Baltimore Chrome?

[i82much]

Anybody used these guys, how'd it go?

http://www.baltimorechrome.com/polishing_plating.php

[Brian Baker]

Took 13 pieces to them. The guy at the counter says 2 weeks, 3 weeks tops. I get a call 5 days later telling me to come in and pick the pieces up the next day, anytime after 10am. I show up at 10:30 and only 3 pieces are done, but they look nice. I ask where the other pieces are and I'm told I wasn't expected so early. I reminded him that I was told yesterday they were ready, and that it's 10:30...I'm actually late!

It took 2 more weeks for the other pieces to be done. When I went to pick them up, there were still pits in many of the pieces. I left them to redo. Three more weeks go by and the pits are still there. I'm furious. I tell the counter jockey to get the boss. He comes out and explains he did all he could to get the pits out. I point out that the pits are in the same places and it looks like the pieces weren't even replated. He insisted they were replated, and stated he couldn't grind on them anymore, feeling it would weaken the parts. I then told him this is something that could have been brought to my attention 3 weeks prior when they told me they could fix them. He says he'll redo these pieces if I grind on them and bring them back. I had Woolford Bros. chassis shop inspect them and they said grinding would be ok and that the plater is out of his mind. It's been 3 weeks since I dropped them off, and I'm still waiting.

After that second trip, I finally unwrapped the other pieces...something I should have done before leaving their shop, but since the first 3 pieces looked good, I neglected to. Well, they have pits left in them too.

I would not recomend them to anyone. First and foremost, their customer service sucks. Secondly, their prep work sucks. Unless you bring a flawless piece to them, it WILL be flawed after they plate it.

I'm taking my pitted pieces to A-1 Plating to be redone...they're at 410-327-5552.

[65Tiger]

Let me chime in on this one.

I dropped off a GTO remote mirror to be chromed on 2-28-06. The guy at the counter told me 6-8 weeks.

I called at the 7 week mark and they said next week. I called every other day since then and was told the same thing "check back next week because it's pot metal". It is now 6-29-06 and still do not have the mirror. I had to pick up the base (not chromed, just stripped) so I could prefit and drill the holes before my car goes to the body shop. This was last week. I need to take the base back to be finished. Needless to say I'm pissed. 16 weeks and still not done.
Also I dropped off my top door reveal moldings to be polished on 3-20-06. I called and called waiting for them to be done. I kept being put off. I then called 2 weeks ago (now 12 weeks) they said three of the four are done but they were having troubled with one.
I called last week to find out what is going on and they told me they wrapped the drivers side door molding around the polishing wheel ruining it. I said these moldings are hard to find in good shape, but he said they ordered me one to replace it. I got thinking the next day about where did they order it, they don't make repro and wasn't sure if he even knew my year or type of car. I called the next day and they told me the owner has been doing this for 16-20 years and knew it was for a 65 GTO drivers side door. When I picked up the mirror base last week they gave me the three pieces that were finished. They were still waiting for the piece he ordered.
I don't have a good feeling. The three pieces they finished were quite nice, great shine. But not worth a 12 week wait for polishing.

So I am still waiting for my mirror after 16 weeks and still waiting for my fourth molding piece after 12 weeks to arrive and then be polished.

Plus they are expensive, to rechrome a bumper they want $600 where I can send them to TriCity for $400.

I will never use them again and I do not recommend anyone else to use them either.

[Brian Baker]

They are actually owned by a local lawyer, who likely knows nothing about cars. The guy with the experience that works in the back just runs the place and does the plating.

[perryka]

I'm looking for a chrome shop in the DC area. Where is A-1 Plating located?

[Faustmill]

There is Metro Plating in Kensington, MD just outside of DC. They do not like pot metal but will take it. They will grind the surface but will not fill pits so unless the pits are shallow, you will still have the pits (only improved) when you get the piece back. The parts they have done for me have been OK, but less than top quality. If you want top quality, contact Paul's Chrome in Evan City, PA 800-245-8679. I sent Paul's a pitted 67 remote mirror and could not believe how good it looked when I got it back. All pits were filled and it was perfect. It could not have looked any better. I am sure there are other top notch rechromers but Paul's is a winner. They ain't cheap.

[GTOnly70]

$600 to rechrome a bumper is freakin' ridiculous. $400 is high too.

[sandmanjoe]

Paul's chrome told me 1800.00 to do both bumpers on my 65.....

[428PHIL]

Northstar Plating in Minn. did my front and rear bumpers from my 66 LeMans for $850. They look great, won't hesitate to use them. Note: they only do bumpers, chekout thier web site for info.

[winbub]

I looked into Baltimore Chrome for both bumpers. I went to their shop first to look at their work and I wasn't impressed, particularly for the price of $400+ per bumper. Never went back.

I took my bumper cores to Tri-City, both bumpers for $600+. Tri-City in the best...unbelieveable work. I highly recommend them.

[DPlum]

They gave my bumpers to the wrong customer 3 weeks later I got them and there chrome is shi-