Jazzneck Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Mornin' All, Ive just made a bridge cover and pair of set screws for one of my old basses (can't find a genuine replacement anywhere) and it needs chrome plating. Can anyone recommend a plater that does smallish one-offs like this at a reasonable/fair price, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) When I was looking to get something like that done - many years ago - IIRC the complications were that there's few places do it, even less do chrome, mostly nickel due to pollution problems - and in itself it is an expensive process, which meant that you had to wait ages for the plating company to have a batch of items to do altogether so that the cost was worthwhile to them. The place I used was somewhere in Fife, but is long gone, try asking around a few metal engineering companies near you for recommendations. edit: I might be talking cr*p (no change there then) - this MIGHT be the place I used. [url="http://www.yell.com/b/Kingdom+Metal+Finishing+Ltd-Electroplaters+and+Metal+Finishers-cowdenbeath-KY48HJ-2340612/aboutus.html"]http://www.yell.com/b/Kingdom+Metal+Finishing+Ltd-Electroplaters+and+Metal+Finishers-cowdenbeath-KY48HJ-2340612/aboutus.html[/url] But I think you'll be shocked at the price, unless they can batch it. Depends where you rae of course too. Edited July 22, 2012 by Big_Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 You might get lucky on a classic car/bike forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyBones Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Best I've used [url="http://www.londonchroming.co.uk/"]http://www.londonchroming.co.uk/[/url] not cheep but thats life you get what you pay for, my first choice when i build one off parts for chops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batfastard Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Have you considered chrome powder coat? probably cheaper and should have a quicker turn around time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Thanks guys. Tell me more about chrome powder coat, please. I have seen and used old fashioned coloured powder coating but have not come across this chrome version. Is it hard, durable and does it look like chrome? Any info and experience? I've found Aerocoat in Norfolk via Google and will talk with them in the morning but any personal knowledge / experience would be really helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batfastard Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 No personal experiance with but my stepdad was talking about getting a few bits for his motorbike done a couple of years ago. Here's a few links. [url="http://www.the-polisher.com/id13.html"]http://www.the-polisher.com/id13.html[/url] [url="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=chrome+powder+coat&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a"]http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=chrome+powder+coat&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='TonyBones' timestamp='1342954994' post='1743049'] Best I've used [url="http://www.londonchroming.co.uk/"]http://www.londonchroming.co.uk/[/url] not cheep but thats life you get what you pay for, my first choice when i build one off parts for chops. [/quote] Ahh, I was just about to say there's a place down the Old Kent Rd! A guitarist I played with years ago had a bridge chromed - it cost him £80 as far as I remember (and we're talking about 28 years ago) but they did a very good job with no problems with the various threaded holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Mmmmm, H2CRO4 (chromic acid). [media]http://youtu.be/HEbnc73ItCE[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 [b]MB1. [/b] [b]R&S Electroplating[/b] [b]The Smithy[/b] [b]2 Crown Street[/b] [b]Failsworth[/b] [b]Manchester[/b] [b]M35 9BD[/b] [b]UK.[/b] [b]Tephelome...0161 683 4908.[/b] [b]Check out there website too...Highly Recommended [/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Thanks to you all so far. I've checked out the chrome powder coating route with Aerocoat and the finish thickness will be very high as to be unworkable. The knurling will be filled etc. The guy at Aerocoat was really helpful though, and recomended that I went for pukkah plating in this case. Having contacted about six different companies around the country, I'm going with Ashford as they seem to be the best value for money / guarantee etc. (not necessarily the cheapest but not as expensive as I thought it was going to be). So the bits have been posted and I'll keep you posted on what occurs. Again, thanks for all your help and suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 Plated bridge cover arrived home on Saturday - excellent job all round. Fitted, along with foam wedge and played the gig on Saturday afternoon. Very happy man here, y'know. Ashford Chroming are good value for money, very helpful and I would use them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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