Chrome plating in Chino for ranch and dairy properties, the hangars and aviation fans at the airport, and families in newer neighborhoods like The Preserve and College Park. Ship your parts to our Oceanside shop, and we'll plate them in copper, nickel and chrome and insure the return.
Farm roots and a famous little airport.
Chino was long known for its dairies, and some farmland still survives on the south side. The Chino Airport is home to an aviation museum full of restored World War II aircraft, and plenty of private restorers rent hangars nearby. Over the last twenty years, new neighborhoods have filled old fields and warehouses have gone up near the 60 and 71.
Let's follow a ranch gate latch. It arrives crusted with dirt and rust. We clean it, take it apart, strip it and grind off the rust. Then we sand until it's smooth. Copper goes on, then nickel, then chrome, each buffed by hand. After a final check, the latch travels back to the ranch.
Chino sends us ranch and dairy hardware, cockpit knobs and cabin trim from hobbyists restoring old airplanes, faucets and lights from brand new homes, and bumpers and grille trim from local delivery fleets. Each of those wants a different finish, and we talk it through before starting.
Send photos of what you have. We will tell you what the substrate is, what it will take to bring it back, what it will cost and how long it will sit in the shop. If a part is not worth the money we will say so, because a straight answer costs us less than an unhappy customer.
Chrome is the right answer for a lot of parts, but not all of them. Here is how it compares with the two finishes customers ask us about most.
A hard, bright mirror with the cool blue white tone everyone recognizes. The classic choice for fixtures, hardware and trim that people see and touch every day.
Softer and warmer than chrome, with a faint golden glow. A favorite for antiques, vintage hardware and pieces that need to look true to their era.
A tough coating baked onto the metal instead of a plated layer. The practical choice when you want color or texture rather than a mirror finish.
Ranch and outdoor pieces get triple plate. New homes often choose satin, and restored aircraft trim goes polished.
Our highest standard. Copper, nickel and chrome with hand polishing between every stage, built for concours cars, custom builds and pieces that will be looked at closely under lights.
Three separate layers for a finish that lasts. Copper levels the base, nickel adds brightness and corrosion protection, and chrome seals it all with a hard, bright top coat built to hold up for decades.
The classic mirror finish. Each layer is buffed to a high reflection before the chrome goes on, giving bumpers, trim, wheels and hardware a bright, clear surface that stands out.
A soft, low glare finish with a brushed look. The part keeps the protection of chrome while hiding fingerprints and small marks, ideal for fixtures, interior trim and everyday hardware.
A smooth, matte sheen with a subtle glow instead of a mirror reflection. A popular choice for motorcycle parts, custom builds and pieces that call for an understated, modern look.
Chino jobs usually start with photos and a few questions by email.
Upload or email photos of your parts using our quote form. The more angles, the better.
We review and send a detailed written quote within 24 business hours. No obligation.
Scrub off dirt and manure, dry everything, and wrap each piece. Tag aircraft parts with their part numbers if you have them. Chino ground parcels typically land in Oceanside in one business day.
Our platers strip, prep, plate and inspect every surface before it moves on.
Pick up in person or we ship your finished parts back, carefully packed and insured.
You don't have to live nearby to work with us.
Customers all over the country pack their parts and ship them to our Oceanside shop. We finish them, inspect them and send them back insured. It starts with a few photos.
Not every metal accepts every finish. After more than three decades we know what each substrate can take, and we tell you before you ship it.
The workhorse substrate. Takes chrome, nickel, copper, powder coating and electroless nickel with excellent adhesion. Pitted or rusted steel is stripped and copper filled first so the finish goes on smooth.
Naturally resists corrosion, but its protective oxide layer blocks adhesion. We activate the surface with a nickel strike before plating, so chrome, nickel and electroless nickel bond properly instead of flaking off.
Requires a zincate pretreatment before plating. We chrome plate, powder coat and polish wheels, intake manifolds, valve covers and architectural extrusions.
The hardest material in the trade and the one most shops turn away. Trim, grilles and bezels are stripped, welded, copper filled and hand buffed before chrome.
Polishes beautifully and plates cleanly. Common on marine hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures and architectural pieces.
A soft, highly conductive base that plates beautifully. After cleaning and removing tarnish, it takes nickel, chrome, silver and gold directly with strong adhesion. We polish carefully, since copper scratches and dents easily.
Every quote is built part by part. These six things move the price up or down, so you know what to expect before you send photos.
Pits, rust, dents and cracks all have to be repaired before plating. A clean part costs far less than one that needs hours of metal work first.
Steel and brass plate easily. Pot metal, aluminum and stainless need extra steps so the layers bond, and that adds time to the job.
Large pieces take more tank space and more polishing. Deep recesses, tight corners and detailed castings take longer to buff by hand.
Show chrome gets the most polishing between layers. Satin and pearl finishes need a different prep, so each finish is priced on its own.
Sets and production runs are plated together, so the cost per piece usually goes down as the quantity goes up.
Standard orders take 3 to 5 weeks. Expedited orders in 5 to 7 business days depend on shop availability, so ask when you request your quote.
Every chrome finish we run in house, the base metals we plate, and the prep and repair work that makes the finish last.
Drag the handle on any photo to see the part as it arrived and as it left the shop. Every piece below came in written off by someone else.
Before
Pitting and salt corrosion from years of exposure on the water. Cleats, pull rings, hinges and fittings were stripped, repaired and replated with a heavy nickel base under a bright chrome finish built to resist salt air.
Before
Flaking chrome, mineral buildup and rust from a bathroom nobody had touched in decades. The tub filler, hand shower, supply lines, drain, overflow plate and claw feet were stripped, repaired, buffed and triple plated in copper, nickel and chrome so the whole set matches again.
