CUTLASS Chrome plating plastic?

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old80cs

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Jun 27, 2013
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Does anyone know of a company(s) the can re-plate a weathered set of headlight surrounds for my ‘80 Cutlass Supreme? I have a passenger side (RH) NOS bezel but I have had no luck finding a driver side (LH) bezel. The car is getting painted and i’d really like to have a set ready to go with the NOS grills I bought. One place I called said he could not do it but said the process is called “electroplating of plastic”. I’ve called several shops in and around MA but have had no luck. Any ideas? Thanks!
 
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69hurstolds

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Be prepared to ship them wherever you go if there's nobody nearby. You get what you pay for with replating anything. Try these guys, as they give you 3 option levels and are likely priced accordingly. You'll have to get them to quote you as it's not a shopping list item, but I've seen their work and their top of the line show chrome is flawless. And yes, they do headlight bezels.

 
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pagrunt

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Sep 14, 2014
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Check out Alsa for spray chrome. Good stuff to use. May not be cheap but cheaper than dealing with a place that can rechrome plastic.
 
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GP403

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IIRC the plastic chrome on our jalopies isn't technically "plated" but just has a sheet of leaf or whatever vacuum formed around it, so when it fails you get that peeling etc.

but yeah, as was stated, there's other options. if you have access to an airbrush...


or not


I know I've seen others but these are the only 2 I can find.
 
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ck80

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IIRC the plastic chrome on our jalopies isn't technically "plated" but just has a sheet of leaf or whatever vacuum formed around it, so when it fails you get that peeling etc.

but yeah, as was stated, there's other options. if you have access to an airbrush...


or not


I know I've seen others but these are the only 2 I can find.
The term everyone is searching for is 'vacuum metalized' where the plating material is, and to oversimplify, essentially vaporized inside a vacuum chamber, then the part is passed through, and the vapor collects onto the part.

60s-80s most interior and later exterior chrome was done up that way.

Which begs the question.... has anyone tried using the chrome vehicle wrap on their parts?
 
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565bbchevy

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Aug 8, 2011
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Probably be costly coming from the UK
 

565bbchevy

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Theres a lot of places that do spray chrome. Even more that hydro dip.
I think a lot of these methods have good results even the DIY stuff my only concern would be how well would it hold up to the elements.
 
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Wageslave

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Sputter coating is another method that may be suited to small run parts.
 
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