*DON'T* try to get anything smaller than a quarter rechromed. It will most likely be ruined, e.g. sharp lines become cures, circles become ovals, logos disappear under too thick a layer of nickel.
For inspiration, look at these web page :
http://www.nonlintec.com/
Buy some naval jelly (dissolves rust much more readily than steel, unlike at a chrome shop where they use muriatic acid which eats EVERYTHING - e.g. rust, steel, whatever is in the tank with no preference), and then buy a brush plating set from caswell plating :
http://www.caswellplating.com/
Add a $5 jar of polishing compound (nevr dull or simichrome) and an $8 pair of goggles and $25 kmart dremel tool and some 400, 800, 1200, and 2000 grit sandpaper from an auto supply store (if ordering from caswell they have the best prices on 800 and 1200 grit paper.) Total cost about $70 to get started AND finished. Then you are qualified to begin restoring rusty old campy parts :
a. clean with wire brush on dremel (included in kmart kit) b. soak in naval jelly for 5 - 10 mins. May remove once or twice to scrub with a toothbrush (wear goggles / gloves for this.) c. clean again with dremel, maybe black (coarse) polishing compound on a small buffing wheel. and/or sand with 2000 grit. d. set aside permanently a small portion of your brush plating liquid in a yogurt cup and deplate the item with this liquid. e. Now your goal is, using the 1200 and 2000 grit paper and dremel and some nevr-dull/simicrhome, to get the steel of the item looking like a mirror. it can be done but it takes time and effort. e. Now dunk the mirror-like item in real brush plating liquid and plate the item. i have actually had better luck just brushing the item - i have not had good luck with dunk-plating - surface is not shiny. f. finish by polishing the item with 2000 grit paper and/or the buffing wheel and white rouge and finally the nevr-dull or simichrome - both to remove plating salts and flatten the finish.
repeat for every item you need to restore.
tedious but this is about 80% more gentle on the item than a crazy plating outfit. My plater destroyed everything I gave to them that was smaller than a dime.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA