Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Need Re-Chroming/Chrome Dipping of Rims/Wheels

adv.

RFQ: Have you found anybody for your Chroming of your Aluminum Parts as I am myself looking for someone that can Chrome My Alloy wheels. With the UK weather the alloy gets damaged. Your response is greatly appreciated.

Thomas Breant
- Bracknell, Berkshire
2000

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)

Ed. note: Although there are a few technical Q&A's on this page, it's mostly outdated RFQs. To view current RFQs, post your own RFQ, or post a Question, please go to "Hotline public forum" page.

RFQ: I am interested in finding a local Chrome dipping Shop in the North Florida are. I would be willing to travel as far as Miami to take my Player spoke-rims as they are rusting and in need of restoration. Any information would be greatly appreciated. If there is anyone that has information that could help me, please call. Thanks!

Lance S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Branford, Florida USA
2000

RFQ: I would like information and prices on chrome dipping my rims please. I have stock 16" rims on a 2000 Dodge Intrepid.

Please get back to me. Thank you in advance.

Michael M
[surname deleted for privacy by Editor] - Staten Island, New York
2001

RFQ: I own a rim and aftermarket parts shop. Also in my shop is a low rider shop. We are looking for someone in our area who can chrome dip parts for us. Our shop has a high demand for this service so please contact me if you know anyone who can help.

Thanks a lot!

Joseph P [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Rockford, Illinois
2001

RFQ: I wish to chrome dip my rims for my Benz Detroit.

Benjamin S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Northville, Michigan, USA

RFQ: I have a 17" rim that is cracked I need to fix it and then dip it in chrome. Also I wanted to put chrome on the lining of my body kit. I wanted to know where I could do this and how much it would cost.

ASHLEY G [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- MIAMI, Florida
2002

RFQ: I am also looking for someone to chrome my alloys (18") a question for anyone else reading this, why can I get them done by 20 or so firms in the states but talk to anyone here and they run a mile?

Peter Dixon
- Hertfordshire, England
2002

"Restore antique Cars"

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

A. Probably they run because they are not set up to strip and replate what are relatively large size parts for some plating operations, or, they are set up for industrial accounts, and the setup charges for short runs, they know, will be balked at by most consumers. Or, they have had trouble with the corrosion and pitting of the base metal, which makes it difficult to re-plate to a high polish.

The firms who replate old parts successfully often plate with copper, then polish the copper to fill in pitting and corrosion to a mirror finish, then they plate the required nickel and chrome to finish the part.

Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania

RFQ: I am seeking information or the whereabouts on where I can get my motorcycle parts chrome plated I have numerous items that I need chromed so please email me with any information.

Thank you,

Pedro C [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Lubbock, Texas
2003

RFQ: Looking for a job shop to re-chrome my car rims.

Joseph B [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Hoffman Estates, Illinois
2003

RFQ: SEEKING FOR A SHOP THAT CHROMES WHEELS IN NEW YORK OR NEW JERSEY.
THANK YOU

ESTHER IKHILEVSKY
- BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, USA
2003

I am looking for a place between Frankfurt and Stuttgart, Germany who chrome-dips auto wheels. Chrome-plating is okay, but dipping preferred.

Jason S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Friedberg, Germany
2003

A. Hi Jason.
For the record, Jason, there actually is no such thing as 'chrome dipping' in the sense of dipping an item into molten chrome as if it were chocolate. Although there is such a thing as hot dip galvanizing it is a non-aesthetic zinc coating, not chrome. All decorative chrome is applied by electroplating the item with nickel and then electroplating it with chromium. Certainly, however, some plating shops do higher quality electroplating than other shops. Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

RFQ: I am looking for a company to plate our parts chrome. Could you send me email addresses for your members that chrome plate, I am in Illinois so any from IL, IA, or WI would work for me.

Part 222-0002-00, lot size of parts is 1000 pieces.

Part 222-0001-00, lot size of parts is 1000 pieces.

Part 122-0003, lot size of parts is 3000 pieces.

Thanks.

