How to restore the chrome on 60 year old bumpers.

[@AlAl-wu7mp]

I never realized how much work was involved in rechroming a part. These guys are a dying breed.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@dirtmcgirt8240]

Literally. In the states, the epa is putting a hurting on chrome plating shops as well.

[@peterjay1643]

that is the reason why rechroming is so expensive

[@SixPackDan]

I have always complained about the cost of re-chroming. After watching the staggering amount of labor required for a good finish, I will never complain again.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the comment.

[@robertwest3093]

Yep. Ninety percent of a good chrome job is in the prep work. The chrome only looks as good as what is underneath it.

[@TheDrOnsberg]

No pricing is too high for a set like those - now the real cost is restoring the rest of the car to match.

[@johnagauci3223]

Sixpackdan, I was just thinking the exact same thing, WOW, I am very impressed ,

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

@@TheDrOnsberg Absolutely right. You cannot cover up poor prep with plating. It highlights any defects.

[@vettemaniac2237]

Given the chemicals involved, it's evident why this craft is somewhat of a dying art. What incredible attention to detail and fine craftsmanship on display here.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the comment

[@johnking5428]

Gosh this takes me back in time and nothing changed. My ole fella had an Electro Plating business in the 70s. I became a metal polisher at 14 yrs skived off school always getting him into trouble. Retired around 10 years ago . Good memorys cold mornings long days.

[@StepDub]

Me too. Started when I was 19 quit at 40. A tough job combining skills and strength. Watching this I could smell the plating shop and get the taste of the metal dust. :)

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Not many of us polishers and platers left now.

[@maxkuykendall5866]

I am so glad I got to see this video! Decades ago, I was told by an old timer who worked in a body shop that a re-chromed part was actually better than factory new. I always wondered about that until now. I am certain that factory new would never get the time and attention I just witnessed in this video. Beautiful work.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Great point!

[@Valko67]

yes for shure , fully agreed

[@srussert28]

You don't realize. The Factory metal was smooth when stamped. Now they take 80 grit and take out the pits then they go to 120 to take out the grind marks. This company, with this process, will NEVER get you as smooth of a surface as factory. Yes this company pays a huge amount of time grinding out the pits. Just remember the original never had this. I have seen Chip Foose use a grinder way beyond the welds or imperfections. Chrome is like glass. Every scratch or imperfection he, or anyone, now has to be refilled, repolished and brought back to what the factory started with. Look at a stamped piece and at the least it will show some imperfections. Now take 80 grit and see it it helps that Mirror Shine. These guys show the best of the worst ways to show chrome. But just to compare straight across. If you showed all the imperfections across the same square footage... on the hood... of ANY car would you be happy with the chrome bumper finish they JUST showed on ANY show car?

[@frankoattes]

An amazing job, very labour intense and a dying art! These guys keep the old vintage vehicle chrome in tip top condition. Let’s hope they keep it going for the next generation to learn!

[@SeaTravelr123]

Gotta have some youngsters interested in it to keep it going. Very hard to find.

[@dahinsoncoj]

Imagine if this shop was in the U.S. The feds at OSHA, EPA and NIOSH would rain down on this perishing art with all the power if Hunter Biden.

[@georgeg.1999]

Αξίζετε συγχαρητήρια κύριοι ελπίζω αυτή η τέχνη να μην χαθεί.

[@jagvette1]

As an electrician I had to 'fix' power in a number of chroming shops and I have to say when you walked in the shop it took your breath away, screw environmentalists, you guys deserve a medal. It's a lot of work and time is money, this is what people NEED to understand, no one works for free. Also the more complex the shape as on a Jaguar MKII bumper it takes more time, YES I have a MKII that needs both bumpers re-chromed.

[@helpmehelp3009]

So do I AND I AM thinking how much it will cost me? Needs all crome doing DOH!

[@Valko67]

yes your are right , i am plumber and when we undoing the chalk of boilers ,we used acid and than it be came green of the copper oxide deluded in the acid , i remember days after i could taste the cupper in mine mouth , and i even used the acid to my proper experiences to lay a layer of cupper on iron with a 12 Volt battery , and it works very well , but yes , using a mask would be preferable i think , sorry for my English , i am Dutch speaking ;-)

[@DJT_351]

Happy to see craftmanship and quality alive in this age of garbage reproduction we live in. I hope the Queen had a chance to see this fantastic work you're doing.

