Chrome plater nightmare

[widget2k4]

This is how I received my parts back from a chrome plater I used a few days ago
Absolutely no remorse or apologies or anything, in fact they blamed me for not telling them what they were made of? Apparently been in the chrome business for over 20 years and still tried to charge me £200 for the work they had put into them.
I have used this chrome plater for over 4 years and he has done loads of the same parts in the past.
Just a word of warning if you are sending stuff away, make sure they know what they are doing.

[widget2k4]

Another word of warning to anyone who is thinking of getting chrome done.
I got a quote for a Jennings top casting from Easyelectroplating which was 160 including return postage like Polaris had said in another thread. I then got a quote from Pure Gold Plating recommended by penny arcade website, they quoted approx £230 including return postage.
Turns out they are both exactly the same company, what a scam.

I then remembered getting a quote off them for some parts a while back for £250 so I packaged them up and sent them down costing £20 to post, they then told me it was going to cost £450 so it cost me another £20 to get them returned.

[aristomatic]

Problem is, until today, you would presumably, if asked, have recommended them?

It's always amused me that if you have a poor result with a Jennings or other poor alloy mix, platers say it wouldn't happen if it was steel, then the following job on a steel item comes up poor, there's another reason....

I think all platers now have a business statement saying results achieved are based on quality of items presented or similar.

A number of people have told me the only place to get Jennings Chief/Governor parts plated is in the States, simply because their health and safety and environmental legislation is different to European so process or materials produces better results.

I have no idea if this is true or rumour....

I generally only polish Governor top castings and backbonnet.

I'm sorry you have had a bad experience. Hopefully you can begin a dialogue to resolve your issues.

[geordy55]

It would be very interesting to know their explanation, especially if you have used them for the past 4 years.

Anyway, you've just made my mind up for me. I've got a Jennings Governor that a local polishing shop has quoted me £250 - £300 for a mirror finish, £150 - £180 for a shiny patinated finish and £100 for a brushed finish. He's never done a one armed bandit before so I'm going to send them soon and will let you know how I get on.

[widget2k4]

Their explanation was I never told them it was die cast? Don't know how I am meant to know that tbh?

[widget2k4]

I get really good results when polishing the castings also but find after an hour or so later there is little white spots appear everywhere and have no idea why this happens?

[aristomatic]

On your point regarding die cast or not, I wouldnt know either.....

Are they saying that these castings are different to castings you previously sent & plated OK

Again only passing on what I have been told, but governor fluted lower casting was die cast?
But top front casting and back bonnet not die cast? This may only apply to original castings?

[widget2k4]

The parts they said were die cast were the parts from the Hightop which they melted. They were not alloy as they were really heavy compared to normal alloy ones and they had been chromed from new. I presumed they were steel or similar. I sent them to another chromer who said they had put them in hydrochloric acid only for a few seconds which would have caused that. He also said that the first thing they learn in apprenticeship is to identify die cast material as it has to be treated in a different way.

[treefrog]

I wonder why die cast needs to be dealt with differently as I thought the only difference to traditional mould gravity casting was that it is done under pressure and less chance of gas bubbles as such defects for a smooth facing finish. Would of thought the material they are made from is more important, e.g. Zinc, aluminium, tin, copper etc and quantities

Real shame though and I have still yet to ever do chroming......

[aristomatic]

Your earlier comments about quotes.

I know it's not always easy (especially if they are in the States....) but always best to see these specialists face to face to discuss items with actual examples so they can give better hands on evaluation on them, with regards to probable outcome but also giving worse case scenarios too. ANYTHING new to me either part or composition of I ask the boss to have a look at.

However, they are a law into themselves, always a gamble to some extent. But regardless how it came out any reputable outfit would have some kind of resolution offer to incentivise you to return if you had been going for years?

[widget2k4]

That is the worst part of it Neil, no remorse, no apologies, not even a credit note of any sort, only told accidents happen and I ruined their chemicals

[aristomatic]

Not good that. As I said before a law unto themselves.....

If it ruined their chemicals does that mean all my stuff in the same tank was ruined by it.... or will they say on my stuff, these must have been made of poor material that's why came out bad this time....

[badpenny]

I might be 100% wrong here, I often am, ask any of my ex wives and partners.

An ex chromer (he gave up because of H&S/EU regs and associated costs) explained to me you can chrome anything that conducts electricity.
It's all in the preparation, he used gentle buffing as opposed to aggressive bench tools, it keeps the heat down. Often doubtful alloy benefits from first plating in brass, and then more buffing.
He was astonished at corner cutting like dropping the whole lot in tank of acid followed by aggressive polishing by the apprentice.
Excuses about the wrong metal or construction standards often suggest poor methods/throwing away half the time consuming bits of the process.
If he was wrong, then how come everybody in Crewe that knows somebody who works at RR has a beautifully chromed baccy tin in his jacket pocket?

I guess it's like everything ...... if you don't ask, you get what you're given. Car insurance renewal anyone?

[pennymachines]

I'm curious to know which company was responsible.

It would seem they failed to identify the castings as aluminium and damaged them by putting them in the wrong baths. Aluminium requires different chemicals from say brass or steel and some platers don't do it. It has to be plated first with copper or zincate, then nickel and chrome.

I get really good results when polishing the castings also but find after an hour or so later there is little white spots appear everywhere and have no idea why this happens?

I think all the castings in your picture are aluminium alloy pressure die castings. When they're new they have a dense skin which can be highly polished. When oxidation breaks this down, sub-surface porosity is revealed (tiny air bubbles). This leads to further oxidation (the little white spots). Provided it's not too severe, the first plate of copper can bridge this.

[widget2k4]

The same company did me some Jennings castings a few months ago with no problems and even done a complete Chinese front for me which turned out immaculate. I think they have made a balls of it by putting the parts in hydrochloric acid instead of nitric acid to de-chrome them, or his apprentice has if he has one? and just won't own up to it.

I really want to name and shame them but at the moment I am busy trying to sort out a small claim court procedure for the costs of the damaged items through negligence, so may not be a good idea to do so just yet.

[pennymachines]

I think they have made a balls of it by putting the parts in hydrochloric acid instead of nitric acid to de-chrome them

It does look like it.