chroming costs

[bonny]

can any of the members in the uk tell me what sort of price is a decent triple chrome plating job on an a10 swing arm petrol tank ? no dent removal or anything , just strip off old chrome etc and polish and rechrome . will i need a lottery win ?

[lawnmowerman]

You will probably need at least four numbers on the lottery bonny - maybe five! Chroming costs have more than doubled over the last few years - somthing to do with "elf and safety" and the cost of disposal of the spent chemicals.
Good luck - quality from platers seems to be pretty variable.

Jim

[bonny]

pity bsa didn't make the tanks out of stainless steel 

[muskrat]

Down here your looking at at least $400AU !!!

[Rusty nuts]

£150-£200 to strip, polish & chrome.

Rusty

[Goldy]

Triple chrome would be about £300

[RichardL]

Hold on to your kilts and kippers, laddies.

If you were in the U.S., here is a retail quote from a high-quality plater (Browns Plating, Paducah Kentucky)

GAS TANK $477.00
GAS TANK LARGE $632.00

[coater87]

 And,

 That is zero "extras". Lots of places will charge more for paint removal, simply because they cannot just dip a painted part into the chemicals they normally use. They do it the same as any of us would, by hand. Also, rusted parts cost more around here.

 NOW, need the tank split and hammered out? Then chromed? Think $900.00 to $1400.00 depending on the work needed. Makes a bare India tank chromed here in the states look really good.

 Lee

[bonny]

i'd consider an indian tank , a friend bought one for a goldy rep and it was excellent for the money , but are the indian tanks triple plated ? 

[bsa-bill]

but are the indian tanks triple plated ?

- Don't know but time will tell, I have one to go my project.
Have to say with the plating costs stated here I'm going out and give my tanks a good coat of wax, nothing else on chrome guys - just wax

[andy2565]

indian chrome can only be single plated,the chrome on bullets never lasts long,

[coater87]

 Guys,

 Thats why I really think the way to go is a bare India tank- chromed near you by a reputable house. That way, your place gets to control everything.

 Once the chrome flys off in flakes, its no longer just a cheap fix- there is paint and pinstripping too.

 A Good chrome job kept clean should last a LONG time.

 Lee

[BSA_54A10]

Contary to popular belief, chrome is not a smooth glassy finish.
It is chockers with tiny cracks.
These cracks must either be kept dry or filled with something to prevent electrolysis.
And that something should be wax.
Now most modern chrome "polishes" are not waxes but abrasives.
These will make your chrome look bright & shinny but do nothing to preserve it.
So a good quality wax will do powers of good to maintain your chrome in good condition.
Waxes usually need to be applied with vigerous rubbing, allowed to dry ( usually to a white film) then buffed off .
If you can not find special chrome wax then good old "turtle wax" will do the job well enough.

[trickytree]

I cringe when I see folk "polishing" chrome with Autosol!

As for tripple plating, I was under the impression that the copper base coat is only nesesary on damaged surfaces, (think of it as your "filler-primer") when polishing would remove to much of the base metal.

[LJ.]

I would recommend Quality Chrome in Hull Lincolnshire... Cost me around £150, they did a reasonable job considering the tank was a bit rough. I was never expecting a fantastic job but for the price I think they did an excellent job. Had to wait a long time though so they must be good. Google them for an address.. Here is some pics of what my tank was like before sending in. http://www.ljswain.btinternet.co.uk/star-twin-pg2.htm