Michael B [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Prophetstown, Illinois, USA
2004

RFQ: Hey,

I have a 89 GMC Regular Cab stepside truck with fatty's and chrome rims, But the problem is that Some of the chrome is rusting off around the bolts and on my back tire it is actually peeling off... how much would it cost to get them rechromed, or how can I prevent getting more rust on them... thanks!

Lynne McDonald
Student - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan , Canada
2004

RFQ: I am seeking a local chrome dipping shop myself. My rims are not in bad condition they are just alloy and I would like them chrome. I live in North Texas in the Dallas metroplex.

Please help.. Che H [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Dallas, Texas
2004

RFQ: I can't find the chrome wheels at the price that I want to pay, so I'm thinking of just getting my wheels chromed.

Doug Howard
Auto - Wheels - Flint, Michigan
2004

A. Mass production reduces labor costs so much that the bad news is that having your four wheels chromed may well cost as much or more than buying new chrome wheels. Are your present wheels just plain pressed steel and painted, or are they aluminum alloy wheels? Would polishing the aluminum instead of plating it be an acceptable alternate?

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

RFQ: I would like to get my aluminum alloy wheels chromed, does anyone know a place that does this in the Pittsburgh, PA area? And roughly how much it would be for all 4 wheels?

Eric B [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
engineering - Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, USA
2004

"Classic Car Restorer's Handbook"

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi, folks.

I don't think it's true that you can find lots of shops in the USA to rechrome alloy wheels anymore. Not only have about half closed, but back when we had "chrome reverse wheels", which were steel, it was different. Even when we had aluminum wheels made from billet aluminum it was a bit different. It is exceptionally difficult to reliably electroplate pressure cast aluminum alloy wheels, due to their elaborate shape, the need for a zincate immersion plating layer on aluminum, and all the "garbage" that is in castings. We have numerous threads on here with people complaining about the chrome peeling from their alloy wheels (threads/topics 29693, 48729, 35945 have pictures).

The labor involved in manually handling a couple of wheels, and fabricating auxiliary anodes and racks for each different style is prohibitive. I think you will find that, because of this labor, the cost of having your wheels rechromed will be more than replacements, where they are plated dozens at a time with minimal labor. Sorry, and good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

RFQ: I would like to get my car rims rechromed. Is there anyplace within the tri-state area that will do this?

Joe F [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Queens, New York

I have a Datsun 280 ZX. and the rims are all scratched and not nice at all. I want everything on the car to be original and are hoping to find someone to re-chrome them for me. If you could write me back and give me some information that would be greatly appreciated. I am a senior in High School but I am working on this car with my dad who is more than willing to help me with it. Thank-you for your time.

Alfred C [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
student - Howell, New Jersey
2005

Q. I would like info on chrome dipping my current set of wheels.

Matthew Strouse
- Baltimore, Maryland
2007

RFQ:. I have 18" car rims the chrome is peeling off and I will like to re-chrome or plate them.

Osvaldo M [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
consumer - Brandon, Florida, USA
February 18, 2008

"How to Restore
Metal Auto Trim"
by Jeff Lilly
auto_trim_restore

on AbeBooks

or eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi, folks.

You can use our Jobshops Directory to locate plating shops in specific areas. A further source might be Hemmings Motor News, where specialty suppliers to classic auto enthusiasts often advertise.

Unfortunately, if these are aluminum/mag alloy wheels, you may find the restoration cost unacceptable. It's a complicated process and the old issue of labor cost is a killer. Whereas new wheels are processed dozens at a time in automatic plating lines, restoration involves fighting with the details of each particular wheel one at a time. Frankly, you may find that re-plating costs more than new wheels so, unless they are really special or of sentimental value, it may not be worth it.

We have an Introduction to Chrome Plating on line if the subject interests you :-)
But best of luck either way!

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Ed. note: Although there are a few technical Q&A's on this page, it's mostly outdated RFQs. To view current RFQs, post your own RFQ, or post a Question, please go to "Hotline public forum" page.

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