Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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New on the Street

January 3, 2008

Hello I'm curently in Iraq serving our Country as a Infantryman 1CAV DIV. I have been saving all my funds to take my custom bike shop to the next level. My business partner and I have chosen to move out the city limit and do a full fabrication and chrome center. We are not educated in the area of chroming or making parts. We want to make everything billit. So I am here to get some help. I have read all the blogs and you guys sound very educated. HELP HELP HELP

we are starting from the ground up new building and all. We are open to all advise, help, words of wisdom, contacts, ext.

in starting out fresh, what is the best machine to get -- what is the best chrome system to get

Raymon Miles
- Killeen, Texas

Ed. note: I think you'll find our Chrome Plating Tutorial to be a good quick intro to the subject. Thank you sincerely for your service to your country, Raymon -- hopefully people will try in small ways to return a tiny piece of the favor when you get back.

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January 9, 2008

1. It would take several long books to cover everything you need to know.

2. You should hire a consultant to help you.

3. It will cost four times as much as you think...maybe ten times.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina

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Decorative chrome plating is as much a black art as it is science. You do not just buy a "machine" and plug it in. It takes a foreman with years and years of quality experience.
The biggest cost will be environmental compliance. It is a bear and getting worse each year. It has every political entity with their finger in compliance and sometimes they are in direct opposition with each other. Take a look at Orange County Choppers. They send all of their chrome to a professional shop. I am a retired chemist and chrome plater and would not re-enter that market. Move your shop to an area that you can find a high quality job shop that will do your work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
January 10, 2008