[@robertdurrant6473]

Now I know why chromeplating is so expensive......excellent work and video.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@chickenNoodleSuper]

Absolutely incredible work there. Thanks for taking to time to show us!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Many thaNKS

[@tahustvedt]

This really demonstrates why it's costly to rechrome old parts today. Not only is it a labour intensive and ardous process, but the tools, machines and chemical baths are expensive to handle, maintain and dispose of safely and legally.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Correct

[@richardhammond1157]

Wow.... I never had any idea there were that many steps in restoring chrome. Amazing job...Great video..

[@casey7256]

I was thinking the same thing

[@gvet47]

Well they started out with a very bad bumper. How long do you look for a better bumper or pay the price on the bad one?🤔

[@Weazelmania]

I had an idea of how it was done but never this in depth. So glad that the Midlands continues to keep these trades and skills alive.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@chrisrichards1339]

A few years back I was able to take a shop tour at Advance Chrome Plating in Nashville Tennessee. I have had a new respect for the work involved ever since. Respect to the chrome platers of the world. You keep our rides gleaming.🙏

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Very cool!

[@j.normanfiorie5699]

I am in the process of restoring a 1968 Chevy El Camino SS 396. it has been a long painstaking process. I need to have the bumpers either replaced or rechromed replacement cost is around $300 each plus tax and shipping costs will probably be somewhere in the range of 400.00 each. after watching this video, I Have A New Perspective and respect for the chrome platers who are working out there. Amazing attention to detail with obviously many hours of Labor. not to mention the dangers of working around these chemicals. my hat is off to all of you professional platers. You are true Craftsman.

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

Thanks for showing us the amount of work required to get the pieces looking so beautiful. Great Job!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Happy you enjoyed it

[@quantumleap359]

We had a chrome shop near us. I watched the process in person, but could not see some of the plating baths as the area required PPE, which they would not issue to customers. Your video shows the whole process, start to finish. Unbelievable amount of labor, and attention to detail. Very good work. Cheers!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@raymondhellberg3600]

Superb work! As others have said it's no wonder such quality work deserves its costs. Thanks for sharing!.

[@skvltdmedia]

That copper plating alone looks so fresh!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Yes the copper looks great

[@janlundquist3132]

very nice video. if it wasnt for the totaly unnessesary music, it was perfect. its the best when you can hear all the machines and other stuff.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@exnjute]

You guys rock...meticulous craftsmen. In can appreciate this because back around 1970, when all US cars had chrome bumpers, I was an insurance adjuster and after a car was 2-3 years old, all that was allowed on an insurance settlement were 'Re-chromed Bumpers. As I recall, those re-chromed bumpers were around $100.00~depending on size.....instead of 'new.' I will note the 'Re-chromers' back in those days were no where near as meticulous as you guys. Some of the 'Rechromes' were pretty rough.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Yes, was much the same here. Chroming is a dying art

[@laiceystone9202]

I've got some chroming to do as part of a restoration project and this video has to be the best advert for a company I have ever seen. That's brilliant work.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Wow, thanks! I hope we are able to help you out with it.

[@jamescorvett]

Ahh, nothing like the smell of plating in the morning. People wonder why its so expensive to chrome plate things. Lots of hard and dirty work going on right here! Great job guys!

[@lozcb1]

Quality work mate , nice to see there some of you still around

[@stevesloan6775]

I find myself watching your video again. I’m polishing cast aluminium at the moment. All the final buffing techniques are top notch!! Great work to everyone

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Fantastic!

[@stevesloan6775]

Haha… watching again to let the basic principles sink in. 🇦🇺🤜🏼🤛🏼😎🍀

[@samrodian919]

The labour involved in this work is astounding! I would hate to have to do that hard work out five or more days a week lol. Well done everyone the results are astounding. I should hope that the car owner would be very appreciative of your work. Presumably the Bristol car was being restored, I hope the restoration is up to your standards. If it was then the car will be a wonder to behold!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the comments

[@baronblimey]

Wow! That was impressive. Thanks for the comprehensive video. When I left school I was training to be a panel beater removing many rusty old chrome bumpers over the years. I have a lot more respect for them now.......

