The Ford Barn

tom1948 · 08-19-2021, 11:57 AM

Hello again guys, does anyone on this forum know of a plating shop in the southeast florida area who does decent work at a decent price? I know i'm looking for a chrome unicorn, but, any help would be appreciated. thanks,tom

tubman · 08-19-2021, 12:09 PM

Chrome plating pot metal, especially if it needs repair (pits, cracks, etc.) can be very expensive. The rear "over the license plate" piece on my '51 Ford was worn through in a couple of places; no pits or other damage, but it did need re-plating . The estimate was $750. I don't think they wanted to touch it, but they did do a couple of other parts I brought in quite reasonably.

Luckily, someone started making a quality reproduction for $189.95.

rockfla · 08-19-2021, 12:14 PM

Space Coast is probably the name most bantied about up in my neck of the woods of Florida (opposite of you). I have heard good things and I have heard bad things about there work. I DO know that a certain high profile restoration shop in Rockledge FL......Just a whiff and a whisker way form them does NOT use them!!! IF you are looking for Concours quality.....I don't believe there is any capable shop in Florida. IF not you may want to research them a little more!!! I will also tell you I have a customer here in town that uses them a lot BUT he does 85% of the work on his material BEFORE It reaches them SO they have very very little to do with his stuff but hang it and dip it!!!

19Fordy · 08-19-2021, 02:11 PM

About ten years ago I the company below chrome plated the pot metal trim on my steering wheel and the pot metal horn ring. At that time there as a fellow on HAMB known as Chrome Plater Josh who worked at the company. My parts turned out excellent and the price was fair.
http://www.chromeplatingin.com/contact.html and read this history.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...r-josh.751821/

I think Josh still works there and is related to the owner. Call them FIRST and get current info.
Read through this.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...&o=relevance&c[node]=5
and this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=chro...hrome&ie=UTF-8

fordor41 · 08-19-2021, 10:29 PM

My vote is Pauls Chrome Evan City, Pa. A small part wouldn't cost much to ship.

deuce_roadster · 08-19-2021, 10:40 PM

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When they strip the old chrome off with a very toxic solution, often times the base metal is affected negatively. I had 5 NOS in the wrapper 40 deluxe headlight doors that were beautiful but wartime manufacture and were bare pot metal. While they didn't need to be stripped, the chemicals used in the normal plating process caused 2 of them to be un plateable. Pot metal is a mixture of different die cast metals and some will blister up and leave a big pock mark in the casting that looked perfect before the plating process. It is always a crap shoot with pot metal parts. Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you are not no matter who does the job. Good luck.

08-19-2021, 11:57 AM	#1
tom1948 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: west palm beach florida Posts: 178	chrome plating/ potmetal restoration Hello again guys, does anyone on this forum know of a plating shop in the southeast florida area who does decent work at a decent price? I know i'm looking for a chrome unicorn, but, any help would be appreciated. thanks,tom

08-19-2021, 12:09 PM	#2
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,303	Re: chrome plating/ potmetal restoration Chrome plating pot metal, especially if it needs repair (pits, cracks, etc.) can be very expensive. The rear "over the license plate" piece on my '51 Ford was worn through in a couple of places; no pits or other damage, but it did need re-plating . The estimate was $750. I don't think they wanted to touch it, but they did do a couple of other parts I brought in quite reasonably. Luckily, someone started making a quality reproduction for $189.95.

08-19-2021, 12:14 PM	#3
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 3,946	Re: chrome plating/ potmetal restoration Space Coast is probably the name most bantied about up in my neck of the woods of Florida (opposite of you). I have heard good things and I have heard bad things about there work. I DO know that a certain high profile restoration shop in Rockledge FL......Just a whiff and a whisker way form them does NOT use them!!! IF you are looking for Concours quality.....I don't believe there is any capable shop in Florida. IF not you may want to research them a little more!!! I will also tell you I have a customer here in town that uses them a lot BUT he does 85% of the work on his material BEFORE It reaches them SO they have very very little to do with his stuff but hang it and dip it!!!

08-19-2021, 10:29 PM	#5
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,516	Re: chrome plating/ potmetal restoration My vote is Pauls Chrome Evan City, Pa. A small part wouldn't cost much to ship.

08-19-2021, 10:40 PM	#6
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,799	Re: chrome plating/ potmetal restoration Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) When they strip the old chrome off with a very toxic solution, often times the base metal is affected negatively. I had 5 NOS in the wrapper 40 deluxe headlight doors that were beautiful but wartime manufacture and were bare pot metal. While they didn't need to be stripped, the chemicals used in the normal plating process caused 2 of them to be un plateable. Pot metal is a mixture of different die cast metals and some will blister up and leave a big pock mark in the casting that looked perfect before the plating process. It is always a crap shoot with pot metal parts. Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you are not no matter who does the job. Good luck.