What do you pay for plating?, Got a quote that seems kinda crazy Options

[bbrock]

Finally got a quote from a plating company recommended by one of our respected vendors. It seems a little nuts though. I have about 50 lbs. of clean parts that need either yellow cadmium or yellow zinc. Another very small batch in black zinc. They asked me to separate out hardened and non-hardened parts because they only bake the hardened stuff, and send pictures. I did that. The hardened yellow amounts to about 2 lbs. of parts. The black zinc, maybe a pound. They also said they'd let me know if yellow zinc would be cheaper. Here's what I got back:

Black Zinc Plate and Bake 14 hours at 400 F. Group lot
$115.00

Yellow Cadmium Plate Group
$200.00 lot

Yellow Cadmium Plate and Bake
$ 215.00 lot

$200 for the main batch doesn't seem bad, but having to separate out sure adds up for a small amount of additional hardware. I'm just wondering if this is typical of what others are paying. I may just plate and bake the hardened stuff myself but man is that a PITA. Here's what will be in each of those lots:

Black Zinc baked $115


Yellow Cad no bake $200


Yellow Cad bake (except for the hose clamps which will be moved to the no-bake per recommendations and I just noticed a few other pieces that shouldn't be in there) $215

[914Sixer]

Last I had done, Yellow cad here is $95 for 1st 50lbs

[gandalf_025]

Are you dealing with the actual plating company
or a middle man that does prep work and then sends it out to plate?

I called a car restoration company near me and got the name of the plating company they use.... you can try that....:you can ship via USPS flat rate boxes.
Shouldn’t be that expensive.....

[Chi-town]

I'm trying out a new place, they did 600+ pieces for $185 gold zinc, silver zinc, and black zinc.

[bbrock]

Are you dealing with the actual plating company
or a middle man that does prep work and then sends it out to plate?

I called a car restoration company near me and got the name of the plating company they use.... you can try that....:you can ship via USPS flat rate boxes.
Shouldn’t be that expensive.....

Actual plating company. It's the same one PMB uses in SLC and is about the closest one to me. I'll get the name of the place my neighbor who restores cars uses. He said he sends stuff somewhere in CA but didn't remember the name off the top of his head. Thanks for confirming this is high. And any recommendations welcome!:beer2:

[mepstein]

It would be a gift on the east coast. Nobody does it here.

[Chi-town]

@mepstein the guy I'm trying out is in Wisconsin, that's a bit closer to you. I'll let you know how it looks when it gets back to me.

[mepstein]

@mepstein the guy I'm trying out is in Wisconsin, that's a bit closer to you. I'll let you know how it looks when it gets back to me.

I’m in Delaware. I’ll probably have to ship no matter what.

[Freezin 914]

@mepstein the guy I'm trying out is in Wisconsin, that's a bit closer to you. I'll let you know how it looks when it gets back to me.

What is the name of the place in Wisconsin?

[gandalf_025]

Call P. Russel and Company in Ipswich Mass.
and ask who they use.. They told me a few years ago but I
forgot now..
Also, I googled “zinc plating in Massachusetts” and got a few
names from those people....

[rudedude]

I had 12 caliper halves and a few other misc pieces done and I didn't make the $50 minimum. Eco plating in minneapolis mn

[bbrock]

@mepstein the guy I'm trying out is in Wisconsin, that's a bit closer to you. I'll let you know how it looks when it gets back to me.

I wonder if it's the place @mb911 uses. When I was looking for recommendations before, he said he has a place local that is reasonable.

[johnlush]

Might also check with Shaun Budka at Tru6. He's in Watertown, MA. No idea how his prices stack up but seems to do quality work.

[914_teener]

Cadmium Plating and Not yellow zinc?

Have him quote the ASTM spec. or MIL spec.

[bbrock]

Might also check with Shaun Budka at Tru6. He's in Watertown, MA. No idea how his prices stack up but seems to do quality work.

@raynekat used him and I checked into it early on. He does fantastic work but mucho dinero. His service is cleaning and prepping the parts then working closely with the platers for a perfect finish. I've already done spent over a hundred hours doing the prep.

Cadmium Plating and Not yellow zinc?

Have him quote the ASTM spec. or MIL spec.

If you are referring to the quote I posted, that's for actual cadmium except for the black zinc. I just told him a preferred cadmium but not if zinc would be cheaper. His first response indicated any price difference depended on the condition of the parts. After seeing the pics, he quoted me zinc. To be honest, communication has been a little frustrating. Nice guy, but I think he's a little too busy to deal with my small potatoes.

Still, I didn't think $200 was horrible for a large batch in actual cadmium. It's the having to pay the whole separate lot charge for the smidgen of parts that need to be baked that is the killer. Then another lot charge for the even smaller batch of black zinc.

[gandalf_025]

Shaun is a middle man that does additional prep
work sends the parts out to plate and he does a final
polish of parts...
And his prices reflect that.
If your Looking to pay at the top level,
check with him...

[914_teener]

Might also check with Shaun Budka at Tru6. He's in Watertown, MA. No idea how his prices stack up but seems to do quality work.

@raynekat used him and I checked into it early on. He does fantastic work but mucho dinero. His service is cleaning and prepping the parts then working closely with the platers for a perfect finish. I've already done spent over a hundred hours doing the prep.

Cadmium Plating and Not yellow zinc?

Have him quote the ASTM spec. or MIL spec.

If you are referring to the quote I posted, that's for actual cadmium except for the black zinc. I just told him a preferred cadmium but not if zinc would be cheaper. His first response indicated any price difference depended on the condition of the parts. After seeing the pics, he quoted me zinc. To be honest, communication has been a little frustrating. Nice guy, but I think he's a little too busy to deal with my small potatoes.

Still, I didn't think $200 was horrible for a large batch in actual cadmium. It's the having to pay the whole separate lot charge for the smidgen of parts that need to be baked that is the killer. Then another lot charge for the even smaller batch of black zinc.

I think that is a great price for Cad.

I was thinking that he might tell you it.s Cad and then plate yellow zinc for that price. That is why I posted that.

[johnlush]

I was not aware of that. Thanks for the clarification.

Shaun is a middle man that does additional prep
work sends the parts out to plate and he does a final
polish of parts...
And his prices reflect that.
If your Looking to pay at the top level,
check with him...

[mb911]

I was not aware of that. Thanks for the clarification.

Shaun is a middle man that does additional prep
work sends the parts out to plate and he does a final
polish of parts...
And his prices reflect that.
If your Looking to pay at the top level,
check with him...

To clarify tru-6 does allot in house but plating he sends out.. He preps everything. He does all the Cerakote in house, he does lock rekeying in house.

As to plating I use finishing and plating services in Kenosha Wisconsin. If you look at my build thread everything was done there except for my bumpers which Oscar did.

[mb911]

Also a side note no one to my knowledge is really doing cad plating it is zinc yellow..