some other peices. I am just not happy with some of the chrome on the car. I am hoping to start driving it on the road and might even go to a couple of shows..
Paul's Chrome quoted me $400 each last year. but these are difficult to plate to get proper plating in the corners where the lens sits. Special electrodes are needed.
Under NO circumstances send them to the Chrome Shop in Melbourne, FL. They did a pair for me some time ago and one wasn't right. It was shadowed. They did that one over and made it worse and refused to correct it. They made the shadow worse and turned a pit into a volcano. I have them still in a box and every time I pass by that box I get angry. I have $700 into the pair and I can't use them that way.
Librandi's in PA estimated $300/ea. for the '56 tailights.
Wow Wow I didn't think they would want that much to chrome those tail lights I think new one's are $600 pair.
Boy am I out of touch! an d I thought while I was at it I would have my bumper done too. Thks John
Paul's did both sets of mine back in the mid-90's, with outstanding results - at the time they were the only plater I was aware of that had taken the trouble to make specific electrodes for the '56-'57 taillight housings to avoid the "shadowing" problem.
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Other than the specific plating process for these items (special electrodes required to avoid shadowing), I'm thinking that the condition of your pieces is a major cost variable, in that it affects how much prep work is required to make the chrome final electroplate finish up right.
I don't think most places can give you a solid quote until they inspect the pieces.
Other than the specific plating process for these items (special electrodes required to avoid shadowing), I'm thinking that the condition of your pieces is a major cost variable, in that it affects how much prep work is required to make the chrome final electroplate finish up right.
I don't think most places can give you a solid quote until they inspect the pieces.
That is exactly correct!!!!!!!!!!
During college, late-60, early 70s, I worked at a chrome plating shop. MANY things were difficult to plate properly, and the 56-60 tail light housings were among the most difficult to do right. For sure, once the old plating is stripped off, prepping and finishing the housing could be quite time consuming before the plating could be done.
Recently, I had a set for the 56 done by a place in Fla. I sent them to one of the forum members here and he took them to the plating shop (may have been Paul's, I forget). The first time, they were not satisfactory and had to be redone. Now they are excellent!
I had all my chrome done my Hanlon Plating in Ricmond, VA....great job at a reasonable price http://www.hanlonplating.com/
I sent them pics to get an estimate with the final price after they physically inspected the parts....there was no change in the estimate/final cost
I had all my chrome done my Hanlon Plating in Ricmond, VA....great job at a reasonable price http://www.hanlonplating.com/
I sent them pics to get an estimate with the final price after they physically inspected the parts....there was no change in the estimate/final cost
Hey Bob sure looks good from where I am standing.. I will call and get a feel for cost.. John
That is exactly correct!!!!!!!!!!
During college, late-60, early 70s, I worked at a chrome plating shop. MANY things were difficult to plate properly, and the 56-60 tail light housings were among the most difficult to do right. For sure, once the old plating is stripped off, prepping and finishing the housing could be quite time consuming before the plating could be done.
Recently, I had a set for the 56 done by a place in Fla. I sent them to one of the forum members here and he took them to the plating shop (may have been Paul's, I forget). The first time, they were not satisfactory and had to be redone. Now they are excellent!
Tom, That was me. You sent them to me and I hand carried them to that Melbourne Shop.
A month later they were done and when I saw them I said no way. Badly shadowed below the lenses on both. They did them over and they came out fine.
Then I brought MINE up for a do-over, of their first attempt which was shadowed and then they ruined one the 2nd time. She told me they can't fix it. THis was after they fixed YOURS the 2nd time. I wasn't happy. We got into a heated discussion and the owner and I parted ways for GOOD. I'm still disappointed with them.
Since then I've found another shop 30 minutes further north in Titusville FL and they're excellent. Custom Cast and Chrome. Great to work with and reasonably priced as well. They did a complete '59 bumper set a few months ago for me with door posts etc. Perfect.
I now have 4 '67 bumpers there at my new shop. They finished the fronts and called me about the rear cores I sent them. They needed too much work and stopped, so I brought another set and he's doing them now and put a rush on them.
They also do stainless repairs and polishing and I'm bringing up a '59 side fender trim that needs some attention from 40 years of storage and 11 moves by the owner. The polisher told me to bring it up when I pick up the '67 rear bumpers and he'll fix & polish the trim for me while I wait. Excellent service.
Rich
Last edited by rich5962; Sep 16, 2015 at 07:47 PM.
Space Coast Plating. Their work is excellent. I did chrome for 2 t-birds and a friend did a bunch for his 60 Caddy this last year. They take awhile because they are very busy.
Space Coast Plating. Their work is excellent. I did chrome for 2 t-birds and a friend did a bunch for his 60 Caddy this last year. They take awhile because they are very busy.
BobT59,
I called hanlonplating to get estimates for doing my 59 stuff. $200/bumper, $50 for verticals, $150 windshield post, $140 door posts, 140 grill surrounds, 70 for eyebrows, 75-100 for taillights. Sounded too cheap until he said they only do Nickel/chrome plating. He doesn't put copper on larger pieces he said. Was your stuff double or triple plated? Maybe it doesn't need the copper if it was in good shape to begin with.
BobT59,
I called hanlonplating to get estimates for doing my 59 stuff. $200/bumper, $50 for verticals, $150 windshield post, $140 door posts, 140 grill surrounds, 70 for eyebrows, 75-100 for taillights. Sounded too cheap until he said they only do Nickel/chrome plating. He doesn't put copper on larger pieces he said. Was your stuff double or triple plated? Maybe it doesn't need the copper if it was in good shape to begin with.
Ken...
I guess I wasn't smart enough to be able to answer your questions... I had a hard time finding anyone to do choming around here and wound up at Hanlon... that was about 5 years ago and for 50 years old parts which had their share ofscratches, etc, I was happy with the prices and service.... and the pieces came out great and are still in great shape today....
1956 chrome
but these are difficult to plate to get proper plating in the corners where the lens sits. Special electrodes are needed.
