Plan A: I was looking into having my front bumper on the '47 re-chromed. The bumper has the normal wear and tear you would expect from a 72+ year old truck, but it is fairly straight. I was quoted $80 an hour, approximately 10-12 hours of labor, with a transferable lifetime guarantee. I also had him give me a price on re-chroming the parking brake release handle: 2 hours of labor.
Plan B: Purchase a new chrome plated bumper from one of our preferred vendors.
This service is hard to come by, but IMHO the labor rate is outrageous. Does anyone have any experience with chrome plating services or a recommendation of a chrome plating company in the Midwest?
Ramos Plating 1320 S Walker Oklahoma City, Ok 405-232-4300
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
I don't think the labor rate is that outrageous (especially up here in Alaska), but I'm questioning the need for 10-12 hours to prep, plate and polish the bumper. Parking brake release handle at 2 hours isn't surprising. Chrome plating shops are rare birds. The one that was up here went away at least 15 years ago. They're such a dirty process environmentally, that the costs to run such a business are exorbitant. That's just the way of the world (at least the way of the USA - maybe plating shops in China don't have regulations).
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Hey Andy, You need to move to AZ! I am an Iowa City native, just returned from there to visit high school friends and attend a Hawkeye game (Iowa blew out Middle Tennessee).
A couple years ago I drug my bent rusted front bumper for my '37 into a plating shop (Royal Plating) in Tucson and for $350 got back a beautiful part. They quoted the price up front, said they had the pattern to properly heat and bend the bumper to original shape. Someone who is quoting the hourly rate for something as straightforward as a bumper is someone I would avoid. Also, had the locking passenger door handle done for $48, quoted up front.
Sorry I can't help you regarding a shop in your area.
My shop charged me $450 for a true triple plate job. Good deal in my mind as the poor guy has to deal with California regulations. I was told he has to pay $30,000 a year for his permits.
I am not sure Bills Speed Shop is still in business in Ohio but sometime ago I purchased both my bumpers from him for my 52Panel. One one month and the other several months later. I was, and still am, impressed with the bumper. Not sure where he "had it sent from" but it has held up well and the paper it was wrapped in, and some other documentation, indicated the company who made it was ISO certified. That may not mean much to some folks but is does carry some weight and the back of the bumper looked nice too.
I think this is now, or was, pretty much a one man shop now and the phone may ring for a while before you get an answer if we can figure out if he is still in business. I've lost his phone number but he may still be around. It may be worth a search???? .....for some reason I believe the bumpers were stamped or made, or at least came from Mass.
Thanks for all the information fellas. I've never had anything chrome plated, so I really don't know that much about the process or the pricing. I'll do some more searching and see what kind of numbers these three leads produce. I suppose shipping each way could be the 'wet blanket' on this project. The truck is garaged so a reproduction bumper isn't out of the question.
Plan A (chromed) : $800 quote, plus shipping? - or, if close enough, save on shipping Plan B (new reproduction, chromed) : $160 plus $60 shipping (Classic Parts) Plan C (new stainless steel reproduction) : $500 plus $60 shipping (Classic Parts)
I'd say that if I had the money, I go with the SS bumper over the chromed bumper? Or, get the chromed bumper and store/park the truck in a dry garage? Or, get the chromed bumper and store/park outdoors - polish and wax it regularly, depending on your weather? Or, find a less expensive chroming shop?
I would always choose plan B. If it lasts 5 years, you buy another and still under other options. Then you are at 10 years. Which is farther than I ever project. There can be a plan B.2, someone selling a Plan B bumper from an abandoned project for $100. Of course there is the recoup of selling the bumper you have to a daily driver guy.
Plan C would be next for price and for the durability and fixability.
$800 plus ship would be plan "X" for me.
Rechroming has skyrocketed due to EPA. Then you have to find a quality shop. Most folks wanting high quality recommend Paul's.
Kent, did you actually see a plating shop with all the tanks and so forth? They are pretty close to Mexico you know. Several places in AZ send to Mexico. No regulation and cheap labor. They do good work.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
OK, my point of reference was back when I wanted chroming done. Don't know when that was but the EPA "final ruling" shows 2012.
Maybe better said that: chroming used to be done by a lot by the average hot rodder, restorer. It was affordable until the EPA cracked down on emissions, tanks and disposal. Prices got higher due to that. It has become unaffordable to many folks. Skyrocketed.
I would opt for Chinese/Mexico vendor parts because I'm in the Southwest. No salt, no freeze, no snow, no rain, so no acid rain, no factory pollution. Nothing but lizards live here. But their numbers have skyrocketed.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
How about Plan D? There's supposed to be a powder coating process that looks very much like chrome. I stopped by a guy in Idaho back in May to buy some parts from him, and he had a grille hanging over the entry to his shop that had that process on it, and it was pretty much indistinguishable from chrome. Don't know much else about it though.
on edit: Looks like it could even be a DIY process (assuming you have a big enough oven for a bumper). Eastwood sells kits as well as this place
Last edited by klhansen; 10/11/201911:23 PM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
I have reproduction bumpers on my truck, and am pleased for 5 years or so. Keep them waxed and clean. I drive it most days but not in salt or snow. Bear in mind the reproduction bumpers are a lot thinner metal than original. They look OK but I sure would not want to depend on them to be used as a bumper.
My shop charged me $450 for a true triple plate job. Good deal in my mind as the poor guy has to deal with California regulations. I was told he has to pay $30,000 a year for his permits.
If you don't mind, what is the name of the shop? I may get around to having some parts re-chromed if they do pot metal.
I used Flint Bumper Mart (Flint Mi) for my 47 GMC front bumper. Cost me $400 out the door. I'm thrilled with the results. I decided to rechrome instead of replace because the 47 is unique and not reproduced. Easily identifiable by the three bolts on the outside ends. I put a repop on the back for $150.
Thanks especially for the lead on the Flint Bumper Mart. That could really come in handy for us 'Bolters in the Michigan area. Both the bumper and grille are really sharp looking!
Just Mark......regarding Custom Plating Specialist, was their turn around time reasonable? I see they offer a quote format on their website. Considering having the cowl vent chromed on my old '59.
I just had bumpers re-chromed for a 65' olds 442. Fantastic work. They even had to cut out and section in some steel in a few places as well as do some straightening and dent repairs. $1400 for the pair and they put a lot of work into them..... As basic as your bumper is...….shouldn't be an arm and a leg. Of course it's not exactly down the street from you but chrome shops are becoming rare.....
I went with a reproduction on my 49' 3600 and I'm happy with it.