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the comment

[@anthonywilson4873]

Hand and eye co-ordination is at an artistic level.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

You are right, but this job is nothing compared to the job being polished in our video that is coming out at 5:00pm GMT today. Here is a link. It will be live at 5. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pofPeGOIqaaNZ9U

[@donsmith6045]

I never knew how much work goes into this art form! Enjoyed the video!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chrisglennglenn1935]

This is a true art, this is awesome. Now I have a huge respect for these guys. It looks absolutely beautiful

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@insaneAlchemyOfeviI]

This transformation would totally exceed my requirements by a country mile. Beyond Perfectionism ...

[@BillySBC]

Wow just an incredible amount of work and time and equipment to restore these chrome bumpers and items. Much respect. Great video.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Much appreciated!

[@AM-dn4lk]

This was an amazing work. Well done guys. I had no idea it is so intensive and complex.

[@PompeyMatt17]

that was some of the most satisfying 30 minutes I've had...brilliant...you actually made me order new coarse and fine belts 😂

[@breakbollocks9164]

Better than new, good for another 1000 years! Amazing job!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@laurensmith1828]

I had no idea what it takes to achieve the beautiful finish of chrome . Great video!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Glad you liked it!

[@gordonhancock6030]

I can see why chrome plating is so expensive. The technicians are extremely talented and the process is long and complex. Here in the US it is hard to find chrome plating companies because of environmental restrictions.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Same problem here

[@matthewkantar5583]

Is there a way to fill the pits instead of thinning the original part?

[@transmitterguy478]

Incredible! I love watching metal go from scrap to new, great job fellas.

[@jrbs]

As with painting, it's all in the preparation. Very interesting video.

[@sparlin88]

Amazing amount of work to re chrome metal . Beautiful job !

[@mattmorford7489]

WOW, what a process. Very detailed and very nice work

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@alexdasilva11]

Amazing. It's expensive but it's a lot of work. Now i understand that exorbitant prices that we paid for chrome.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks. I was hoping the video would show the huge amount of work needed.

[@frankbailey9542]

It's amazing how someone came up with this process

[@tezsullivan6048]

Thank you, a very informative video, so labour intensive and so many different steps. Amazing work, congratulations 👍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Our pleasure!

[@V8Lounge]

wow this was very interesting. Greetings from germany.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@dinadaughtry8993]

Wow that's some serious high standards, better than the factory for sure, beautiful work

[@flinch622]

Top notch work. No mot was harmed in the course of this video...

[@mahmoudaldbais]

Wow . Wow . Wow Amazing work This is the first time I watched a very long video to the end It's more than a satisfying, interesting and a mesmerising result.

[@Valko67]

whaaw , it's unbelievable how shiny they came out , good job 👌

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you! 😊

[@michelr2521]

Votre vidéo est passionnante, a partir du produit brut pour arriver au produit fini, avec les expliquations des diverses manipulations, valorise ce travail méticuleux et complexe Sans oublier que la véritable écologie, très a la mode, est la restauration et non la fabrication. Merci encored avoir partagé votre savoir faire

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@marceloiannini8199]

Loved this video! Shows in detail the stages and don’t skip on very important in-between cleaning steps! I do some plating and polishing, this is truly top notch! First video without flaws or purposeful skipped steps! You guys deserve A+ Liked and subscribed! Didn’t know about cyanide copper to prepare for acid copper plating. Will dive into that subject! Thanks!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Many thanks

[@ricjames3259]

Hard to find a shop like this in the US...very well done💰

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Wow, thank you

[@mickellis8747]

I once worked as a maintenance fitter for Qantas and part of my job was looking after the plating shop. I think the shop had like 50 tanks and some were 6ft square and 8 ft deep and always rotting out. That kept us employed for years. We had chrome, nickel, zinc, cad, silver, gold, copper you name it.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Sounds like that plating shop kept you busy. That is also why all of our tanks are raised off the ground.

[@JOHNSMITH-if9jr]

they shut down years ago i went to trade school with a few apprentices. in Collingwood Melbourne great times

[@renn5003]

I’m impressed with your job. Can you make a video what is exactly in tanks and how they work. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@keithnoneya]

wow had no idea how complicated and labor intensive a good chrome job was. Thanks for sharing with all of us. Best Wishes & Blessings.

