any places out in your area that can chrome plate parts. i'm tryint to find a place to have some parts chrome plated in either cali or canada seeing as how all the other states seem to have regulations which keep the quality down. any help you guys could give me would be great!!

LOL! And you think Cali has less laws about chroming?

You'd be better off anywhere but here. We have more laws from the Air Quality Management District in this state than any other state, and that covers plating. They are trying to get rid of all the platers in this state, but havent yet succeeded. From what I understand, getting the old chrome off and cleaning the part is the important step, they use an acid. Chemicals in this state are weaker than any other place I've been to.

I'd try midwest or Mexico. Stay away from the big 5, Cali, NY, MI, TX, PA. Arizona is probably next on the list, along with places like Oregon and Colorado. Also avoid large cities, there are always more strict laws in large cities.

do you know this to be fact, have you had anything chrome plated?

i know for sure that here in MI there is a chemical that they can't use here that you can in california and canada only that makes all the difference...i've been told this by many who restore cars here in michigan as well as the companies themselves. but, like all things this comes at a price. i had my rims tripple chrome plated out of california many years ago and they are exactly what i want the rest to look like; unlike parts i have had done in MI.

not saying that you don't know your stuff, i would just like to be sure before i stop searching.

I've had stuff done at a few places here, and after a couple years stuff started fading and peeling. If we have some sort of great chemical only available here (and the likeliness of that, with California being at the forefront of enviromental laws, is about nil) then this chemical doesnt do squat for making a chrome plating any better.

lemon grove plating in lemon grove, ca has been known for being the best in calif. If they are still that way I don't know.
Best to call a ask a lot of questions.

well thaks anyway for your suggestions!

Whats your time frame on getting this stuff chromed? I have a car sitting out back that I'd like to get a couple pieces rechromed, one of which is already out of the car. I was looking for a place to send the stuff to, to get it done, but I certainly dont want to use the places I've already been to for these pieces. I wish my DAD had told me before about Lemon Grove Plating, I guess he didnt know what I was up to out there... LOL!

Anyway, I might just call them up and ask questions. I might even take my stuff down there, see how it comes out, and then I can let you know what I think.

yeah, even if you could have a smaller part done; something cheap an inexpensive that would be great........

i plan on calling them soon to talk with them; but it still won't do justice to seeing the part in person.

i never thought it would be this hard....

Me either, its like banging your head on a wall. I've had bumpers and doorhandles redone, and they didnt last. The latest rear bumper looks the best, but then again its the newest as well. I think one thing I have noticed as a general theme, is that the backsides are not chromed (just nickel plating), and near the edges is just nickel as well. Seems like that is a problem, needs to be chromed at least around the edges and a little over to the back side of the part, where its not seen. At least that needs to be done if they arent going to chrome the whole part.

I'll see what I can find out about pricing, process, and timeframe.