Why is my chrome turning yellow -OR- Why won't my chrome shine anymore?
Your chrome may be dull or turning yellow for a couple of reasons. The first might be a poor plating job. The second reason could be from using an abrasive chrome polish that, over time, has scratched the chrome right off your part. Once the nickel is exposed, it will tarnish (turn yellow). Replating is necessary in either case. See the Chrome Care page to see how we recommend taking care of your chrome.
Do you plate pot metal?
Yes, we plate pot metal. It's a tough metal to plate and its preparation for plating is labor intensive. Successfully plating pot metal depends on the condition of the part we have to work with. Condition is also a big factor in price so we can only estimate a cost over the phone. We must see your parts before we are able to give you a price. In some cases, because of the labor involved or the part is past saving, replacing the part may be cheaper than plating. Another note about pot metal: plan ahead. It is time consuming work and labor intensive which requires a longer turn-around time.
What can I do to get my part ready for plating?
Clean your parts by removing grease and dirt. DO NOT sandblast your parts and DO NOT use a wire wheel on your parts. Both methods of stripping the metal leaves a very rough surface requiring much more labor to correct.
My part is chipped, do you have to replate the whole part?
We sure do. The plating process lays down one continuous layer of metal. To repair chips and scratches on any part the entire piece needs to be stripped and replated.
Will chrome plating hide defects in my metal part?
Unlike paint and powder coating, chrome will not cover or hide any defects in the metal. Chrome plating conforms to the surface of the part. It's why surface preparation is so very important to the plating process. What you see before plating is what you get after plating.
How long will my job take?
Plating is not a process you can rush. Prep work can be time consuming but it is the most important part of the process. Sometimes a part might look like a good quality metal until you try to plate it and find out it's actually poor quality metal. It's a good idea to give yourself enough time in case your parts need extra attention.
Our normal turnaround time is 10-14 working days for most motorcycle parts. Allow 2-4 weeks for car parts and other unusual pieces. Turnaround times vary with season and workload. Winter is our busy season so turnaround times may be longer.
Can you disassemble my parts for me?
We are platers not mechanics. Please remove bearings from swingarms, glass from vent windows and mirrors and anything else that is non-metal or not to be chromed. Bring us only the parts you need chrome plated. If you have any question about what needs to be disassembled or removed, please call us. We charge $35 to disassemble parts before plating. We do not reassemble anything.
Is it cheaper to polish my own parts?
No. Most often, we have to undo damage caused by sand blasting or inexperienced polish work (which ends up costing you more). We'd really prefer you send us a clean surface (free of grease and dirt) rather than try to prep it for plating.
Can you plate my rims and bumpers?
Yes, we plate motorcycle rims and bumpers. We only plate motorcycle rims and can plate most bumpers.
Hours
We are open M-F, 7:30am til 5:00pm We are closed on Saturday except by appointment. Parts can be left in our drop box after-hours. Please label dropped off parts clearly with your name and contact info.
Shipping Instructions
When shipping parts to us include name, address, phone numbers and a list of parts. Please count your parts especially small pieces like bolts, springs and washers. Place all small parts in plastic bags and or secure them to larger parts. Cushion your parts with newspaper or other packing material. For your convenience, print the packing list on this web site. Fill it out and include it with your shipment.
Payment Methods
We accept all major credit cards.
Business or Personal checks accepted with 5 day clearing period.
Money Order or Cashier checks
Your chrome may be dull or turning yellow for a couple of reasons. The first might be a poor plating job. The second reason could be from using an abrasive chrome polish that, over time, has scratched the chrome right off your part. Once the nickel is exposed, it will tarnish (turn yellow). Replating is necessary in either case. See the Chrome Care page to see how we recommend taking care of your chrome.
Do you plate pot metal?
Yes, we plate pot metal. It's a tough metal to plate and its preparation for plating is labor intensive. Successfully plating pot metal depends on the condition of the part we have to work with. Condition is also a big factor in price so we can only estimate a cost over the phone. We must see your parts before we are able to give you a price. In some cases, because of the labor involved or the part is past saving, replacing the part may be cheaper than plating. Another note about pot metal: plan ahead. It is time consuming work and labor intensive which requires a longer turn-around time.
What can I do to get my part ready for plating?
Clean your parts by removing grease and dirt. DO NOT sandblast your parts and DO NOT use a wire wheel on your parts. Both methods of stripping the metal leaves a very rough surface requiring much more labor to correct.
My part is chipped, do you have to replate the whole part?
We sure do. The plating process lays down one continuous layer of metal. To repair chips and scratches on any part the entire piece needs to be stripped and replated.
Will chrome plating hide defects in my metal part?
Unlike paint and powder coating, chrome will not cover or hide any defects in the metal. Chrome plating conforms to the surface of the part. It's why surface preparation is so very important to the plating process. What you see before plating is what you get after plating.
How long will my job take?
Plating is not a process you can rush. Prep work can be time consuming but it is the most important part of the process. Sometimes a part might look like a good quality metal until you try to plate it and find out it's actually poor quality metal. It's a good idea to give yourself enough time in case your parts need extra attention.
Our normal turnaround time is 10-14 working days for most motorcycle parts. Allow 2-4 weeks for car parts and other unusual pieces. Turnaround times vary with season and workload. Winter is our busy season so turnaround times may be longer.
Can you disassemble my parts for me?
We are platers not mechanics. Please remove bearings from swingarms, glass from vent windows and mirrors and anything else that is non-metal or not to be chromed. Bring us only the parts you need chrome plated. If you have any question about what needs to be disassembled or removed, please call us. We charge $35 to disassemble parts before plating. We do not reassemble anything.
Is it cheaper to polish my own parts?
No. Most often, we have to undo damage caused by sand blasting or inexperienced polish work (which ends up costing you more). We'd really prefer you send us a clean surface (free of grease and dirt) rather than try to prep it for plating.
Can you plate my rims and bumpers?
Yes, we plate motorcycle rims and bumpers. We only plate motorcycle rims and can plate most bumpers.
Hours
We are open M-F, 7:30am til 5:00pm We are closed on Saturday except by appointment. Parts can be left in our drop box after-hours. Please label dropped off parts clearly with your name and contact info.
Shipping Instructions
When shipping parts to us include name, address, phone numbers and a list of parts. Please count your parts especially small pieces like bolts, springs and washers. Place all small parts in plastic bags and or secure them to larger parts. Cushion your parts with newspaper or other packing material. For your convenience, print the packing list on this web site. Fill it out and include it with your shipment.
Payment Methods
We accept all major credit cards.
Business or Personal checks accepted with 5 day clearing period.
Money Order or Cashier checks
