Rechroming

[IowaTom]

Hey Kaiser Fans!  I'm hoping to have some pieces re-chromed by an in-state company that's been recommended.  The last time I had this done, in another state, the outfit that did it grabbed my wallet and said "cough". 
If you've had things rechromed lately, what did you pay?  Thanks!

[Terry T]

Make sure the chrome shop uses hexavalent chrome . not "fish friendly"---it is the wrong color.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

"Hex" chrome is the best outdoor chrome you can use; it's what the car companies were using into the 1990's and you can get it done that way still.  The big thing Terry forgot to mention is ask if the shop buffs and then applies the "copper strike" layer.  Copper can be buffed to fill some types of pock marks and other imperfections that show up in the initial stripping and grinding because when the friction of buffing warms the copper it becomes somewhat workable. 

I spent over 6 years doing die cast and chrome plating for Honda, Harley Davidson (as a Tier 2), GM and other vehicle producers.

[DTort96646]

Hexavalent chrome is the way to go, but try and find a plater that uses it and it will be more expensive because it is a carcinogen. It is EPA regulated as is everything related to plating. Most platers will use trivalent chrome because it's safer, not as bluish in color as hexavalent chrome but probably what you're going to get. And also the copper strikes are important for filling the scratches and divots, but most of the protection and shine comes from a double nickel strike. The copper first, then semi bright nickel, then bright nickel, then the chrome. Find a plater that takes pride in his product, he will be pricey, but don't forget that there is a lot of labor involved in quality work.

[IowaTom]

You guys are a wealth of info.  Thanks so much for the lesson on the process!  Having had other work done in other states over the years I understand the cost is high for quality work, and that's fine.  We get what we pay for and I 'make it up' by trying to do as much of the rest of the restoration by myself since I'm the cheapest labor I can find.