[kwilford]

Chrome and Aluminum Polish

Graham,

I believe that Nu-Chrome gives a discount for Opel owners; I think you just have to mention either this site or the Classicopels Yahoo! site. I think that either Gary or Charles Goin arranged it. From what I have read, they do very good work, at a "reasonable" price. Whatever "reasonable" means.

That being said, you should look around locally first. I had my chrome re-done and valve cover/thermostat housing polished at a local shop (Advance Plating in Medicine Hat, actually, but they have a Calgary depot), and as I recall it was about the same number of dollars as what NuChrome would charge. But they were Canadian dollars, so that saved 60 % off the top, not to mention shipping.

If it helps, this is what my work cost just about a year ago. I had three local shops quote, and all were within 10 %. There was a bit of repair to do (a couple of minor dings, and two bumperettes were split so they had to be welded) but more damage, costs more.

2 rear bummpers: $55 each, $110 total
4 bumperettes: $35 each, $140 total
Front bumper: $175
Valve cover polish: $65
Thermostat housing polish: $20

Total cost: $510 CAD (about $320 USD)

For what its worth, the valve cover polish was about half the price the other shops quoted, but it turned out TERRIFIC! I can hardly wait until I actually have the car back together enough to have it back on the engine.

HTH

 

[kwilford]

Graham,

It seems kind of silly to have to send your chrome all the way here, but if it is cheaper, then whatever! Are you sure that there aren’t cheaper places close to home? My brother is in Cambridge (near Kitchener) and has restored a couple of Austin Healy’s; I will ask his advice as to where to get chrome plating done back in the centre of the universe. I mean Ontario.

If you want to check the place here out, it is called:

Advance Plating Ltd.
#6 – 1735 Brier Park
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1C 1V5

Toll free (might work from Ottawa) 1-800-690-6939
Phone: (403) 527-1000
Fax: (403) 527-0494

I dealt with the Calgary rep whose name is Mitch, but if you call them directly, they should be able to help you. I can’t recall her name, but the manager/owner (?) is a lady, and she might even remember my work (tell her it was done on invoice # 5714C) since they probably don’t do many Opels.

Keith

 

[kwilford]

My big brother in Ontario responded about chrome plating options down there. I think Graham got this directly, but I will copy it for the benefit of any Opel'ers in the southern Ontario region. Oh, and the picture below is of his '65 AH 3000 BJ-8 on a rotiserrie, and the next one is the current status.

Cost of chrome is directly related to the quality of the base piece and the level of finish you want. The most popular chrome place for show quality is Cambridge Chrome (1-800-288-5530). They are not cheap, but their quality is good. I understand the Plating House in Concorde (416-661-3964) is good quality but less expensive.
I have been taking my chrome to a place in London called Superior Plating. I do not have their phone number at home. They only plate existing surfaces. They do not straighten or repair. Their price is half of Cambridge Chrome, but they do not do show quality.
Hope this helps,

Laurie.

 

[kwilford]

And this is COMPLETELY off topic

 

[kwilford]

Chome Plating in Canada

Graham,

I think you looked into the Ontario chrome shops that my brother in Cambridge recommended, and they were too expensive. But if you get your parts on a bus ASAP to Medicine Hat, Alberta, the place I dealt with (Advanced Plating Ltd.) was very reasonable. But even they took a couple of months, so which ever way you go, time will be of the essence. But they get almost all their work from a distance (Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon), so it shouldn't be a big deal to get parts sent to them from Ottawa.

The contact I dealt with there was Sharon, and she can be reached at (403) 527-1000 (#6 1735 Brier Park Road N.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1C 1V5). If you remind her that she did my plating in January 2002, she might be able to get you a ballpark quote. Condition of the parts play a big role in the price. Mine were all straight and fairly rust-free, and only needed to be ground down and re-plated. Dents, bends, and corrosion will cause the price to jump BIG TIME. While the work isn't "show quality", it looks perfect to my eyes. Certainly worthy of the rest of the work I have done, and maybe better.

For comparison, here are the prices I paid for plating at Advanced, which was about two years ago, so you should get a quote, although that might be more of an "estimate". Maybe they can quote from e-mailed photos? It may be worth asking. These prices are all in Canadian dollars, and included shipping from Calgary to Medicine Hat and back (about 300 km each way).

Front Bumper: $175
Two rear bumpers: $110
Four "bumperettes": $140
Polish the valve cover: $65 (looks GREAT, just ask John McInnis)
Polish the thermostat housing: $20

So, all in, it cost me $510 plus GST. And remember, no Provincial Sales Tax here in the land of the free!

HTH