I'm looking for some feedback from members who had their '68 Charger tail lights refinished.

I haven't had much luck with most of the parts I've sent out in the past.

Paul's Chrome Plating: All the parts looked "goldish", as if not enough nickel was applied.

Cambridge Custom Chrome: Supposedly pot metal specialists, when my parts were returned, it looked like they took a grinder to remove the pitting, waves and heavy loss of detail.

I'm thinking of trying Advanced Plating in Nashville, TN.

I've been searching for the best possible cores to send out but I'd like some assurance as to whom to send them to.

If you have close-up pictures of your restored parts, please post them or e-mail 'em to John@Kufrin.biz

Thanks

Are you aware that Mike Ross @ BEA has reproductions that are very nice?

http://www.beaparts.com/list_items.aspx?body=B&cat=E&subcat=8

Rechroming potmetal is always a crap shoot & parts that where exposed to years of exhaust fumes are even more likely to blow apart when they are stripped... Mike sells parts separately or complete assemblies...

They look pretty good.

I've strived to keep the restoration parts OEM and American made.

And, the tail lights are the most notable part of the car, IMO.

I'll die hard.

Well than I suggest you start searching for the absolute best cores you can find, As I mentioned & I'm sure you already know potmetal can be a problem & those taillights are a nightmare.. I've had a few sets all broken down, they aren't the best quality potmetal (if there is such a thing) to begin with & exhaust fumes don't help... Good Luck..

Thanks.

I seen a refinished set when I went to Carlisle in 2000.

Even though the plating process softened the edges a little, overall, they looked incredible. Good cores are the key to success.

The guy mentioned that care was taken as to how long they spent in the stripping tank. The copper plating was applied and any imperfections soldered, then back to the copper dip, and so on.

I just wish there was a local place in Raleigh that did chrome plating. I'd do the filling of the imperfections with solder after the copper plate, the filing, detail polishing. I'd make the trips, back and forth, for the copper, nickel, and chrome dipping.

It's the time spent in labor that's the killer and what makes it so expensive.

Even when we had a local plater I couldn't get him to work with me on projects like that.. "you plate it & let me do the detail work" I'd drop stuff off for stripping before doing anything further & when I stop by to pick the parts up they've used a sander to removing the stuff the tank didn't take off... And of course they destroy the detail of the parts... Good platers are expensive... Cause they are worth it...