MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Rechroming

I just obtained a virtually perfect grill shell/nosepiece that needs rechroming. I have used NuChrome in Mass. in the past- great straightening/finish, but the chrome was a touch yellow. Any suggestions?
George Butz

I personally heven't tried thses guys, but someone on the BBS recommended them.

http://www.paulschrome.com
Joe Cook

George: Sure it was chrome? They may have left off the last step. You could have just got nickel which is a yellow cast. The chrome layer does give it a blue tinge.

Chris
Chris Couper

I am looking for a plater as well. Heard good things about NuChrome from a Mustang owning friend, but have also heard about a place in western Mass, (Holyoke, Chicopee?) D and B Plating, or something like that, that supposedly does a real nice job. I'm in central Mass, so anything within reasonable travel time would be of interest. Anybody have any recommendations?

Pete W.
Pete Whelan

Pete,

We have used:

D & S PLATING CO
102 Cabot Street
Holyoke, MA 01040-0607
413-533-7770

Speak with Mickey Dupuis. The quality of the work is outstanding. Each piece we have had chromed looks like a jewel. Replating is expensive.....

Larry
Larry Shoer

I have used Martins of Philadelphia.
Front shell, nose piece and cap for the TF.
Expensive , but beautiful. Definitely a showpiece.
Dan H. 54 TF.
Dan Hanson

I just got my parts back from Frankford Plating in Philadelphia. The price was not bad (if you've shopped for plating), and the parts look outstanding. It did take 4 months though; this is the busy season. But the work is superb.
Ask for Jon Barger. They have a website at
www.frankfordplating.com/

Let them know I sent you. I have no relationship to this company, but am very pleased with their work.

Ira
Ira Spector

I bought my fog lamps from different venders at MG meets. They look absolutely identical, except that the chrome on one looks pale, almost yellow, in comparison to the rich, deep chrome color on the other. There is a difference, although not really obvious unless one looks closely at the two together. Are there different processes used in chrome plating?

Steve Markman
50 TD
R Markman

I know this is a loaded question but here goes. What can I expect to pay to have a TF windshield replated. It's in very good condition no heavy pitting or scratches.
Dan H.
Dan Hanson

My windshield cost about $700.00 this past winter. Had some problems with Nu-chrome. It may have been a communications problem but they were(are) hard to contact or get a straight answer from. Tom
Thomas McNamara

Dan,

Had my windshield done in May. Including the 4 pieces of the frame, 2 side supports, and 2 cowl brackets. The price was $370.00.

Other pieces were:

Radiator shell - $300
false rediator nose - $30
Radiator cap - $25
Bonnet center strip - $100
Dash center piece - $45
Handbrake lever - $45
horn button & ignition switch bezels - $10ea

I used a local shop in Cincinnati. The quality was very good, but not perfect.

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford - TD 27621

It's worth asking your plater to strip off the chrome on original pieces and hand them back to you for inspection and remedial work before returnig for polishing and plating. It would be a very special plater who would knock out all the dents and repair screw threads and head slots etc. Many plating shops try to reove minor dents with the polishing mop and this can leave items very thin. It is quite satisfactory to repair thin or dented brass with soft solder just make certain the plater puts on a good thick undercoat of copper. Need to be careful with the polishing though or you will wear away the solder preferentially to the brass and leave a ridge.


Jan T
Jan

Thanks to all I'm expecting about $700. Just wanted to get a feel.
Evan those prices seem pretty reasonable. I take it when you say very good you're not talking about show chrome.
I have found a plater that will give you a no. 1(the best) , 2 or 3 finish. The no. 1 being flawless and guaranteed not to pit. to a no.3 with some visible polishing marks. Of course the price varies with the finish.
Dan H.
Dan Hanson

Dan,

I could only find one flaw on my chrome. On the windscreen frame pieces, the electrodes were connected inside the channel very close to the edge. There was a slightly discolored spot around the connection. It's nearly impossible to spot with the windscreen together, but I know where it is. I would rate it 1.5.

Also, all of the pieces I listed were brass or bronze. (except the handbrake.) As I understand chrome, these pieces are less likely to pit than steel. (not mentioning pot-metal.)

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford - TD 27621

Like Tom, I used Nu-Chrome. I will not use them again. It's hard to get a straight answer out of them, as far a time goes... and of course they were late. I needed my windscreen frame back to make it to GOF 74 and told them I was coming down for the parts, done or not. They were cutting the wire off the parts when I arrived.

My feeling is they use a bait and switch tactic to get you to send your parts to them for "inspection" if you run into them at a show, they will throw a lowball figure at you, but tell you they need to see the parts first, when the parts arrive, the price goes up, but they already have your parts, and you say "whatever... just do it"

Maybe this was my first trip to a chrome shop, but I wasn't too impressed. There was a wall of little baggies with all sorts of pieces in the baggies, this was their "lost wall" it was interesting, because I could pick out peices that would have gone to a T series car... and I knew the owner was pissed. Gas caps, door handles, etc.

My suggestion for anyone would be to lay out all the parts they are sending to a chromer and take pictures, then make a copy and send the pictures with the order, that lets them know, that you know what you sent...

The other idea I had was to find someone who does alot of business with a chromer and send your parts in through them... You would get a better price and faster turn around... I have yet to find this mythical person, but it would be someone in the business of selling refurbished bumpers or hubcaps.

There are also alot of site I found on the web that try to dispell the myths of chroming.. like chrome, show chrome, triple plate chrome, etc. It all comes down to the preparation... the process is the same. You either get decorative chrome or you get plumbing chrome.

Blair
Blair Weiss

This thread was discussed between 27/06/2003 and 01/08/2003

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.