Getting some alloys polished/electroplated - help!

**Polyal** · 31-03-2006, 03:40 PM

hey people..

I got these rims the other day, and to I want to get them polished up so they are nice and shiney, and more importantly, different.

I got a qoute from tyrepower today for $240 for 4, does that seem about right?

Is polishing the way to go? In my thread in the project Cars section someone said that electroplating would be the way to go, but I have never heard of it.

Has anyone done this to there rims? Some before and after pics would be great.

Heres a pic of the rims I want changed. Will they have issues polishing the round bits?

Cheers!

**Polyal** · 31-03-2006, 03:41 PM

Oh also the centre caps are an unusual shape, and plastic, it will look retarted with a polish rim and grey caps, can I get them coated to suit aswell?

EA2BA · 31-03-2006, 03:43 PM

The use all size different attachements to do the polishing, about $60 per rim isnt to bad, i have heard of places that charge $50 a rim, that includes acid dip to strip the rim polishing and i think clearcoat.

LUXO_8 · 31-03-2006, 03:43 PM

you should be able to get the centers chromed..........

**Polyal** · 31-03-2006, 04:25 PM

does anyone have any names for these places?

oyob2003 · 31-03-2006, 04:27 PM

I would not let the polishers clear coat them as you do not know what quality clear coat they use as said before an a & b mix is the best as it dries very hard.

SB076 · 31-03-2006, 04:28 PM

Depends what you are after, electroplating is typically chrome plating for rims (there are other forms like zinc etc) However I would definitly stick with someone that does rims. Electroplating can be a bit of a black art and can look great - by the right people (or shocking, by the wrong people) However if they specialise with rims they will know exactly what to do. I would stick with tyrepower they should know

LUXO_8 · 31-03-2006, 04:30 PM

get the rims done by a rim place, and get the plastic caps done by a plastic electroplater

we have a contact at work amongst the business cards, will get you their details monday

oyob2003 · 31-03-2006, 04:41 PM

I dont think I would chrome plate them because if you happen to curb them the chrome is gone, but if you get them highly polished and bump one you can wet and dry the mark out repolish that bit yourself and re coat with clear a lot easier than chrome, I am not saying you are a bad driver but if you scuffed them ten times you can always repair yourself, chrome, replate the whole rim and pay.

oyob2003 · 31-03-2006, 05:00 PM

also once you chrome plate a mag I think it takes the mag away they could be chrome plated steel, why they spray the mags these days, "factory" I think it is for the buyers who dont know how to look after a polished mag, has lost me why buy a diamond ring and paint it silver to me a mag is a mag..............sorry if I have upset anyone.

NZ · 31-03-2006, 07:10 PM

Take the plastic off the rim beforeyou take the photo!!

RACINGdork · 31-03-2006, 10:13 PM

anything that gets "electroplated" or "chromed" to a shiney finish must be polished before hand. get them polished, dont clear coat them. dont touch them with your fingers and wash with warm soapy water and they will stay shiney for ages.
$60 a pop is a good price as they will have to be paint stripped and they look a little time consuming. and if ya want them chromed expect around $300+ a rim, i know bike rims are $500 but they have 2 sides. buy a can of paint stripper and dont scratch too much, take the raw rims back to tyrepower then ask for another quote. tell them some polishing shop will do them for $200