The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Chrome shop shopping??

I am packaging up bumper ends, head and taillight bezels, 3100s on both sides, etc. and I'm not sure who to send them to. I used the link and Paul's and Superior seem good but I have never had anything rechromed. Anybody have any thoughts or recommendations based on experience that you would be willing to share? Its a lot of $$$s to just put in the mail - and worry about the result. I know the market rule - pay your money and take your chances. Would like to downside the chance just a little if I can. Thanks for any of your thoughts. Oh, by the way - I'm kind of new at this - bet you couldn't tell. -- Dale

Browns has been around for ever they do very nice work ..but pricey.

I've tried Superior & they were "OK" but pricey and a bit short of the Barrett & Jackson quality they promised me over the phone. I'm going to go with Paul's next time.

Browns? Superior? Paul's? Good, now we have the names, now how bout the locations?
I too will be looking for a chrome guy that will do the job and not ask for my first born. As I'm in Dallas and with the price of gas, don't plan on hauling parts to the "uttermost parts", and I don't want to mail or freight parts elsewhere. I believe what we all need for the most part is to know what problems to look for and avoid as we interview a prospective chromer.

Thanks everybody for your replies- I probably will call and talk with Brown's and Paul's and go from there. You probably noticed I'm in Idaho - where there are zero, none, nada chrome shops - closest is Utah and after looking at my pieces they felt they could do them, but "would not be perfect". I appreciated their honesty, and will try others to hopefully get the right combination of "perfect" and price. Thanks again guys - I really appreciated your insights - it all helps. Dale

The Superior I used.
Paul's Chrome Plating.
Brown's Plating.

Thanks Tiny,
Superior came up but Paul's and Brown's did not.
Where are they located?

Browns Plating Service
1010 Krebs Station Road
Paducah, KY 42003

Paul's Chrome Plating, Inc.
90 Pattison Street
Evans City, PA 16033

Thanks Tiny,
Looks like Houston is my best bet. I can drop the stuff off there. I wonder how long it will take. Also I wonder if I should plan on having my grill chromed or buy a new one. It has a small (3/4") dent in it and a little rust (3" or 4") on the left edge. Otherwise in good shape. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would say it would rate an 8 or 9.

I have no idea how long it'll take. It depends on how heavy their work load is. The best thing for you to do is take/send your stuff to them and get an estimate on time/price. FWIW repop stuff is often lacking in quality. If it were me I'd have the original fixed & rechromed before buying a repop.

I have used Paul's Chrome for years and they are the best IMHO.

I think there was a shop in Houston that was bad news. I dont remember the name but a search here should turn up the thread. Bad service and poor quality is all I remember.
Jeff

I've tried several people but really like these guys. A friend that does bikes uses them. I've had Precision Plating do work for me several times. Just had a grill for the '50 done there and was very happy. You can talk to the owner & check out his business. He's been around for years.

2611 Locust St
Quincy, IL , 62301-3329
Phone: 217-223-6590

I have waited ten months to be able to post this. I just got my stuff Back from Armor Chrome in Baltimore Md. and still not Chromed. What is coopered coated, not much has to be tripped again because of blistering. They lie to you over the phone and in person. Make there own hours and keep doors locked and only let you in when they wanted you in. I have been the past three months getting my stuff out of there wheather done or not.
Has any body used A-1 Plating in Baltimore Md. now called American Plating. ?

Superior in Houston has been discussed before on this site, and a lot of people were not happy with them. Including me. My advice is stay far far away.

David Sr. -
Was there any reason you did not give Paul's in Pa. a try?? I'm strongly considering using them - sounds like your experience with the shop your now using is trouble so I sure won't go there - most I have heard from and talked to seem to be pretty OK with Pauls - and a few others - I was just curious if you knew - or where you might go to finish up. I have quite a few pieces and a couple are really in bad shape so I'm trying to be as cautious as I can going in. Thanks,

Dale

Dale,

I have had the worse experience with Chrome Companies. I tried to stay local so I can hand delver my stuff and check out the place. well so much for that ideal. I have been to 4 places for pricing and left my stuff at B & B metal finishing near York Pa. They spent 3 months there before I read that there going to jail for dumping in farmers fields. no work had been done. made a trip to Va. turned around and came back home still with chrome in car. Found Armor Chrome Baltimore Md. Gave me the song and pictures of cars with best of show at ocean city Md. After ten months later I have no chrome just bare metal. Thanks to Bob from Armor Chrome Witch I just had a email from BBB that they are working with a local TV station about this Company.
Dale now to you question I had just called Paul's the other day to feel them out and gave me around the same price that American plating. Can't say much on either, but looks to me that other blotters have good say about them. Good luck at this piont im not sure what im doing.
Has any body had good luck or bad luck with the re-pops grills for the AD trucks?

Can anyone tell us what they have had to pay for chroming their grill?

Superior charged me $800 to do my grill (38 coupe). The only "damage" on the grill was surface rust. They didn't have to fix anything because nothing was cracked or dented. They left most of the rust pitting between the grill slats. That area got painted so the pits don't show but I thought it was poor attention to detail for the money they charged.

Precision did my '50 Grill bars for $400. Nice work. You can get a repo grill for that but I'm not impressed by what I've read about them. Seems both fit and quality are questionable.

jss1956
Did your grill need any repairs?

If you're close to North Carolina, THIS PLACE is where most of the plating work is done.

Well now - sometimes things go full circle - and I have to post a correction. I said originally there were no chrome shops in Idaho, guess what? I found one yesterday - just 50 miles away by accident - talking with a local body shop guy. I have sent some parts in the meantime to Paul's (6 to 8 week lead time plus shipping time). So I made the 50 mile trip to take some parts to Treasure Valley Chrome in Fruitland, Idaho yesterday, nice shop, and I will get to see their quality, and, the lead time is 2 to 3 weeks. Will post results for anyone interested. Dale

Looks like this thread has run its course but just to put a period on it; my new chrome grill just came in from Brothers. I checked their site and they were running a sale and I bought one with the cream inner for 395.00 and 45.00 freight.