Robvolz 

Oregon used to have many good chrome plating shops. Then the EPA cracked down due to ground-water issues, air quality was another thing. The one shop in Oregon City actually ships the goods to be chromed to Idaho, just east of the Oregon Border near NAMPA.

I'm about to do a road trip from Portland to St. Louis and thought about states that might have less regulation plus less average cost of living and came across these good people who actually list bicycles as a part of what they do.

https://stlplating.com/gallery/

That alone impresses me.

$60 for a fork isn't the worst I ever imagined.

I am wondering if anyone has anything to say about this company, or if they recommend someone else in UT, AZ, NM, CO, TX, OK, KS or MO.

Thanks
Robert
Portland OR

kunsunoke 

Two other options you might consider:

https://www.ogdenchrome.com/services

https://www.frankfordplatinginc.com/

The preparation process is going to be the determining factor in how the part looks after it's done. All rust has to be removed, all greases and oils, old paint and surface treatments (chrome, chromates, zinc, nickel, copper, etc.) need to be excoriated off of the part before it goes into the copper strike tank. Any residuals on the part will cause pits, mars, blemishes and discolorations. Not all plating shops are good at prep work. And chrome shops charge more for perfection.

gugie 

A good chromer that does bicycle frames and parts well sometimes feels like a unicorn, for the reasons stated above. Every so often someone starts up a thread on where to find a good chromer for bicycle frames I .would love to see a thread where someone actually goes through the process of getting said frame chromed, with pictures before and after - and the shop is still in business, and the work was done in a reasonable amount of time. @jyl chromed a 650b conversion (with custom racks) that I did for him a few years back, and it over a year to get the job done. I think it was someone in Vancouver, WA?

easyupbug 

I have used this family for many years now with great results, last fork was $60 + shipping, https://stlplating.com.
St. Louis Plating
2918 Franklin Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63106

gearbasher

They were recommended to me, but I haven't tried them. So, I can't give a review.

https://qualitychromeplating.com/bic...smotorcycle=60

jamesdak 

Holy Smokes! These fella's are local to me. Didn't know. Now that I have a local source I'll be more willing to look at some of the old italian framesets with messy front forks. Thanks!

Robvolz 

I and others local have tried to do biz with the Vancouver folk, No website, although that just re-inforces the "mom/pop" aspect.

Never answers their phone. I get that too, hard to get work done when the damn phone keeps ringing.

No, what I didn't like are the horrible reviews about rude in person, missed parts and missed deadlines. I get it, perfection can not be rushed, but 6 and 8 month delays seemed unusual.

There is a place in Seattle that does some aerospace stuff. Perfection as you can imagine, but really really expensive.

gugie 

Went back to @jyl's thread on his Bianchi chrome job. Just about one year, and the outfit is (was?) in Battle Ground, not Vancouver, but same story, no website, never answers phone, never calls back. But damn, looks great!

Robvolz 

Sigh, just got off the phone with the Ogden Utah people. They said they won't touch bikes.

I have used the Idaho guys for bathroom fixtures, in polished nickel. They did a great job on all, the weird lil pieces, vintage towel warmer, cabinet legs, faucet handles, Etc…

This is them: https://www.nw-chrome.com

Almost forget, when I heard their giant polishing wheel, I ran out and grabbed a Thorens turntable platter and they made it gleam, w/o charging me.

Maybe they have hired more, but after the Oregon ban, they were overwhelmed and took forever. This was 2+ years ago.

Erzulis Boat 

I used Frankford for some SOMEC forks, and they did a really good job. 4 years back?

John E

I live 1 km downwind of the Pacific Ocean. Chrome is a liability.

rccardr 

Whoever does Jack’s work at Franklin (not done there) does an outstanding job. He likes them because they make sure all of the nasty chems are out of the frame interior when done.

dedhed

Another good source to check with is local motorcycle custom shops as they deal with a lot of chroming of similar size/type parts and usually have their go to vendor.

droppedandlost 

https://www.mastercraftmetalplating.com/
website specifically says bicycles

also https://www.artbrassplating.com/

both Seattle area

Schweinhund

Interesting that Oregon has a ban, but hey come to California, we plate. lol.
Anyway. this is here local and they do good work.
I've seen some low rider bicycles they did chromium work on, and they were very nice
https://www.westcoastchrome.com/

gugie 

I'm not sure it's a ban, but my understanding is that it's next to impossible to open a new one. If you search for Chrome Oregon you'll find several in the Portland area.

iab

Here's a fork he did.

Frejus 01642 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Frejus Fork 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Frejus Fork 02 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Frejus Fork 03 by iabisdb, on Flickr

jet sanchEz

Mayfair Plating in Toronto does great work

I've had 3 forks done by them over the years

Price was $60 each time

Took about a week each time

Robvolz 

Yes & no.
Like the neighborhood dry cleaners where you drop your stuff at and they say "2 days."
But, they are actually drop places. The real action takes place miles away in some industrial area.

Local chrome places here in OR are shipping out of state. I did speak with EastSide Plating in person. Huge operation. They used to have a lil shop close in town. That area is now dot-coms and boutiques. I was shocked to see they have 5 buildings in deep industrial SE Portland. Huge tanks. Clients like Freightliner and Mercedes NA. They don't do bike forks.

I like to support local. But here in Portland it isn't possible. The Art Brass place in Seattle is total precision work with clients like BOEING, plus the high cost of living is only 2nd to San Francisco. They do stunning work and charge mucho $$ for it. Other finishes include copper and gold.

Thanks all for the leads. So far I'm impressed with the St. Louis folks. I will probably ship a fork out there and pick it up when I arrive. I'll also ask them if they can do "socks".

I'll report back my findings.

I also might check out the Modesto place, but I suspect they ship stuff south of the border.

Robert

Robvolz 

I spoke with West Coast Chrome. They do chrome in house!!

I think asking how much for forks is a good indicator, and they said $80.

gugie 

I think it's pretty clear that, for most people on this forum, chroming a frame will require shipment.

Vinnems

A lot of the OG shops have been "grandfathered" in and aren't required to meet all the requirements a brand new shop would.
Chrome is a real nasty business, and outside of looks, doesn't provide as good a finish as many other more environmentally friendly processes.

Robvolz 

Ok
armed with two forks. A colnago Mexico, where the chrome has run so thin, I’m scared to apply another polish. Plus, a pair of Holdsworth forks from west coast premiere bike restorer, our own Thin Man on here BF. His forks have a bit more pitting and dare say (dare, dare!!) some rust.

first stop: Modesto for West Coast Chrome Shop.

they quoted $80 for bike forks. One look at the two forks I have. They fussed and said it would cost more to fill the pits and do the prep work.

I didn’t like that answer.

next stop. St Louis.

in a really nice neighborhood of brownstones. Oddly is a metal chrome shop.

Here at Family metal finishers, they took the forks and said, hells yeah we can do this. And the $60 per fork included all the prep work.

the son introduced me to his father and uncle that worked there.

check them out

Major pitting in the crotch of these forks

Pretty unassuming building in a decent neighborhood

Buffer?? I hardly even know her.

Vats.

Cool lil leftover chrome stuff from the process. Looks like cauliflower

Long belt sanders

Greta had one word. ruff.

Original price as listed on the web, and they honor it.

albrt 

I wish these guys all the best, but that place has "future superfund site" written all over it. I hope I am wrong.

retswerb

Yeah I was wondering what the average employee life expectancy there is.