[@gaztipton972]

Excellent video, please keep this dying process alive. I knew from a teenager that linishing and polishing is too much like hard work for most folk. I used to take Triumph motorcycle parts and Jaguar parts to Thackers Polishing and Plating in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. It's an eye opener for many. Thackers sadly closed some years ago and some of the workers transfered to Castle Chrome in Dudley, which I still use ocassionally and recommend to anyone local who needs any polishing/plating. Although many chromed classic parts can be purchased new from the likes of india or the far east at half the cost, they never fit correctly and the chrome is sub-standard. I found it's better in the long term to have original parts re-chromed.

[@Theferg1]

Wow who ever new,!! Great job to all of those guys!! 👍💯

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@rogervondach1238]

An absolutely fantastic job, no two ways about it. However, when I saw the title for this video where it says "restore", I had my doubts. After watching the video, I would call it "re-chrome" or "re-plate" or something like it. Never the less, I am speechless!

[@alirowntree3989]

Brilliant great to watch and see how it's done lot work involved and audio crystal clear 10/10 great stuff 😊

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@greatdaneacdc]

I worked at a chrome shop late 60’s Crazy amount of work to make it nice And really stinks of chemicals!

[@Johnsormani]

So satisfying to watch these skilled craftsmen do their job

[@dandahermitseals5582]

I built and ran a very sucessful chrime polishing business in the early 70s. This is all standard proceedure in the plating business. Dandahermit.

[@rosewood1]

It is still possible to get good plating in Australia. But it's becoming more difficult. Just had my Atlantic redone and repaired. The results are superb. It should be noted that not everything can be rechromed especially if it's been reformed previously. The metal can simply get too thin. Great work here and very labour intensive.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Good to hear it. My dad worked in plating in Australia at the Moonee Ponds Plating Co in the 60's (he was a £10 pom).

[@JOHNSMITH-if9jr]

yes there are still a couple of places in Melbourne

[@cpzmelbs]

​@@ChromeandCarRestorationthat's Awesome! Ive lived in the area for the last 15 years. I can't seem to find any details, I'd be interested to know whether the building is still standing?

[@jayrichardson6872]

Wow wow wow looks fantastic lad’s amazing. You really do turn back the clock 😮😳😜😁👍brilliant process and superb video. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩yep you can certainly deserve 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@miken2716]

As General Melchett said to Captain Blackadder, “ Makes you proud to be British”. Damn fine show!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Don't slouch Darling

[@nicholasnews5983]

First time to see the process to chrome the pumper

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Glad you liked it

[@robertwest3093]

I never would have thought he would be able to work all those rust pits out. He not only worked them out but did so while not making the surface wavy!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Polishing has to be done evenly to prevent ripples.

[@jaredrattray]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, thanks for making it! I have taught myself copper and nickel plating (watts bath) and hot caustic bluing, rust bluing etc, and as you have shown its 99% hard work doing preparation and 1% dipping in chemicals. I have a wonderful old english book 'Metal Colouring by David Fishlock' and its great to see this knowledge is still kept alive in practice. Hope to see more great videos like this, so I continue to learn. Regards from Tasmania.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the kind comments, glad you enjoyed it.

[@mgrella63]

Wow you do Amazing work!! I never knew what was involved in the process! Worth every penny you charge!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for the positive comment.

[@manderson147]

Anyone else notice it was rolling at 100 amps when he put the bumper in the second copper bath? THEN turned it up. Wild

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Yes. Plating is low DC voltage, high ampage.

[@jimeagle5483]

True craftsmen. Cheers from Sunny South Florida.

[@ImStep-by-Step]

This was beyond impressive!!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Many thanks

[@radboogie]

Not sure whether this classes as art, craftsmanship or witchcraft! Beautiful work chaps! 👍

[@johncitizen3361]

Wow incredible attention to detail, great job. Back when I started working in a crash shop as a teenager most cars on the road still had chrome bars etc. and we could order change over bars from a local shop for most models. We would take off the old bars and do any repairs they needed like welding cracks and removing dents and swap them over for freshly chromed ones they had in stock. I don’t think they were as meticulous with the prep though, I would sometimes see grinder marks in areas you wouldn’t easily see when it’s on the car. But they were doing hundreds of them and they weren’t for restorations, just everyday aussie cars that only needed to be as good as they came from the factory 😂

[@StevesConsul]

Very interesting video thanks for showing the whole prosses. You and your team are so skilled and knowledgeable, I hope your business survives into the future with young people continuing your skills.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

I hope so too!

