Harvey and Gabriel are correct on all counts. Very few chromers remain because of toxicity and subsequent cost issues. I have used excellent chromers in the Tri-State area, but, sadly, they do not want bicycle business. The polishing, especially of fr ames and other small parts, not the chroming, is the issue. They h aven't the tools available, nor can they recoup the costs. Their i ncome is derived from antique car and motorcycle work. Having said that, there are excellent bike restoration resources, in cluding chromers, on CR's website, albeit out of the NYC area, a nd anything can be sent out, even frames. George
Geoge Hollenberg MD
CT, USA
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 9:14 am
Subject: Re: Re: [CR]Chrome plating company in NYC area?
To: haxixe@gmail.com
Cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> as someone mentioned, nickle plating is the first step to chroming
.
>
> but the best advice i have heard, as I do extensive metal
> finishing, is
> Harvey's post where he exposes the extreme toxicity and
> environmental
> issues with this process. Most chromers have closed down
> because of the
> regulations imposed, less stringent than what they should be in
> my
> opinion. the ones that remain will charge you quite the premium
> to
> chrome. Nickle plating is not so toxic, thus reflecting the
> price
> described below.
>
> Many of the car boys restoration folks i know are using
> reflective
> chrome powdercoating with a ultra gloss clear coat which are far
> friendlier to this earth, will cover slight imperfections, and
> not
> terribly expensive.
>
> .
> >
> > There's probably a great business opportunity for someone to
> > specialize in doing plating catering specifically to bikies. M
any
> > people want to be frame builders, a few want to paint, but
> almost none
> > aspire to be platers and the demand is apparently there and biki
es
> > have largely already been conditioned to pay top dollar and
> more. I'll
> > bet most chromers who deal with bikies would tell you that sub-2
00
> > dollar plating job in the link on that frame would be
> "impossible" to
> > do at anything close to that price point- even though it really
> > obviously isn't.
> >
> > On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 7:59 PM, Daniel Gonzalez
> wrote:
> >> Are you both certain that what you're positing is always
> true? I see
> >> here, a photo of an aftermarket nickel plate job, with a
> cost of $160
> >> done in 8/06, that loks remarkably lovely:
> >>
> >> http://www.bicyclefixation.com/
>
> gabriel romeu
> chesterfield new jersey usa
> --
> G L Romeu
> ø http://studiofurniture.com
> ø http://lessplusmore.com
> ø http://journalphoto.org
> _______________________
________________________
>
George Hollenberg MD
CT, USA