Before
A full set of bar pulls, cup pulls, bow pulls and knobs, worn through to the base metal after years of daily use. Each piece was repaired, polished and replated in bright chrome so every size and style matches.
From custom builders to industrial manufacturers, our clients trust us to deliver the same result every time.
Agriculture, aviation, logistics and new homes shape Chino.
Faucets, cabinet pulls, railings and home fixtures restored or refinished to a lasting mirror shine.
Door pulls, push plates, handrails, elevator and lobby trim for hotels, casinos and office buildings. We plate every piece of a project to the same finish so the whole building matches.
Faucets, valves, shower heads and drain fittings finished to resist water spots, corrosion and wear.
Handles, levers, hinges, knobs and plates in polished chrome, satin or custom finishes.
Lamp bases, sconces, chandelier arms and fixture parts refinished to reflect light beautifully.
Hotel fixtures, bath hardware and lobby accents finished to match a consistent, upscale look across every room.
Slot machine trim, bar rails, signage and gaming floor accents that shine under bright lights around the clock.
Equipment components, carts, rails and fittings plated for a clean, durable and easy to sanitize surface.
Rails, cleats, hinges and deck hardware finished to survive salt water and constant sun.
Founded over three decades ago, we have built a reputation as one of the most trusted metal finishing shops in the region. Automotive enthusiasts, motorcycle builders, marine clients and industrial manufacturers all get the same standard.
Send us a photo of your part and receive a no obligation quote within 24 hours. No guesswork, no surprises.
Every part leaves our shop backed by our craftsmanship guarantee. If you are not satisfied, we make it right.
We work with clients nationwide. Pack and ship your parts to us and we will handle the rest with white glove care.
We understand deadlines matter. Most projects are completed and ready for pickup or shipping within 3 to 5 weeks. Expedited orders take 5 to 7 business days. Contact us for availability.
Every part we process represents your time, your investment and your reputation. Our commitment is to deliver consistent workmanship through quality materials, trained personnel and careful inspection at every stage.
We use carefully selected materials and processes designed to produce a durable, consistent finish and professional results.
Our team is trained to handle each stage of the finishing process with attention to preparation, application and final presentation.
Finished parts are carefully inspected by our quality control team before they are packaged and prepared for shipment.
Parts are handled and packaged with care throughout our facility to help protect the finish before they leave our shop.
Farm dust and sun, rinse it often.
Chino's open land and dairies keep dust and moisture in the air. Outdoor chrome collects both and turns cloudy. Hose it down every week or two, towel it dry, and give it a coat of wax a few times a year so the next rinse does most of the work.
New homes in Chino come with hard water like the rest of the valley, and shower heads crust over fast. A squeegee or towel after each shower stops most of it. For what builds anyway, a vinegar soaked cloth and a clean rinse does the job.
It also pays to know what failing plating looks like. Small rust freckles mean moisture has found a pinhole and reached the base metal. A milky haze that will not wipe off means the surface is breaking down. Bubbles or flaking along edges mean the layers have lost their bond. None of these get better with polish, and the longer a part sits like that, the more metal repair it needs before it can be plated again.
If you are not sure whether a part needs cleaning or replating, send us a photo. Sometimes a careful cleaning is all it needs. When the plating is truly finished, we will explain why and what it takes to bring it back.
Chrome Plating Gallery
Mirror bright, satin and pearl chrome on hardware, fixtures, marine fittings and industrial parts, finished in our Oceanside shop.
Packing tips for Chino.
Send photos of every part with a short description. We reply with a written quote and a lead time, usually the same business day. Never ship before you have a quote number.
Wrap each piece individually, keep metal from touching metal, and use at least three inches of padding on every side. Double box long trim and bumpers.
Declare the real replacement value with the carrier. Email us the tracking number so we can watch for the delivery and log your parts the day they land.
When the work is done we photograph every piece and send the images for your approval. Once you sign off we pack it in fresh materials and ship it back insured.
One shop, one set of tanks and one inspection standard. Everything on this page happens in this building.
San Diego's trusted chrome plating and metal finishing facility since 1989.
Your parcel heads south to our Oceanside shop, usually a one day ground trip. We email to confirm, plate and inspect, then return it insured with tracking.
Chino's neighbors we plate for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Chino ranchers, pilots and homeowners ask.
We plate decorative and cosmetic parts like trim, knobs and some fittings. Parts that carry loads or have flight requirements need their own approvals, so tell us exactly how a part is used. We'll be honest about what's a good fit for our process and what isn't.
Yes, if it's steel or brass. Dairy barns are wet and full of salts, so plating needs a heavy base underneath. Triple plate is our advice. Clean off manure and mud before shipping, and keep pieces from each barn together so they go back in the right spot.
If they're metal, yes. Builder faucets may be brass, zinc or plastic with a chrome look, and you can't always tell from the top. Send a photo of the underside and any markings, and we'll tell you what you have before you take anything apart.
Yes. Bumpers, grille surrounds, step plates and mirror arms are common fleet parts. Remove lights, rubber and wiring. Triple plate holds up best to road grit, and if you have several matching trucks, we keep each set together so every truck looks the same.
Rinse it often to remove dirt and salts, dry it, and wax it a few times a year. Fix scratches and rust specks early, since they spread under the plating where you can't see them. On anything that lives outdoors, triple plate gives the longest life.
The shop is open Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM. We're closed on Sunday. Shipments are received Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM Pacific.
Usually, yes. Send a photo of the piece you want to match, or ship it along with your parts as a sample. We adjust the finish until the new work sits right next to the old.
When the work is done and inspected, we pack your parts in fresh materials and ship them back insured. If you're close to Oceanside, you're welcome to pick them up instead.
