re-Chrome winches?

[geary126]

Anybody have a good source for re-chromeplating? I have two Lewmar 30s that look more like Lewmar 3.0s

Thanks.

Tom

[sailingdog]

Geary-

It would help if you said where you were located.

[TrueBlue]

As sd implied, rather than crate your winches to send them off to a remote location, I have found it's usually best to find a local shop which does chrome plating.

Check your local directory for auto or motorcycle customizing shops. They provide the most business to replaters and will give you some referrals.

[geary126]

San Francisco Bay Area.

[geary126]

I just got a quote for $175 per, from the local shop. Surely I can do better via UPS ground.

[sailingdog]

In a major metro area, like SFO, you probably have a few companies that do the work. If I were you, I'd check around locally a bit more. BTW, did you call a motorcycle customization shop per TB suggestion. They probably will have a good contact for you.

[svindigo]

You can do better than $175 each. I'd have to check my records but I know I got 12 winch drums from little Lewmar 10's to 55's rechromed for under $600. TB and SD are right, local folks are the way to go. Custom car/bike guys or local industrial folks are less expensive. (Mine in LA did plating for plumbing companies)

[Pub911]

I've used these guys 2x with good to excellent results each time. I can't post their link because of 'post count' limitations...lovely. But put "paulschrome" between www and .com and you've got it.
Be aware their typical customer is a muscle-car or Harley owner, not a sailor. Behave accordingly.

[TrueBlue]

Additionally, most people don't realize the effort that's required to rechrome base metal. I had a quote of 75. each for replating a pair of very large box locks and lever handles for our sliding teak pilothouse doors. I asked: "Why $150.00 for a few minutes work?"

He told me first everything must be disassembled, separating plated metal from non-plated. The old chrome finish must then be ground down to bare shiny metal - in my case bronze, in preparation for the plating process. This is time consuming and requires a level of skill comensurate with the final effect.

Due to this, I would strongly recommend that you remove all loose/detachable parts from the components you want plated. In your case, just bring in the drums and self-tailers (if applicable). Keep all the small parts - pawls, clips, springs, ect., and the spindle, base, fasteners . . . no sense risking loss at the shop.

This will also reduce the estimate - which should only be requested after bringing in the parts. The estimator will quote a high number without seeing the work.

[geary126]

TB, good info. However, the shop I asked (which, unfortunately, about five custom bike shops have since recco'ed) gets a fair number of winches in to do, as the East Bay has thousands of sailboats.

I think it's probably a lot of work, but I'm also pretty sure, they think they've got me over a barrel in this, the (co-) most expensive place to live in the U.S.

Make that a winch drum. And, since he'd done these before, I said, quote just doing the drum. (this is an old school, not s. tailing winch)