Wanting bumpers rechromed. Real life experience here?

[Kruse]

This is something that has been on my back burner for quite some time and I guess next year will be the year to stop putting it off.
I need a front grille rechromed. I know the EPA has been pretty hard on the chrome plating companies and looks like the people from California will eventually have to go elsewhere. But that is another subject.
Does anyone have some real life experiences on who they recommend? This would be a total of five pieces, and by breaking the single piece down to five pieces, the 5 parts can easily shipped by UPS/FedEx to anywhere in the 48 states. Who wait...if you are in the know, probably 47 states.
Here are photos of what needs to be rechromed and the status of the current grille. I know somebody will ask "what car does this fit?", so an extra photo will be added.

 

[skyactiv]

I highly suggest using UPS when shipping that.

 

[Sumboodie]

How about "chrome" powder coat?

 

[c502cid]

I worked for a sleazy re-chromer in the late 80's. They would charge 5x for show chrome and it was the exact same as regular chroming. I didn't last there long. They did do nice work, but in the end, even Colorado made it difficult to be in that business.

 

[tbm3fan]

I used Tri-City Plating to rechrome the front bumper on my 1965 F-100. Shipped it UPS at 34lbs. Cost for replating was $800. No extra work was needed, like removing a dent, so it was straightforward. Nice, deep shine.

 

[Opelman]

Too late for CA. All of the chrome plating shops were closed by decree from CARB. We had a nice shop where we used to live, I was going to have some headlight rings nickel plated but not now. Toss up a pic of the Henry J, those are neat cars.

 

[Kruse]

. Toss up a pic of the Henry J, those are neat cars.

Sure. When it's finished.

 

[TheLastWord]

Too late for CA. All of the chrome plating shops were closed by decree from CARB. We had a nice shop where we used to live, I was going to have some headlight rings nickel plated but not now. Toss up a pic of the Henry J, those are neat cars.

Not true. I will show you shops doing great business tomorrow. Very successful shops. Need to sleep now.

Better yet you do it. Google chrome shops San Diego County.

 

[Opelman]

Not true. I will show you shops doing great business tomorrow. Very successful shops. Need to sleep now.

Better yet you do it. Google chrome shops San Diego County.

They are probably farming the work out to Tijuana. I lived in Escondido, CA in Northern San Diego County for the majority of my life and Escondido Plating was closed by governmental decree as were all other "decorative" plating shops.

 

[Cujet]

In years past, I had many automotive parts rechromed. While they came out shiny they never looked new. They ended up wavy and looking kind of cheap due to the rework needed to grind out the corrosion. We quickly learned that reproduction parts or new old stock was a better way to go.

For those who don't need real chrome, there are powder coat-like options. An example is Ford's PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) wheels. A chrome-like look without the chrome.

As I understand it, the metallic surface is deposited in a vacuum, then a powder coat clear is baked on. Highly corrosion resistant and no pitting. Plus the clear coat can be buffed if it gets hazy.

Like anything, there are various levels of quality and outcome.