[FWDLK] Central Plating / El Monte California

["Ed Dea" <Ed_Dea@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Josh,

I have been dealing with Central Plating for the last 10+ years.  I have had
their help in restoring the chrome and stainless on a 64 Dart Convertible as
well as my current project a 56 Fury.  He is a local vendor to me and that is
one reason I choose them.  I drive and drop off my stuff personally.  I have had
Mike at Central Plating redo items which were not up to standards. You have to
watch him like a hawk.  Freight will kill you if you have to ship it back for a
redo.  When I pick up my items, I go through every piece right then and there.
I do not leave with the part until I am satisfied that he can't do any better.
Yes, like any vendor out there, he has lost some parts on me. Yes they have
damaged some of the pieces I have left.  He lost two complete sets of Plymouth
letters for my car.  Are they perfect, NO,  but for me at least when I yell at
them it is face to face and not over the telephone 2000 miles away.  My advice
is to find some one local to you that specialises in TRIPLE CHROME PLATING.  If
you are unsure about them, test them with a couple of pieces to gauge their
work.

Here some information about PLATING you should consider.
On my 56 tail light housings for example, the original chrome parts were pitted
pretty badly.  If I had sent these to be replated, all I would have gotten back
would have been nice shinny chrome with pit marks.  Re-chroming will not cover
up PITS. You have to have a good base to get a nice finish.  It is like painting
a room in your home.  Painting without patching the holes in the walls will
leave marks where the nail holes were.

To fix that problem, first I looked for NOS.  When I couldn't find all the
pieces I needed, I found primered/painted tail light housings and had them
chromed.  It is the identical housing and casting number but on the low end
Plymouths for 56, they were painted body color instead.  Finding a pit-free or
as close to pit-free housing/trim piece is the KEY.

The only other way is to have the pits filled with lead.  This process is
expensive but if you must have a smooth mirror like finish, it is your only
option left at this point.

Hope this helps
ED
56 Fury
64 Dart Conv


---------------------- Forwarded by Ed Dea/LONG721/CompUSA on 07/27/99 11:39 AM
---------------------------


Joshua Ackerman <jackerman@xxxxxxxxxx> on 07/27/99 11:21:09 AM

Please respond to Joshua Ackerman <jackerman@xxxxxxxxxx>

To:   L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
cc:    (bcc: Ed Dea/LONG721/CompUSA)
Subject:  [FWDLK] Central Plating / El Monte California




Has anyone on the list had ANY experience with Central Plating in El Monte?
I have seen their ads in Hemmings and in the local papers, but have heard
nothing about them. Any info would be appreciated.. Thanks

                                  Thanks,
                               Josh Ackerman
                          The1955PlymouthHomePage
                         WWW.Shokstop.com/plymouth