Re-plating Brightwork

[Howard100]

Can anyone recommend a company which will replate the brightwork on my Mk2 to a good standard? I live between Liverpool and Manchester so somewhere in the North-West would be ideal.

[JAGAZ]

good luck with that one ,i`ve tried a few places in the north west and got well and truly messed about,Gave up in the end and bought good condition replacements.Good to see another person called Howard,not many of us about.

[ManxNeil]

Hi, Howard,

There are no replating services on the Isle of Man, so I had to send my brightwork to a company in the UK. After using what appeared to be a 'one man band' who did a good job at a reasonable price but had a bad habit of losing some of items sent to him, I then went to Derby Plating Services (derbyplating.co.uk), as they'd been mentioned in a few magazines such as Practical Classics. More expensive than the first chap, but it was a high quality job, which they turned around quickly and, very important to me, I felt able to trust them with the irreplaceable operating handles and escutcheons of my Reutters reclining seats.

Don't know if you'd consider Derby near enough to you, though.

Best regards,

[Howard100]

Gents,

Many thanks for taking the time to respond. Ken Jenkins has recommended one company in Rotherham which, having been in touch, seemed very helpful. The only problem is the three month turn round time (they are obviously very busy). But I will speak to Derby Plating (thanks Neil) and see what they say. Right now I'd consider anything within a days drive near enough! For the record, when I've got the work done, I'll put something, good or bad, on the suppliers list.

Howard Briggs

[Ian3994]

Howard,

You could try Bob Cooper, he lives in Stafford but his workshop is in Coventry. (You can take stuff to his house in the evenings) Prices are reasonable, I've used him a couple of times and had no problems, usually 1-2 weeks turn round.
His work No. is 02476 364004 and Home No. is 01785 212878

Hope this helps, Regards Ian

[jwment]

No idea how good or durable this option is, but it might be worth a try.

www.chromeeffects.co.uk

I've kept the reference, but I'm a long way from worrying about brightwork yet. It does look interesting for plating things that normally aren't, but that's the old custom/hot-rodder coming out in me. I wonder what chrome steel wheels would look like?

Johnny.

[JAGAZ]

While the chrome effects paint is good ,it doesn`t give 100% the same reflective quality of real chrome although the smoother the finish of paint all through the paint process the better the end result.Just look at the pic of the alloy wheel in the gallery to see the finish if you dont keep each stage nice and flat,and remember that it will chip just like normal 2 pack paint finishes because that`s what it is.Very good stuff if done well but in my opinion not for grille surrounds or front bumpers.

[Howard100]

A little over 12 months ago I posted a query asking if anyone knew of a firm I could get the brightwork from my Mk2 replated. (Many thanks to those members who responded).

After long (very long) deliberation, largely because of the prices I was quoted, I entrusted the work to Derby Plating Company of (surprise) Derby.

I finally collected the finished product this week and, for what it is worth, here are my observations.

By and large, if you can buy a new (reproduction) part you otherwise considered having re-plated, do just that as it will be a lot cheaper.

If you must have your original parts on your car or a replacement part is impossible to come by and you have to have a part plated, then Derby Plating produce work of the very highest quality. The finish is impeccable (they even managed to take out some heavy scoring marks from the external door handles which, I understand, is no mean feat. They also turned the job around exactly when they said they would.

In short, Derby Plating produce extremely high quality chrome plating but beware, it will cost you.

[stuarthardy]

Hi Howard

I think this is excellent advice but beware the often poor quality of the reproduction parts.

In restoring my E-Type I have found that repro or replacement parts are mostly inferior and often unusable. This has especially been the case with brightwork, some of which I have returned to the supplier and had my original parts repaired and re-plated.

Regards

[MattK]

Hi
Try ACF Howell in Croft Street Walsall West Mids
I have taken stuff there - and I noticed all CMC's chroming is done there too
Must be good if they use Howell's.....
I found them advertising in an old Jag World from 1994