Chrome plating

[littlemarv]

What are my options for restoring the chrome plated parts on my B-10?

I'm talking about the seat arms, steering column, steering wheel cap, lift lever, and side plates for the grill.

I can't hardly ship the parts anywhere because to get the column done I'd have to ship the whole tower.

Wells implement has new grill side plates but they are not chrome.

Just looking for suggestions, Thanks.

[timflury]

The steering column would have to be removed from the tower.The parts would need to be polished before dipping. As our wonderful EPA gets into the way of this hazardous process, the cost of plating continues to rise. I paid $100.00 to have the steering stick and hand guard in the left side of the photo from an old Wonder-Boy RER restored and rechromed.

I would guestimate that to have all your parts professionally done, it would cost close to $300.00

[goatfarmer]

Anyone local doing plating? Find a restoration shop, or a body shop, and ask them.

http://www.thechromeshopinc.com/

http://www.customplatingspecialistinc.com/

Couple of places.

Also a couple in Milwaukee.

[fishnwiz]

I have had several smaller pieces done while restoring a car a few years back. It is very expensive to have done as stated by Tim. You tend to get a little better price the more you have plated. I would guess that Tim is right in the ballpark at 300-325.Sometimes, if you have a re pore with a local body shop, they can get you a better price because of the volume that they do.

[littlemarv]

How about powdercoating? I know it won't be chrome but sounds like plating is out if its $300 for what I want done....

Really, I think the seat arms and steering wheel cap would look alright yellow but the column and grill and lift lever really ought to be shiny...

My vow to "Restore to original" is quickly fading away.

I did find a couple places in town listed when I googled chrome plating, it can't hurt to give them a call.

[AC82]

I have a friend who has a powder coating business on the side. He has shown me a few things that he has done in the "chrome" powder coat. It does looks really nice. It lacks a little depth of reflection that real chrome has. I'm probably going to have him do all the chrome parts on my B10, as I can't justify the price of re-chroming either. I would definitely check out a local shop and see what they can do.

[HubbardRA]

Check this out. It was posted in the Coffee Shop a while back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8

[546cowboy]

I just saw something like that on the internet. Someone is selling a plating kit for small parts that has a small battery pack you use to electro-plate the part. I can't remember where I saw it though?

I found something like it on the Eastwood site.

[huffy]

quote:Originally posted by HubbardRA

Check this out. It was posted in the Coffee Shop a while back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8

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id="quote">

id="quote">That's worth looking into. Anyone here tried it yet?

[JohnMBerst]

Ryan you might want to call a few places, as Professional Plating and Pioneer toward Green Bay might want to help. Not sure of any platers in your area. Might want to consider nickle chrome as the nickle is the base, and the chrome flash add the "bright mirror" look. Of if not auto, some Harley bike shop who does older ground up restores. I do have contact numbers for a few platers if your interested.

[timflury]

quote:Originally posted by goatfarmer

Anyone local doing plating? Find a restoration shop, or a body shop, and ask them.http://www.thechromeshopinc.com/http://www.customplatingspecialistinc.com/Couple of places.Also a couple in Milwaukee.

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id="quote">

id="quote">These guys plated my parts. http://www.badgermetalfinishing.com/If that's the youtube clip with the spray on plating, I hear that the chrome coat costs $8,000.00 for a 55gal drum.Since you mention Powder coating, Cermakrome is an option.I've had parts done here, in Sheboygan. http://www.classiccoatings.com/ceramic.html#polishedIf I remember correctly, I think I paid about $100 to have some aftermarket headers done for my old Honda CBX. They have an online sheet to fill out and send with your parts. Before they put them on their line, they can call you and work out costs involved.

[littlemarv]

quote:Originally posted by HubbardRA

Check this out. It was posted in the Coffee Shop a while back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8

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id="quote">

id="quote">If nothing else, watch this video just to listen to the German guys voice!Thanks for all the help!

[BLT]

Originally posted by timflury

quote:

id="quote">That equates to roughly $20-$25 a pint when you take in packaging, ect. Not to bad depending on the coverage.

[huffy]

Greasemonkey had a thread in the show & tell forum a while back about a Twin 20 he did. He used "extreme chrome" powder coat on the rims. It looked real good. Maybe you should check it out.

I can't post the link to the thread from my phone, but maybe someone else can. His thread was called "my version of the twin 20". Really beautiful tractor.

[BLT]

This place?

http://xtremechrome.com/

[huffy]

Now that I'm back to my computer here is Pete's thread about his Twin 20, where he discusses the chrome coating on his rims. I think they look good:

http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=120876&SearchTerms=twin+20

[sammiefish]

this is just an idea... ive never tried it myself...electroless seems simple if you can be happy without actual chrome..

and you can do it yourself way cheaper than chrome... although these guys have chrome kits as well

http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/nickel-plating-kits/electroless-nickel-plating-kits.html

[timflury]

That's a neat process Chris, but it isn't chrome, it's nickel. Nickel plating was the standard before chrome was invented.

Bear in mind the fact that the part must be polished to get the desired finish.

Not only that, it is recommended, not required that the parts be plated in copper first, sorta like primer before paint, the copper sticks to the part better than the nickel or chrome.