Chrome plating services

I am thinking of offering a chrome plating service with quick turnaround times (two weeks sound good to you guys?) and competetive prices. I would like to gauge interest and see just how many of you guys would be interested in a service like this.

The plating would be professionaly done and would be of commercial quality. No fake spray on stuff, the parts will be electroplated and triple chrome just like real metal parts. Customers would be required to rack their own parts, but this of course helps keep turn around times quick and costs low.

I'd appreciate your opinions and suggestions. I don't want to do this if there isn't an interest. Thanks for your time :smokin:

Hey bud!

Have you done much research into this?

Last I knew, plastic either needed to be vacuum plated (which the machine alone run upwards to a hundred grand or more) or electroplated through a process of applying a conductive base coat, followed by the plating process (and for this purpose wouldn't be very cost effective).

From you description it sounds like vacuum plating would be out of the question. . .

What type of pricing are you thinking of and what type of process will be used?

The parts will be electroplated, not vacuum metalized..and price would be comparable to any other plating company that caters to model car builders.

As for the machinery and cost effectivness of different methods..it's not of a concern. I've worked in the automotive plastics molding and plating industry so i'm well aware of the processes. I am just looking to see if a need is out there for this type of service.

It's of interest, but only mild interest because there isn't much I need plated at any one time, and Alclad is a good alternative for smaller parts. I build so few subjects that have chrome bumpers that I could never fill up an entire rack, and the times I did I still have those parts sitting because I don't build that stuff often.

You'd get a lot better response by taking some parts, plating them, and taking some high-quality digital pictures of the parts for an example. Don't tell us what you can do, show us!

It's of interest, but only mild interest because there isn't much I need plated at any one time, and Alclad is a good alternative for smaller parts. I build so few subjects that have chrome bumpers that I could never fill up an entire rack, and the times I did I still have those parts sitting because I don't build that stuff often.

You'd get a lot better response by taking some parts, plating them, and taking some high-quality digital pictures of the parts for an example. Don't tell us what you can do, show us!
Yes, we have some parts to be plated for example and will post them up soon. But we aren't to the point of actually commiting to to anything yet..that's why i'm just gauging the need for it at this point. If i see a pretty good demand then i will market it and show examples of the quality and different types of plating available. :smokin:

Sounds cool enough but like ZoomZoom said only mild interest at this point as needs vary for re-plating in general.

You most likely find that most modelers have never realized this option. Most are happy with the kit plating and only the really diehard modelers would be looking for such a service.

I know from past experience that unless I needed to have something plated for a customer's model, most are still setting here racked and ready to go and have been for several years (damn those 58 Fury bumpers wings!).

I've dealt with ChromeTech USA which is a vacuum plating service and also had a EP service down in MA I could drop misc. metal parts off to. . . Definitely had better results with electroplating than the vacuum plating which, is what peaked my interest here. Vacuum plating in my opinion generally blows and results varied from horrible to mildly acceptable . . .

So, post up those pics asap and I wish ya good luck with your venture! :bigthumb:

I agree with you, vacuum plating can be hit and miss at times.

I've also had parts plated by chrometech, and i really didn't like the idea of having to wait 3 months for my parts to return to me. (which was the case 90% of the time)

SPAM!!!!!!!! ;) J/k dude. It does sound awsome. Chrome up a whole car and take pic for us so we know it's not a scam. And to see your excellent quality?

Ummmm 3 MONTHS?. . Man, took me that long to get the parts back too and then additional time to strip the parts once again and send 'em back for replating because the first round had so much dust in 'em. . .

That happened on several occasions and I washed the parts and shipped in a new anti-static plastic bag used for shipping PC boards. . .


I agree with you, vacuum plating can be hit and miss at times.

I've also had parts plated by chrometech, and i really didn't like the idea of having to wait 3 months for my parts to return to me. (which was the case 90% of the time)

SPAM!!!!!!!! ;) J/k dude. It does sound awsome. Chrome up a whole car and take pic for us so we know it's not a scam. And to see your excellent quality?
spam?...eh..i'm not selling anything or promoting anything really, just doing a bit of research.
trying to get an idea of how people feel and what their needs are. :smokin:

Ummmm 3 MONTHS?. . Man, took me that long to get the parts back too and then additional time to strip the parts once again and send 'em back for replating because the first round had so much dust in 'em. . .

That happened on several occasions and I washed the parts and shipped in a new anti-static plastic bag used for shipping PC boards. . .
i knew i wasn't the only one. I would like to eliminate both of those issues. Fast turn around is really something i've always sought after in the past. And if the quality isn't there then why such a long wait in the first place ya know?

