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Chrome plating for wheels
Traditional copper, nickel and chrome plating for automotive and motorcycle wheels, plus bumpers, window trim, valve covers and boat railings.
The process
Every wheel that comes through our shop goes through the same seven-step, traditional plating process.
1. Inspection
We check every wheel for issues such as cracks, bends and curb rash. If we find a crack or bend, we'll contact you first and let you decide whether to repair it. Minor curb rash usually disappears during stripping; major curb rash may need welding.
Want our opinion before you send them in? Text photos of the damage to (323) 538-0553 or email them to stephen@mrchrome.com.
2. Stripping
The finish your wheel arrives with determines how we strip it back to its raw base metal. It may be paint stripped, chrome stripped, or both.
3. Polishing
A combination of semi-automatic and detailed hand polishing removes the imperfections that would otherwise show through the chrome. Afterward, the wheel is bathed and rinsed.
The face and outer lip are always polished. For an extra charge, we can also polish and plate the inner barrel, the area behind the face, for a finish that shines all the way through. Ask us to quote it both ways.
4. Chemical etching
The wheel is bathed in chemicals that etch the surface, preparing it for plating.
5. Copper plating
Copper plating fills imperfections in the aluminum surface. The wheel is then buffed and polished again, and another bath washes away the polishing compounds so the nickel and chrome adhere properly.
6. Nickel
Layers of semi-bright, bright and microporous nickel create a corrosion-resistant base. The nickel is also what gives chrome its super-shiny, mirror look.
7. Chrome
Finally, the wheel is dipped in the chrome solution. After a rinse, it's inspected and cleaned one more time. Your wheel is ready!
Getting your wheels to us
Local to Los Angeles? Drop your wheels off at our shop, or let us pick them up and deliver them back when they're done.
Need the wheels and tires taken off and the vehicle put on jack stands? Reach out and we'll talk through the options.
Not local? Ship them to us. For a shipping estimate, send us the box dimensions and weight. We ship with FedEx at commercial rates that are usually better than what you'd pay on your own.
Need boxes? Your local tire and wheel shop usually has sturdy extras they're happy to give away. Home Depot, Lowe's and Walmart are good backups. If one box doesn't feel like enough protection, double box.
Processing time
Most orders are finished in about 4 to 5 weeks.
In a hurry? RUSH service cuts that roughly in half, to 2 to 2.5 weeks, for an additional charge. Contact us for pricing.
Warranty
Every chrome plating job is backed by a 12-month limited warranty.
Pricing
Every job is quoted individually, based on:
- Type of wheel (automotive, motorcycle, etc.)
- Aluminum or steel
- Wheel diameter and width
- Polishing the face (always included)
- Polishing the inner barrel (optional)
- Disassembly and/or assembly (two piece or three piece wheels)
- Bend and crack repairs needed
Request a free quote and we'll get back to you with a price.
Ready for chrome?
Tell us about your wheels and we'll send you a price.