Re-chroming service in New England? (2020)

Jul 26, 2009
291
. . .
Thinking about having our winches re-chromed in the off season (Barient). Does anyone have direct/recent experience with a local shop for re-chroming/knurling winches? I can find 'chrome' shops in the region but they seem to be more hot rod/motorcycle oriented. From what I've researched, knurling sounds like a bit of an art.

I did a search, but the last post I found was from 2013 and apparently w/o resolution.

Thanks
 
Apr 8, 2010
2,086
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
What with older chroming shops closing up due to modern environmental regs, you may have to do some searching. A few months ago I had a chrome bronze deck plate rechromed, and found that the closest shop, in my city, from a decade ago, had closed.

Thanks to the 'net, I found another one, replete with mirror-polished bumpers, out in the less-regulated suburbs. Of course I did not need knurling done.
By the time you get the whole machining and chroming bid together, you may find that it's cheaper to buy a pair of new winches at the spring WM 2-for-1 Lewmar winch sale, which they seem to have every year for a few days. That was how I upgraded our OEM size 30 winches to a pair of 40ST. It's great to have new ones!
Good luck!
:)
 

cptjak

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Apr 13, 2010
21
CS 36 T Channel Islands Harbor
You can't power coat winches the plastic paint will burn off from line pressure and heat.
 

cptjak

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Apr 13, 2010
21
CS 36 T Channel Islands Harbor
ceramic coting and power coating are too different material's
Ceramic is for high temperature exhausts like headers power coating is basically powered paint
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,158
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
ceramic coting and power coating are too different material's
Ceramic is for high temperature exhausts like headers power coating is basically powered paint
What is "power" paint.
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,810
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Thinking about having our winches re-chromed in the off season (Barient). Does anyone have direct/recent experience with a local shop for re-chroming/knurling winches? I can find 'chrome' shops in the region but they seem to be more hot rod/motorcycle oriented. From what I've researched, knurling sounds like a bit of an art.

I did a search, but the last post I found was from 2013 and apparently w/o resolution.

Thanks
Schaefer Marine had our windlass re-chromed two years ago, check with Joy. They do some amazing work.
 

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,796
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Gold plating, I have to think about that.
It'd be pretty ;).

These guys have been around for a long time. I've known people restoring antique cars with chrome bumpers being done there. As FastOlson said, It becoming harder and harder to find chrome platers because of environmental issues.
POLISHED CHROME FINISH
This finish is used for durability and eye appeal. At South Shore Plating Co., Inc. we use triple plating process of copper, nickel and chrome. The use of nickel promotes better color and wear, nickel also promotes rust resistance. Each piece to be plated is polished to a mirror finish between operations.

I believe the knurling might need to be done prior to chrome plating by a machine shop tooled for that diameter. I'm not sure you'd find a single source to do both.
 

RitSim

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Jan 29, 2018
453
Beneteau 411 Branford
I would find out for sure but the knurling is most likely done before plating and could be done by a machine shop. Chrome plating can be brittle and post-plating knurling would be damaging to the plating. BTW, I have used Reliable Plating for work stuff for years and they were reliable. I've not heard of it being used but what about electroless nickel? Slightly different finish color but super plating and corrosion protection.
 

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,204
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Electroless nickel is not very wear resistant.

dj