re chroming trim pieces

[Dean.s]

I would like 5 pieces of the roll bar trim re chromed. I think they're aluminium. Lot's of the companies I spoke said no to soft alloys.

Any suggestions for a company in south / mid wales or west (ish) country?

I've never done this before so i am learning as i go along.

[defianty]

These pieces are all anodised and not chromed. I've not heard of anyone having them redone before but hopefully someone will be able to help.

The thin pieces along the bottom of the sail trim are fairly inexpensive and would be cheaper to buy new.

[Dean.s]

I've removed those 2 thin bits. I'll have to look into anodising now that you've given me that info.

[Porky Scratchings]

Not an expert on these things but I can recommend Doug Taylor Metal Finishing in Banwell North Somerset, (BS29 6JN). They have re-chromed my bumpers at approx. £400 each, made me swallow hard but better than anyone else I could find. Very helpful and may be able to polish only to bring those parts back to life.

You can still get the Bottom and Curved Side pieces from Porsche...at a price £104, +VAT each for the side pieces a couple of years ago.

Hope this helps,

[RichardJ]

I had a quote this week for re-chroming a pair of early bumpers for the door handles for my 914. Yes, it was from a company renowned to be one of the best, who do work for many very high end restorations of valuable cars, but I couldn't believe how expensive it was - nearly £1700, which is way beyond my budget. Based on what my friend paid them years ago to to all the chrome (including towel rail bumpers) for his Karmann Ghia, i was expecting under half that.

The same friend investigated getting the alloy trim on his Ghia re- anodised too, but never found anyone who could do it, so bought better used parts. Bright anodising is the process you're looking for, but companies who do it to used parts seemed very few and far between back then.

[Dean.s]

Thanks for the tip. I phoned them today and will email them a picture for a ball park figure before taking the bits over to them.

Not an expert on these things but I can recommend Doug Taylor Metal Finishing in Banwell North Somerset, (BS29 6JN). They have re-chromed my bumpers at approx. £400 each, made me swallow hard but better than anyone else I could find. Very helpful and may be able to polish only to bring those parts back to life.

You can still get the Bottom and Curved Side pieces from Porsche...at a price £104, +VAT each for the side pieces a couple of years ago.

Hope this helps,

[Nick Moss]

Post some pictures of the parts, I am not familiar with 914s but have done hundreds of parts for 911s.

[Mike Smith]

Dean,

We have always bought new parts but I think that you are looking for someone who can carry out `Bright Dip Anodising`

Normal anodising wil come out grey (or coloured if you add a dye)

Start asking around plating companies an see what response you get

[theorangeperil]

Dean,

We have always bought new parts but I think that you are looking for someone who can carry out `Bright Dip Anodising`

Normal anodising wil come out grey (or coloured if you add a dye)

Start asking around plating companies an see what response you get

Hi Mike, can you recommend anyone from your part of the world for chroming?

[Mike Smith]

Nobody from this part of the world

I think Paul has been using Derby Plating lately but it always depends on The Polishing
All the little dings and dents need tapping back in (if possible) -
Long pieces need polishing along their length -
Care must be taken not to round off the edges of a piece that should be Flat -
Care must be taken not to loose the angles where 2 x pieces join each other
and so on and so on

Laying on the Copper and the Chrome is the easy bit

If the company has guys who know what they are doing and have worked on Porsche stuff before then you are in with a chance of 9 to 9.5 out of 10

For pieces that have to be absolutely Perfect we send them to just one guy in The States - Madness isn`t it?

[RichardJ]

Derby Plating is where my quote last week for bumpers and door handles, referenced above, was from.

[Dean.s]

I never got a reply from the places i emailed so i took the trim to s&t in yate. I should have a condition and price report next week.

There was some really nice finished items in their workshop waiting for collection.

[george21]

I had exactly same dilemma who can anodise that trim and couldn't find it.
So I cleaned old anodising off and polished aluminium to mirror finish, job done.
Or buy new ones, it will be not economical to reanodise it i guess.

[RichardJ]

I had a second quote for re-chroming my bumpers and door handles this week. It was very slightly more than the £1700 I was quoted from above, but from a company who gave me a lot less confidence in their ability. They admitted that they wouldn't be able to get one of them perfect. I think I'll be going back to plan A and painting the bumpers, or at least seeing how expensive the rest of the restoration gets before making the decision.

[Mr Pharmacist]

Have you seen the replacement bumpers you can get from the Harrison Group? NMot cheap but cheaper than rechroming!

https://groupharrington.com/product/por ... 6-bumpers/