rechroming 1950 DeSoto parts

[Guest Irv D]

Wondering if anyone has a source for rechroming parts on 1950 DeSoto. Need to have a reliable company that does quality work at fair and reasonable price.

Have 4 exter. door handles, 1 back-up light bezel, 1 rear fender stone guard, and 1 front windshield division bar.

Any help is appreciated.

Irv D

[jpage]

Irv, I have used Paul's Chrome Plating in Mars,PA. several times to plate parts from my 1936 Dodge and have been very satisfied. They even replated some parts that weren't quite right for free. Plating today is not cheap and do not pick a plater solely by price because sometimes you do get just what you pay for. Some words of advice..Document all the parts for yourself and the plater , be specific on exactly you want done to the parts, take apart anything that comes apart and if any part fits into something send the mate too so it can be fitted at the shop. They sometimes will not guarantee fit after plating. Paul's will photograph all parts and send you a written quote; they will not work without authorization. Paul's advertises in Hemming's Motor News or type in pauls chrome in your search engine. Good luck

[Guest Irv D]

jpage

Appreciate your input on rechroming parts from my 50 Desoto. At this point, I have sent all the parts to a place called Speed & Sport Chrome in Houston, TX. I spoke with the owner and reviewed his website, as well as reviews for his work. He gave me an estimate on the job from pictures that I e.mailed to him. Once he received the parts, he photographed and inventoried all parts, called me with a "firm quote". A couple of the parts went up from his estimate (as I expected - based on the fact that his estimate was only from pictures) - but not by much - only $85 on 7 parts. He has assured me that all the parts will be absolutely beautifully done. Also, his turn-around time (15-20 work days) is a plus. He called me after receiving the parts (he got them on 1/10/2012) and said that I should have them back right around the first week of February.

I checked out Pauls in PA and he appears to do excellent work, but his price was nearly triple that of Speed & Sport Chrome. I will try to let you know how I make out, once I get the parts back - which should be in a week or so.

Thanks again for your information and concern....................Irv D

[jpage]

Irv, Make sure that they are triple plating your parts and not just chroming them. Many platers skip the copper coat to save time and money. Als some will not take the time to really smooth the parts before plating. I'm not saying they won't but just make sure.

[Guest alperin1]

I would really like to know how your parts turn out. I sent some parts to Pauls in PA and I have to say, I expect to pay $800 to $1000 for the parts I sent in and I was taken aback at the cost when you got back to me, $2600. Now I will say everything they do is top of the line but I really could not see spending that much on my parts. Heck by the time I would have been done with the car, the chrome would have been well past $15,000. Again his work is some of the best I have seen, but in the end I am not going to show the car and that is why I am still looking.

Again, let us know how it goes.

[Guest Irv D]

I did check with them about their plating process and they assured me they do the triple plating (copper, nickle and chrome). Am anxious to get the parts back (but they have only had them since 1/10) - but may be another week or so. Will surely let all of you know how they look when I get them and also about the cost/turn-around time, etc.

Thanks to all of you for your input and concerns............Irv

[jpage]

Any update on your parts Irv? Was wondering if you got them back on time and how the job turned out.

[Guest Irv D]

Well, it is ironic that you inquired about my parts rechroming today, as I just called them this morning and spoke with the company manager. He told me that normally, they have a max turnaround time of 21 working days till completion. However, they are running a bit behind, so he said they may be finished by the end of this week - or no later than mid week (next week). They have now had the parts 24 working days - so, that doesn't seem bad.

I will certainly let you know as soon as I have them back, and how they look. Should be no later than around the end of Feb.

I also shipped one more part to them this week - the place I had for rechroming this one piece - had it 10 months and WAS STILL NOT COMPLETED !!!

I'll be in touch.............thanks for asking.............Irv

[Guest Irv D]

Just wanted to let you know that I received the parts I had rechromed (at Speed & Sport Chrome Plating - Houston, TX) on Thurs Mar 1st. All pieces had triple plating (copper, nickle and chrome). They had to redo one piece (the rear fender stone guard) - and I expect to receive that on Monday Mar 5th.

These are the pieces I had done, along with prices and my opinion on the quality of work:

1) 4 door handles @ $133 each ---------------------$532 (very good, but not perfect)

2) 1 windshield divider bar --------------------------$ 84 (perfect)

3) 1 back up light bezel-----------------------------$ 84 (perfect)

4) 2 "Custom" scripts w/backing plates @$126 ea ----$252 (very good, but not perfect)

5) 1 fender stone guard----------------------------$315 (have not yet received)

extra repair charge for this piece (gouges)--------$ 25

6) 1 front fender moulding, 57" long------------------$250 (perfect)

7) Shipping and COD charges (3 packages)---------- $ 88

GRAND TOTAL-------------------------------$1630 (no tax, no disposal fees)

NOTES: (1) My original estimate for 7 pieces was $1015. I decided to add the two "Custom" scripts/backing plates, which bumped it up to a total of 9 pieces - to $1267, not including any repairs or shipping.

(2) The last piece (front fender moulding) was an "add on" - sent to them about 6 weeks after I had shipped the first 9 pieces to them, which bumped it up to $1517.

(3) They received the first 9 pieces on 10 January 2012. They received the "add on" fender moulding about Feb 21st. They advertise a "normal" turn-around time of 15 - 21 work days, but they said they have been extremely busy recently, so that time was longer than normal. In my case, it turned out to be about 33 work days. I should have the final piece (rear fender stone guard) back on Monday -- and will let you know how that turns out.

Overall, I am pretty satisfied with the total amount of the cost - as well as the quality of work. I got 10 pieces for a total of $1630, to include extra repairs and shipping, along with a pretty quick turn-around time. The owner and manager were very easy to deal with and talk to about any concerns I had, and responded accordingly.

I previously had 7 pieces done by another place here in upstate NY, which turned out to be a "nightmare". Overall, he did excellent quality work, but took "forever" (over 3 months) to get 6 of the 7 pieces back to me. Then, the trunk handle/lock assembly was totally messed up (plating inside the mechanism) - so I could not get the lock to work. Took me another 4 months to get that back, in working condition - but not as well as it should have been. He had to redo one piece (front fender moulding), which he never finished (over 10 months on that piece) - so I had him send it to the place in Texas, which finished it in less than 2 weeks.

I hope this helps with your interest in my recent experiences with rechroming. I will be happy to answer any other questions/concerns you may have. I you want, you can e.mail me directly at: deelin@roadrunner.com.

Best Regards.............Irv

[Guest Irv D]

I forgot to mention that I paid over $2100 for the 7 pieces that I had the place here in NY do for me. Compared to $1630 for 10 pieces at the place in Houston, I would say that is quite a difference - not to mention the fact that Speed & Sport Chrome was WAY, WAY FASTER in their turn-around time, and no big issues with quality of work ------and NO EXCUSES, which I constantly got from the place here in NY.