I'd most likely be interested. Will you be chroming brass?

Yeah, pretty sure they wait for orders to build up before running them through the VP machine . . . That could be the reason for the slow turn around (?)

Not sure if it's a precise gauge on interest but my 6th post as a member here was on plating. As you can see the response was OVERWHELMING!!! lmao. . . (0 replies . . .ugh)

plating thread (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=118259)

Yeah, pretty sure they wait for orders to build up before running them through the VP machine . . . That could be the reason for the slow turn around (?)

Not sure if it's a precise gauge on interest but my 6th post as a member here was on plating. As you can see the response was OVERWHELMING!!! lmao. . . (0 replies . . .ugh)

plating thread (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=118259)
chrometech sends their stuff off to some commercial plater. probably other customers ahead of him causes slow turn around to. Plus i'm sure he waits and puts all the small racks onto a big one to save money.

But I will be using a local plater and will not have that problem, so turn around time will be a lot quicker. :smokin:

I'd most likely be interested. Will you be chroming brass?
We could very well chrome brass. I had not thought of it but i'm sure it would not be a problem at all :smile: something to look into for sure

i have somethigs i would like to get plated let me know if you start doing it & how much $ you would want

Yeah, I bet I could get enough stuff together to send out... besides brass, how about aluminum and resin? My speakers don't look half as purdy in bright silver as the real deal chrome (airbrush still on hold...).

As for racking parts, is there a minimum size rack that you would accept? To rack parts, I'd pretty much put my parts back on a spruce tree, right?

Love to see some examples :)

:ylsuper: yowser.. cool idea... would like to get a few things plated too..
but a few concerns (thinking for you).. 1 would be that once we've all cleared out all the parts that we want plated, then you would only get a few orders a month. Perhaps that you could find a bigger market for this need then sell this idea on the side (for models etc.).. Considering that most of us maybe finish 4 - 10 models per year... and maybe 4 or 5 small peices per model that need to be plated...
anyways my :2cents:

Hope that u start bussiness soon... :bigthumb:

will you do chrome only? how about gold plating?

I've never looked into this process, I've been somewhat satisfied w/ chrome pieces OOB in the past. But I've become a more serious modeller and this would be a nice option to have. So would I be able to have like 2 bumpers plated or would I have to wait until I have a bag full of stuff to need plating? I have no idea of the price ranges for this service, could you provide some estimates?

Yeah, I bet I could get enough stuff together to send out... besides brass, how about aluminum and resin? My speakers don't look half as purdy in bright silver as the real deal chrome (airbrush still on hold...).

As for racking parts, is there a minimum size rack that you would accept? To rack parts, I'd pretty much put my parts back on a spruce tree, right?

Love to see some examples :)
I'd have to see..but since the parts are sprayed first, then electroplated. i'm sure you could do any small metal parts.

rack size is 6" by 8". here are what they look like...
http://images7.fotki.com/v126/photos/1/186035/1546942/P8250448-vi.jpg

http://images7.fotki.com/v118/photos/1/186035/686705/chrome-vi.jpg

will you do chrome only? how about gold plating?
chrome for sure to start. gold will probably be ready to do by the time things get going though

I've never looked into this process, I've been somewhat satisfied w/ chrome pieces OOB in the past. But I've become a more serious modeller and this would be a nice option to have. So would I be able to have like 2 bumpers plated or would I have to wait until I have a bag full of stuff to need plating? I have no idea of the price ranges for this service, could you provide some estimates?
no, we won't be doing loose parts. prices will probably be 15-20 dollars per rack.

Looks good! I think I'm sold LOL... So it's $15-20 per rack, no matter how many parts are on them? I could get some stuff together tonight.. But first I have to get $15. :uhoh:

Looks good! I think I'm sold LOL... So it's $15-20 per rack, no matter how many parts are on them? I could get some stuff together tonight.. But first I have to get $15. :uhoh:
yes.

and don't go getting parts ready just yet, lol. if it happens it won't be until late jan. early feb. I'm just trying to see if there is any demand for it first :smokin:

Price is comparable to other platers. Good quality and fast turnaround would make me use a service like this. Keep us posted!!!

How reflective is the chrome? Does it rub off when handled?

How reflective is the chrome? Does it rub off when handled?
no..it is REAL chrome..triple plated just like any real car part would be.

I'll give you a try, quality is what counts not price.

Yup, I agree!!! (Errrr, some what! Let's face it, I'm not paying 3 kajillion dollars for chrome :lol:).

I'll give you a try, quality is what counts not price.

Im definitly in. Keep us posted.

so how's this looking