gugie 

I think I caught lung cancer just looking at those pictures.

Andy_K 

Maybe that's why it's a family business. I know in West Virginia you meet people for whom black lung is a family tradition, but they don't like wind farms because the business of West Virginia is coal. Likewise, if the chrome plating business has been in your family for a couple of generations you won't give it up easily.

iab

Cheaper isn't necessarily better.

Robvolz 

agreed. But friendly and quality win me over every time. I looked at the work they did, saw some before and after. they were quick to offer a tour and everyone looked healthy, not that I saw lung x-rays.

The uncle was in his 70s, and looked like he was in his 70s.

They did quote bike frames, smaller BMX or 24" wheeled frames are 250. larger like Schwinn paramounts or varsity (he named them) are $300.

Cheaper than a quality paint job.

iab

Again, depends on their prep. I have seen a lot of details lost because someone leaned into the buffing wheel.

Low price is either due to a lower hourly rate, or they save time by leaning into the buffing wheel. I hope yours is the former.

Robvolz 

Or, as a family biz, they take care of their own the best they can. I was told not to come by during lunch because they close for family meal.

“Paulie did the prep-work, - and he had this wonderful system for doing the garlic. He used a razor. And he used to slice it so thin that it used to liquify in the pan with just a little oil. It’s a very good system.”

gugie 

Oh, that kind of family business!

Dean51 

Further to droppedandlost reference to Seattle's Art Brass Plating.... The chrome fork on my Ciocc Designer 84 had no pits, but was a rusty mess when I acquired it. The fellow at the front desk at Art Brass finished my sentence for me when I started to explain I did not want chrome added to the crown race fit. Cost was ~$225 about four years ago. Expensive in my book, but the work was flawless and I have no regrets.

Dean

522E54A9-0F3E-4B40-BD62-E28E59D52606

daka

Not that kinda guy. They are in charge of their own destiny.

CV-6 

Kind of moot, but I have used StL Plating. Very pleased with the results. $150 for the frame and fork, but that was in 2010. First pic is StL Plating work. Pic below is from Jack at Franklin Frame. The crown was redone in the latter photo, the lugs were only polished..

010 by L Travers, on Flickr

20220403_162208 by L Travers, on Flickr

Robvolz 

well, I'd love to keep my $$ local

Mastercraft in Seattle answered me back. Between 450-500 to chrome a fork. plus, they had a fire and are taking no orders until feb.

he told me Art Brass is even higher.

Iniezione 

Has anyone found a chrome shop who will redo the rear chrome “socks” faithfully on a frame? I’ve been calling around all over the east coast. Chromers that will do bikes want to dip the whole frame. I’ve gotten lots of pushback suggesting that I want my frame restored like the factory finish.

CV-6 

Not East Coast, but Jack at Franklin Frame redid the socks on my first Lejeune. A bit heavy in places, but overall very good. WTH, French chroming was never perfect.

PB162213 by L Travers, on Flickr

PB162225 by L Travers, on Flickr

Robvolz 

I spoke to one small shop that was pretty cheap and was surprised to hear that they’re taking so small. Basically a 1 foot cube. So he suggested I could certainly have the socks done, or a tiny part of the rear triangle. Maybe some cranks. But who chromes cranks.

I have a project in the same category.

I don’t want to pay for a whole frame when all I really want is the rear triangle.

whole bike costs more in two ways, paying for chrome I don’t want,
and
the painter who has to bead blast the chrome so paint will adhere

iab

I do.

Siamt 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Trakhak

I wonder if anyone reading this thread has already made arrangements to send a fork or frame to that company. Knowing how many of us are cheap first and everything else second, I'm guessing yes. Will anyone admit it here, though?

daka

Those are simply beautiful.

Iniezione 

Thanks for the tip, that did turn out pretty well! Do you know if the price was more or less than chroming the whole frame? I’m reluctant to send this frame off but if I can’t find a local shop I might just have to do it.

CV-6 

No idea on the price as it was 2006.

Robvolz 

The results are in.

Today I picked up the colnago fork and a Holdsworth fork belonging to the “thin man.”

The Colnago was a little bit more difficult with cut outs and pantograph. I think they did a 9.5 out of 10. You can still clearly read Campagnolo on the drop outs. I am very pleased.








The Holdsworth is perfect. A 10 out of 10. I could not be more impressed with the work these people do.

I told him how to suspend frames for just doing lugs. And maybe rear triangles.

P!N20

^ Looks like the Colnago fork could do with a bit more polishing under the fork crown, but it may just be the photo.

How good is fresh chrome? (Environmental concerns aside...)

Robvolz 

They said they polished as much as they feel comfortable. Any more polishing could take away from the overhang? I am pleased with it. It would take a real jerk with a magnifying glass to find fault with it. I had brought with me an original chrome fork for comparison and it looks great.

Erzulis Boat 

I have a brand new Colnago, and they didn't pay much attention to polishing the crown underside before chrome. I can assure you that they even paid less attention 30+ years ago!


If it was polished, It wouldn't be Italian.

Iniezione 

Very nice! If you don’t mind, where were you able to get this done? Any tips for explaining the chrome sock process? I’ve tried to explain it to a few shops and gotten pushback or even hostility.

I’ve sent shops detailed photos of a stock bike and even one stripped to bare metal with the factory chrome showing the transition. Did no good.

I’m going to consider some of the very good recommendations from this thread, though I’m still reluctant to ship the frame off if I can help it.

Robvolz 

Google family plating in St Louis.

they even quote bikes and parts in their price sheet.


I have seen examples of entire frames they have done.

plus they understand just lugs and/or socks.

I have half a mind (well, I only have half a mind anyway) to have my new 73 Derosa chromed.

If I didn’t like it, switch over to chromavelito.

anyway, I would do it sooner than later before all chrome shops in the states are shut down.