Hello all, looking to plate my valve covers and I saw Eastwood's Tin-Zinc plating system. I was wondering if anyone has tried it & if it comes close to chrome. Also if I do go with traditional chrome plating, does anyone know where I can get it done for a reasonable price. Thanks, Mario.
I have a zinc plating kit from Caswell. It's great for small items, but something like a valve cover has too much surface area to plate with a small kit. The Eastwood kit would be usefull for the valve cover bolts, but that's about all it can handle.
Nothing looks like chrome but chrome. It is expensive. I juts had a set of chome valve covers done and they were $300. I had a nother guy quote me $275 for one.:dollar:
You know Dave, I just think they are a little too greedy when it comes to chrome plating. I mean it's cheaper to buy a new set of wheels than to have them rechromed. There is something wrong with that. They can chrome a set of small block Chevy or Ford valve covers & sell them for $20 bucks but when it comes to a set of covers that aren't too popular they want to rack you over the coals. Back in 1986 I was looking for a place to chrome my 350" covers. A place here in New York gave me a ridiculous quote of $250. for both. I finally found a place in Pomona, Ca. that did it for $60. it may have even been $40. I don't remember. This was a great price even then but now, $300. for a pair of clean valve covers ? Come on ! Well, I'll see if I can find this place in Pomona again when I go out west next time. In the mean time I will keep searching for a better price & will keep everyone updated if I find a place. It comes to a point when too much is too much even when they claim "It's the going price."
When paying for chrome plating these days, you are also paying for the environmental disposal of toxic chemicals. OSHA has recently created compliance standards for hexavalent chromium which drives the price of this service up. The plater, to stay in business, must pass these costs on to the consumer. Thanks, Ken
If I were you I would check out Mexico. Other Cal guys here have said they do that for good prices. Hopefully the drug wars are not too bad near Cal.
Dave, that's a great idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. My cousin through marriage, was born in Tijuana and a few years ago she brought my dad's old bombadier jacket down there for me to get the sheep skin liner, elastic cuffs & waistband, and the leather conditioned. They quoted me a price of $500. here. There they did it for $70. Don't get me wrong I would love to keep my business here in American hands but this is an example of why the common working man buys foreign when faced with this type of decision. As to Ken's post, I realize that the regulation on chemical chroming is a consideration, but a lot of the times these plating companies don't just stop at chroming auto parts. They can chrome anything from a bolt to a shopping cart. I'm sure they are not charging these prices to the big companies so why can't the same prices be passed on to the consumer. A pair of valve covers can be put in the same tank as a set of wheels or shopping carts etc. Thanks , Mario.
