Buikema

I think I've looked at a regional cycling forum somewhere, but for the life of me I couldn't find it, so I'm posting here.

I'm looking to get some parts chromed. Does anyone know a Chrome shop in the San Francisco Bay area that will chrome bicycle parts?

If so, what did you have chromed and how much did it cost?

I'm looking at getting, maybe, a chainring, rims and some small odds and ends done.

dbakl

I used Johnson Plating in Oakland for crank arms and ring and a set of toe clips; it was 90. dollars, but that was years ago, and when I picked them up the boss was pissed someone quoted me that price!

TimeTravel_0

you might find better luck with nickel plating.

Grand Bois

The place that I used to use is long gone. The EPA has made things extremely difficult for chrome shops.

dck

I used Superior Plating in San Jose to do a crankset. They did good work but be prepared to pay a lot. I could have done better buying NOS parts on ebay.

In general, I wouldn't recommend rechroming unless you've got a real treasure that needs to be restored.

I agree with Grand Bois that chrome shops in California are now almost extinct due to environmental restrictions.

Buikema

Hmmm... What is the difference, from a practical perspective, between chrome and nickle plating? I talked to one guy who said that sometimes you can get them to throw your parts in with a larger batch of parts from a bigger order.

TimeTravel_0

from a practical perspective, there is little difference. they look basically the same, perhaps not as bright as chrome.

nitto racks are nickel plated, just so you know.

and you can purchase your own nickel plating kits, btw.

dbakl

Whoa, nickel plating is part of chrome plating: when they say "triple chrome" they mean copper, nickel, then chrome. Chrome is harder and cooler in color: nickel is softer and warmer in color. If you want nickel, they just don't add the chrome.

I'm not sure how they could just "throw your parts in". Each piece needs to be cleaned, polished, filled, wired and suspended in each bath, then cleaned and inspected before the next. That hand work is what they charge for.

jtgotsjets

Surprised nobody has mentioned this yet.

Do not chrome your rims if you're going to be using them as a braking surface. Hub/disk brakes only!

Just a friendly PSA.


(eta: I've heard of getting cheaper rates to "throw one's parts in" when it comes to powdercoating, but never chroming—granted I don't often hear of people chroming bikes. This makes sense, as chroming is much more difficult and exacting work. I believe with powdercoating, the "throw it in" discount comes from not having to mix a color in such a small batch—you basically pay for the labor and get whatever color they happen to be putting on a large order of theirs.)

Buikema

Indeed, they do make for questionable braking. However this bike is the sort that comes out on a warm Sunday in the summers, and originally had chromed rims, so I don't think it'll be problem. I may just buy new ones, but I have a set of new ones that are of very poor quality. The old ones are nice and round and good, but the chrome has had its day. So, instead of killing myself looking for new westwood rims I thought I'd look into the chroming thing.

TimeTravel_0

how about just polished rims?

Buikema

Polished would be pretty cool actually. However, I live in Coastal California, with salt air and fog and I don't have any proper indoor storage place. So, for now the bike resides in a quasi inside shed/workshop sort of thing, but not exactly climate controlled. I think I'd have a rust issue.

J T CUNNINGHAM

No matter which company does the plating, they must bake-out the hydrogen (embrittlement) after the plating.

Regards,
J T