Rechroming

Geoff Mackenzie ( snipped-for-privacy@chapterfive.org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

... which then continued to decline until the end of the 70s...

I'll bet there will be BS or similar specs for chrome plating and you'd need to specify which one you want. Penny pinching on the materials seems endemic these days - all many seem to do is something that will last a reasonable warranty period like a year or so. And of course few modern cars have any chrome plated steel.

Quality control was bad in the 60s, tailed off in the early 70s and the less said about the late 70s the better.

Just a thought - customised motorbikes seem to use a lot of chrome. It might be worth asking the same question in a motorcycles NG.

Jim

Or uk.d-i-y - lots of fonts of knowledge on all things there. ;-)

Derby Plating (01332 382408) have an excellent reputation, but aren't cheap. A friend whose judgment I trust has used them for many years, and has put a lot of Rolls-Royce and Bentley stuff their way - his own and for other people.

I've also seen recommendations for Standard Chrome of Coventry (024 7668

I'm sure everyone will be interested to hear who you choose, how big a mortgage you need, and what sort of job you get. With a 10-year follow-up.

I had my wheelnuts replated at Nuneaton Fine Finishing, pretty good job done and there's no real problems with them now after a couple of years.

The only niggle I had was that when they'd cleaned off the burrs on the nuts I supplied, it was quite difficult to find a decent socket that would fit properly, so I ended up with a slightly larger socket with some insulation tape inside it - this has the added effect that the surface that contacts the newly-chromed nut is relatively soft.

Mike.

We use ACF Howell in Walsall and been happy with the results and service. Their number is 01922 649992 . In fact, our postie, who is a classic bike collector also uses them. I can't remember who I originally got the recommendation from but I did a fair bit of research at the time and they came out best. _____________________________________________________ Simon Denman Classic Motoring - Jaguar E-Type Convertible Classic Car Hire Web:

Surely an edge drive - Metrinch or similar - would get round that problem?

There is another factor in this, the size of the piece to be re chromed.

Some shops only have small baths and do small jobs. (like bike bits)

What you may have to ask if they can do a bar or what ever. Gee its expensive now to get a job done proper.

I do know a good place that's recommended to send stuff, all the vintage blokes send it to, for an excellent job.

rm

rm

Thanks, Rob. Fortunately the bits are quite small - four quarter bumpers and four overriders. Possibly the bar across the grille, but I think it's made of Mazak (or marzipan) which means it's unlikely to last, however well it's replated. That part is still obtainable, though, so I'll probably treat it as a "consumable" and resign myself to replacing it every couple of years.

Regarding cost - I know it's not going to be cheap, but I'd rather spend top dollar now and expect it to last for at least ten years than have a cheap job that has to be re-done every three years or so. It's a car I intend to keep until I start pushing up daisies - had it 33 years now, and see no reason to change it - so I'm looking for a really decent long-term solution rather than a tart-it-up-to-flog-it job.

I'm getting down to a short list of companies to contact, but would be interested to have details of the one you are keen on. Even more interested if it turns out to be one that others have recommended!

Geoff MacK

Hi Geoff, give Neil Martin a ring at Brighthouse Metal Finishers (Formally S.B.Products Metal Finishers) in Peterborough, Tel: 01733.266138.

He should be able to help. Give him my regards if you contact him.

They did some motor bike bits for me about three years ago. Not very cheap, not very quick, but good.

Ron Robinson