When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Back before environmental regulations made chrome plating outrageously expensive...and probably inferior, I had these headlight trim pieces plated and they're still looking fantastic. I know it's sacrilege to some but I like chrome highlights hear and there and did the cowl vents as well as the coupe door post vents. Did my Hurst T handle too and all of them are still in fine share 40+ years later.
Back before environmental regulations made chrome plating outrageously expensive...and probably inferior,
I have done two very large heavy chromed restorations and have some experience with it. What you pay has much to do with original condition and the requisite grinding and straightening to result in a first class product. I think the idea that chrome prices are up almost entirely due to environmental regulations and the compliance methods necessary is a load of poop. Ever walked through a plating shop? Take a whiff? Look around at the people working there. It looks like Frankenstein's nursery. I don't see any fancy and expensive mitigation machinery, just tanks of bubbling caustic froth wired to old fashioned rectifiers.
The way I see it, platers, the good ones are artisans and there are only so many. The demand for great work is high. And I believe that's why plating is expensive. By the way it is also every bit as good and more often far better than that supplied by Mama GM.
I have done two very large heavy chromed restorations and have some experience with it. What you pay has much to do with original condition and the requisite grinding and straightening to result in a first class product. I think the idea that chrome prices are up almost entirely due to environmental regulations and the compliance methods necessary is a load of poop. Ever walked through a plating shop? Take a whiff? Look around at the people working there. It looks like Frankenstein's nursery. I don't see any fancy and expensive mitigation machinery, just tanks of bubbling caustic froth wired to old fashioned rectifiers.
The way I see it, platers, the good ones are artisans and there are only so many. The demand for great work is high. And I believe that's why plating is expensive. By the way it is also every bit as good and more often far better than that supplied by Mama GM.
Dan
AGREE- and you are oh so right about the Frankenstein’ nursery tour. My platers tour experience was the same. Ask the plater to inspect your individual pieces and explain the very important prep process to be used and his expected outcome. After explaining my expectations I was surprised when he said “I’m going to do yours in-house myself and not send them to a mass production plating subcontractor backup”. Take a good look at finished pieces awaiting pickup or shipping for quality. Know what questions to ask and ASK THEM. Just dropping your pieces off might cost you a lot of aggravation later. My comments are a little off the OP subject but just compelled to add experiences.
Last edited by Tmichaelson; Dec 8, 2020 at 10:14 PM.
I dunno, I had a long talk with the owner of carburetor restoration shop one afternoon and the environmental regulators basically put an end to their replating of carb parts. The environmental wonks showed up one day and it got so ugly the company shut down that part of their operations the next day.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Dec 9, 2020 at 08:29 AM.
I have done two very large heavy chromed restorations and have some experience with it. What you pay has much to do with original condition and the requisite grinding and straightening to result in a first class product. I think the idea that chrome prices are up almost entirely due to environmental regulations and the compliance methods necessary is a load of poop. Ever walked through a plating shop? Take a whiff? Look around at the people working there. It looks like Frankenstein's nursery. I don't see any fancy and expensive mitigation machinery, just tanks of bubbling caustic froth wired to old fashioned rectifiers.
The way I see it, platers, the good ones are artisans and there are only so many. The demand for great work is high. And I believe that's why plating is expensive. By the way it is also every bit as good and more often far better than that supplied by Mama GM.
Dan
I worked for a leading edge manufacturing company in the days of increasing environmental operations. This company had virtually every process in the manufacture of their products in house and while we did not do chrome plating, we did do cad and zinc and several etching operations. Because they were not our primary function and it was not worth it to revise all our processes to meet the new regs, we had to curtail most all of them and farm them out to businesses dedicated to those processes.
When I made aircraft parts often I would have to cad plate them. I sent all of the hardware for my GTO off the have it cad plated but I wanted to do my Corvette stuff myself. I bought the power supply and called a chemical company. At first they didn't want to sell to me but I talked to the sales mgr and explained what I was doing even sent him pics. I told him I would only need one bottle and wouldn't be a return customer. He went through there safety and other depts and decided they would sell to me. I'm placing the order and the lady says you can't buy this stuff I explained what I had gone through and who I had talked to and they oked it. She sends it back through the same channels and nope they wouldn't sell it to me. The sales mgr was nice about it he said I think they are over doing this but no dice. I'm familiar with the Eastwood copy cad but I don't know how well it would hold up.
