Hi all, looking for some advice on re-chroming, I have no idea what to expect, the first price was a bit of a shock £2500 for the roof gutters, 2x door frames, door trim and front and rear bumpers.
How do you fit the gutters, are there some clips as I can’t see how you fit once the headlining is in
Thanks for the advice
Hi Andrew
I would say £2500 is reasonable if you’re expecting a good job
Regards
Andy
Roof gutters are held in with tiny screws from the outside into the grp. The row of little holes give you an idea of size. No clips or anything else used.
That sounds like a Derby Plating price to me, and if it is, they are the best, bar none. If the quote is not DP, you want to get a quote from them. If it is not a DP quote, make sure you do your homework on the EXACT process that your platers will be using.
From memory, pukka chrome plating is a 3 or 4 stage process, and remember, you could pay £2.5k and get a crap job, but not from DP, so caution is the watch word. Just like paintwork, any plater can get a job to look good when you collect it. Its what the job looks like in 5 years time that I am more interested in.
Leslie
If you’re in the UK beware of any chromers in the failsworth area …
John 
Yes, that almost exactly what I paid Derby Plating for two bumpers, the door frames, gutter rails and a gear lever for my plus 2. Worth it IMO as the quality is beyond reproach, and unlike many firms the price they quote is always the price you actually pay.
You have been a great advocate for naming and shaming in the past, and yet…nothing.
Leslie
Was called House of Chrome, etc… now known as R and S electroplating… the story , my Plus2 rear bumper needed re-chroming , took it to them all OK. Picked it up later and looked fine , took it home and didn’t really notice the difference in weight ? but on further handling found it a little " floppy" I don’t know what rear bumpers are like to get hold or these days…but 20 years ago they were like hens teeth. I was livid,it seems the polisher they employed loved polishing ( prior to plating ) but my fingers are getting tired now ( not a trypist) . So beware… John
Thanks for clarifying.
The other thing to be aware of when having a +2 rear bumper chromed, is to point out to the firm that you intend to use, that you do NOT want the rear lip ground off in the process, as has been reported on here in the past.
Leslie
I had 4 wheel spinners and a front bumper rechromed last year, Cost was about £55 per spinner and £275 for bumper, plus vat.
Excelllent job by Silvabronze near Basingstoke _www.beckworth.net
I have used silverbronze for all the rechoming on my plus two which was over 15 years ago and still as gleaming now as the day it was done. The cost you have been quoted seems very reasonable to me.
I know a number of companies that restore high value cars and especially Jaguar E types, use ACF Howells in Walsall 01922 649992. Adam I have found is very precise in the work they do as well as helpfull. Another company I have used is Castle Chrome in Dudley who again achieve a high quality finish to their work. Ther has been comment elsewhere that a firm in Derby (name not given) charge high prices compared with those above, so either of these companies may be worth a call before you make a decision.
Here is a link to an article conducted by Hagerty Insurers that may give more of an independent view,
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrkLRfo0bFnfQIAFwAM34lQ;_ylu=Y29sbwNpcjIEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1740916457/RO=10/RU=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hagerty.co.uk%2Farticles%2Fhard-craft-articles%2Fhard-craft-a-c-f-howell-metal-finishers-is-a-shrine-to-shine%2F/RK=2/RS=tHKVwUsxSPrVygQWmZDX7pQv2IQ-
Hi
There is an alternative chemical process that gives good results. At some point it will be the only option as the chemicals used in traditional chroming are being banned in the UK.
https://www.chromespray.co.uk/
They are very experienced and do a lot of work for high end customers and in the film industry etc.
All the best
Berni
This silver solution spraying is popular in the theatrical prop and interior design world: looks good in an interior enviroment but nowhere near as durable as real chrome .Also, not to be confused with the much more durable chrome vapour spray technology used by car manufacturers for plastic grilles, window trim etc…Tony
Hi Tony
The durability of the silver solution is dictated by the clear topcoat applied. I think Chromespray have three different options including the sputtering (vapour disposition I think it might be).
I know that they successfully “chrome” car wheels and bumpers etc all the time.
All the best
Berni
Worth considering for chroming the fibreglass replacement bumpers for the plus 2…Tony