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Triumph TR6 - Rechroming

It's time for a repaint and I'd like to rechome the bumpers. Can anyone give me any recommendations of a shop in the Carolinas area?
Joe Justice
Joe Justice

Joe
How are ya doin'?
No I can not but a suggestion or 2.
Look for a shop that does bikes and antique cars. Ask for some references. Look at some of their work. Will probably have a piece that is half done for demo purposes. Maybe talk to members of a "local" car club or a dealer selling older restored cars and see who he uses.
Finally, get the Visa card out. A rechromed rear bumper "set" cost $500 up here in Canada...at least that is what it cost me. There where small dings, rust, pit marks, and the DPO had drilled holes as if a bumper hitch. It came back looking better than OE.

A note to all who read this thread. Original chromed metal on our 6s is far superior quality metal than any reproduction of today. Rechroming OE parts will far outlast new reproduction stuff. It was suggested to me (I did this) to spray the inside of the bumpers with ant-rust paint then I sprayed "chrome" paint to make the inside look good and last.

Anyone in S. Ontario, I can recommend a rechroming shop to u.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Rick,

Can you tell me the name of the shop.

I have to re-chrome my bumpers on a TR4.

I'm, located in Oakville but travel all over Ontario

Many Thanks, Dino
Dino

Dino
Just looked up old invoice..March 16/00. It was $400 for the rechrome/repair and an extra $120 to have the stripped captive nuts replaced ( 4 total).
The Plating House
116 Viceroy, Bldg. C #1&2 units.
Concord, ON.
(416)??(905)??661-3964

N off Steels Ave; W of Keel if I recall correctly.
Also Had the front bumper done.
RickC
Rick Crawford

Thanks Rick, will give em a try.

Dino
Dino

I had my bumpers done this winter. They look fantastic. I really hate to tell you guys this but all it cost me was a bottle of rum. I have a friend in the business. Somethings that you should be concerned with is how long the shop leaves the bumper in the tank and how many times they dip them. Of course the longer and more times the better. Mine were dipped 3 times. Also the filters the shops use are very expensive and some shops will try to make them last longer then they should. So I had mine done just after they cleaned the tanks and changed the filters. And as mentioned, that's why a shop that specializes in antique cars is best. That type of clientele will not accept a 2nd rate job.

Doug
Doug Campbell

Joe,
I am at work at the moment(Asheville), but I had a front bar done in Johnson City, TN. They fixed the dents, and did a good job on the chrome too.
It is not "show" chrome, but still good for my ride.
I will check at home and get back to you on the name of the company.
They have been there for at least 20 years, and were good to deal with.

Mark
Mark Riddle

Hey Doug,

If I sent you the bumpers and say 3 bottles of rum might there be a chance....?

Dino
Dino

Send the rum Dino you can trust me.

Doug
Doug Campbell

Dino
I have some land in Florida for sale...just kiddin
You will be happy with the results. He has done many an antique bumper including Fred Mc. at BAS.
GEEESSS a bottle of rum!
Rick C
Better get the bumpers to him soon or you will be driving around without them:) You are probably looking at a month or longer.
Rick Crawford

I checked with Tricityplating and they quoted $185 for each bumper. Thats more than a bottle of rum but less than after market. While stationed in the Phillipines I had an entire 450 Honda chromed (if it wont go, chrome it)for 5 cartons of black market Salems. I can confess now as the statute of limitations has expired.
Joe Justice
Joe Justice

Hello all

Not knocking the others. And if you can find a car buff who does comercial mostly you may be surprised at what a deal you can get like Doug. Many guys have a soft spot for old cars and a drop of rum won't hurt?

In Ontario. Cambridge custom chrome. They do have an outlet in Buffalo NY. Specialise in Antiques Classics and Hotrods only. They are the best anywhere on potmetal with pits as in door handles etc. as well as your light frames. Perfect bumpers are a breese for these old guys. There websight sucks though?

http://www.custom-chrome.com/

Rick these guys take down to original metal straighten/smooth anything required and redo better than original. Not a quick rough and coat. Part is straight and opticly right. No fat lady there.

95 percent of any paint job is prep right???

99.9 percent of any rechrome is blast and prep to bare metal by an expert then Copper time, nickel quality and a quick chrome dip. Sort of the difference between Macco paint job and Barris. But a lot of times its not too much more price wise than the tossit in the tank and hope comercial outfits.

One tip from experience if you get one part chromed get it all done. Stands out.

Bill





Bill Brayford

Joe,
Tri-City did mine last year. I would use them again if I needed to.
their web site says they do "show" quality,(3 coat).

http://www.tricityplating.com/

Hope that helps,

Mark
Mark Riddle

Thank for the info fellows.

Another question I had was concerning filling and re-plating the rear aluminum cockpit surround found on TR4's.

Do the same people that re-chrome bumpers do this or is it an entirely seperate process.

Thanks, Dino
Dino

I am just finishing my re-build Does anybody know of a chrome shop near albany ny Has anybody ever tried bumper boys? Thanks for all the help
dgf Finch

Dino
Al is not platted it is anodized. They would, if anything, remove dents and do a polishing job to it....ask them. Can this piece be bought new? If yours is in bad shape then better to go new.

Joe, that is a good price. Tripple plated?

dgf, read Bill Bs post above for place in Buffalo.

Rick C
Rick Crawford

Rick,
It sure does look like a good price. I just looked at my notes and the price should read $285 not $185. It's still cheaper than new and they do antiques, classics, and customs so the quality must be good. Mark says he used them and was happy.
Check www.classicandsportscarparts.com for the TR-4 aluminum. They have loads of Triumphs.
Joe Justice
Joe Justice

Joe
Still a good price.

Gotta agree with Bill....do it all at once.

Joe, when u get it done ask them if they have special chrome cream paste to keep it lookin good. It is kinda like the finishing touch. You wax and polish the car, why not the nice shinny new bumpers.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Joe--If you're interested in a late model front bumper, there is a NOS unit on ebaY now complete with the factory protective tape. It'll be interesting to see what it goes for.

Rick O.
Rick Orthen

Ahem,

As it happens I have a bit of experience with chrome plating stuff and things.

A good chrome plater will take good care of you. Make sense?

The electro plating process, in chrome, is three fold as far as the plating is concerned.

First of all, the pieces need to be straight. Makes no sense to plate something that's bent. N'est ce pas?

Typically what will happen is that the old plating will be removed, of course, and then we go for the copper. We're dealing steel so we have a metal that will attract a magnet so, therefore, will also attract plating.

Some of the cheaper shops won't do the following:

Plate the piece with copper. Sand it, copper it, sand it, copper it, until it's very smooth. Look at copper as the 'primer' in that it's what you get things smooth with. Plating is very much like painting in that "it's all in the prep".

Once we have a smooth and pretty surface with the copper then we go for the nickel. Nickel (or nickle) is what goes on before the chrome. We'll plate the piece with a good shot of nickel and polish to a high lustre. Then on comes the chrome. The chrome is the finish, obviosly, and the one that you'll see.

If everything has been done properly and the previous plating done well then you have 'show chrome'. It ain't cheap and it's getting harder to have done (here in the States) because of EPA restrictions.

Hope that helps someone,

Jim (chromes his own little pieces)
Jim Deatsch

This thread was discussed between 17/03/2004 and 24/03/2004

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