I can tell you the Eastwood gold cad kit can be made to look awesome and holds up fine especially if you hit it with some light satin clear coat. I've done a few brake boosters and they turned out beautifully. It does take a bit of practice to get the red/green/gold appearance just right tho.
As to the plating industry in general I have no doubt the regs have impacted it. I miss my days on the Naval Air Station when for a couple of bottles of Jack Daniels you could have your entre Harley frame chrome plated (on night shift of course) That was called "comshaw" back then.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Dec 9, 2020 at 10:13 AM.
I worked for a leading edge manufacturing company in the days of increasing environmental operations. This company had virtually every process in the manufacture of their products in house and while we did not do chrome plating, we did do cad and zinc and several etching operations. Because they were not our primary function and it was not worth it to revise all our processes to meet the new regs, we had to curtail most all of them and farm them out to businesses dedicated to those processes.
My intention was not to refute what you said. I am a real estate developer and my professional life is mostly the navigation of governmental regulations and restrictions. My point is that environmental regulations while indeed onerous cannot account for increased costs alone. The condition of the parts to be plated and the desired plating specs weigh heavily. Most platers I use are small outfits and fall under whatever draconian regulations likely exist for larger operations. In my experience platers complain about regulations affecting the size of the tanks they can use. I imagine a new approval for a new plating operation is not easy to get. However, when I have complained to my platers (all 4 of them) about the pricing they remind me of the time and steps employed in producing "show chrome." It is not always regulations that affect price and quality. Sometimes its the work you give them.
My intention was not to refute what you said. I am a real estate developer and my professional life is mostly the navigation of governmental regulations and restrictions. My point is that environmental regulations while indeed onerous cannot account for increased costs alone. The condition of the parts to be plated and the desired plating specs weigh heavily. Most platers I use are small outfits and fall under whatever draconian regulations likely exist for larger operations. In my experience platers complain about regulations affecting the size of the tanks they can use. I imagine a new approval for a new plating operation is not easy to get. However, when I have complained to my platers (all 4 of them) about the pricing they remind me of the time and steps employed in producing "show chrome." It is not always regulations that affect price and quality. Sometimes its the work you give them.
Dan
Yes, present day costs are not just higher because of environmental regs. The cost of some materials have skyrocketed too, copper for one and most good platers do a base coat in copper (or used to anyway) and if you've pricing wiring any time recently, you know what I'm talking about. The shop that did all my stuff had been around for many years but closed down because they simply could not meet all the requirements and stay in business in this small community. They did excellent work, including the prep. They did the aluminum hub on my steering column and it was pitted all over and when finished, the surface was perfect. I've seen some horrible looking bumpers come out like they were brand new. My rear bumper has too many rust through holes and new ones were still available across the GM parts counter so I went that route. Still have the old ones though!
With current trends going as they are, I predict finding a good plater in 20-30 years will be about like finding a wheelwright currently. Ten years ago, I was lucky enough to find a wheelwright to re-wood the wheels on an old Ford model T I had. He was in his 70's then and told me nobody was interested in learning the trade and taking over his business. And he had plenty of work, from wagon wheels to huge 44" Thomas Flyer wheels, etc. Chrome hasn't really been used on cars for the most part since the 70's.....and time (and the market) marches on. Lucky to have an excellent old-school chrome shop locally, and as Dan mentioned, they put factory chrome to shame. It's much deeper and richer than the OEM stuff.
Love the old Caddy’s! I’ve been looking at a ‘59 coupe. I would love lifting an Escalade 6.2L with 6 speed auto and dropping it in there. Some day...
I do too. In this case I paid more to chrome the car than I paid for the car! Thing is...you can leave an old Chevy, Ford, Plymouth and such in ratty runnable condition and enjoy it. But a Caddy has to be regal to be enjoyed. This car is the worst business deal I ever made but among the most fun cars I own to use.
Old chrome