[@rickmcdonald1557]

I also complained about the cost of chroming things but this amount of labor is tremendous and have a better understanding now and will keep my mouth shut when I get something chromed in the future. Thanks for showing us what goes on to have something plated~!

[@gregwaugh8069]

This is a highly skilled trade that requires vast knowledge of electroplating and deft hands to take out all the pitting.

[@bunabuna9287]

Amazing to see the restoration looks amazing 👏

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@pharcouff]

Great video. I love watching craftsmen with the right tools restoring past items back to possibly a bettwe condition that it originally was. I hope your are training the younder generation. It would be a real shame to let this trade die.

[@scottyhughes9179]

An amazing process, bravo guys!!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@adelmansi198]

Very nice professional job. God bless all of you,you are doing amazing work. Thanks from heart. Dr Adel mansi

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Our pleasure!

[@KG72]

👍👍I did myself some chroming on my '71 Karmann Ghia. Small parts, of course and I can vouch that is a lot of work and patience required. Never again😂

[@jaimef2674]

Guys you've done a awesomely job ! Is my first time I see the process of plating crome on automobile bumpers! ❤❤ Jaime from Houston Texas.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Happy you enjoyed the video

[@ST-gp8jh]

Great video! This guy has some mad skills. One certainly doesn’t learn this overnight. I’d gladly pay 300£ per pumper for this level of work around here

[@josephfilm73]

300? Haha. There is no way. Hazardous material disposal cost alone would add a zero onto that.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-2025]

Very interesting. Always heard there was multiple layers involved in Chrome plating. I've also been told I have to watch because there's a shortcut so I can be done it looks fine but it won't look that away too long. Thanks for showing us this process.

[@JOHNSMITH-if9jr]

nickel chrome only, but doing the copper cyanide then acid copper is the best job you can do

[@Kieran46100]

Wow, simply excellent job, thanks for sharing

[@halnywiatr]

Is there no way to deposit metal onto the corroded piece to build up the thickness before all the grinding? That initial abrasion seems to take a lot of the base away.

[@klaxon68]

Looks amazing, so impressed. thanks for making the video

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks for watching!

[@roncj6937]

Wow what a great job i love seeing all the processes in this bumper.

[@meradu2]

Naw I know not to try this at home lol Bravo super nice work Thank you for sharing You can have so much more respect for your bumpers now 👍

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

I appreciate that

[@wchitwood65]

I've always wanted to get into this kind of business. I like your explanation of the steps, just would like to know a little more about how long each step of plating is and why for each step. I'm going to start out small first though, just doing things for myself to gain experience before I get customers. Thank you.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Go for it!. You should try and get yourself a copy of the Canning Handbook on Electroplating (the older the edition the better). This will hold a wealth of information for you.

[@xChromerSatanasx]

Lol impossible, don't bother

[@sms9106]

Cool music too.

[@mattbannan637]

GREAT RESULTS MATES!!!

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Thanks

[@DemopVWgarage]

I love this process, and respect what you guys do :)

[@patbarrett9263]

i really liked the polished copper look.nice work on those old bumpers. i'm surprised you were able to salvage them.

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

You and me both!

[@barkingmouse8152]

I miss chrome bumpers..

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Agreed. It gave cars a touch of class.

[@wesleysmith995]

I impressed. Only thing I would change ( In my opinion) is hand days and buffers. You would have better control, and less fatigue on your workers. They could have the part sitting on a table (sanding, buffing) instead of having to pick the whole part up to sand and buffers. It would be a lot easier for them and you. Either Way, it was AWSOME RESULTS. Only thing I can say , is you could make it easier with the sanding & buffing. Great Job, Nice vid

[@marca5883]

Wow that was a lot of work... Can't imagine doing that every day! Must be a tough life...

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

It is!

[@Onyx408]

Wow awesome dude I’m currently working on a rust covered 29 ford model A roadster never worked on a car before so I’m trying to figure it out but I might need to take it to a body shop to get it off

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

You can do it!

[@grlygirl1264]

Amazing work! I loved watching the process! We are restoring a 1959 Nash Metropolitan...and just dropped off the bumpers for rechroming. The Flying Lady hood ornament will also be done. Have you ever restored one of those???

[@ChromeandCarRestoration]

Yes. Have done a few. A customer turned up in his a couple of years ago. Lovely little cars.