Don't let this happen to you!
- Bob Cannon
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:48 am
- Location: Sacramento, CA
Don't let this happen to you!
I recently dropped off and picked up chrome parts for a 58 Cab currently under restoration. The local shop I used has been in business for decades and does a lot of 356 and other Porsche work, but has recently changed owners. Although very happy with the quality of the chrome work on almost all of the parts taken in, I was horrified when I unwrapped the seat recliners once I left the shop. The attached pictures speak for themselves and show the effects of too aggressive of prep work before chroming:
A word to the wise- although you "hope" your favorite chrome shop won't ruin your irreplaceable parts, if anything can go wrong- it will.
I now have a set of 4 wall hangings, courtesy of a chrome shop who should have known better. Although it is possible to drill out and replace the rivets, the 4 mm rivets with wide heads to approximate the originals are NLA and would have to be custom machined. A word to the wise- although you "hope" your favorite chrome shop won't ruin your irreplaceable parts, if anything can go wrong- it will.
Bob Cannon
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA
- Adam Wright
- Classifieds Monitor
- Posts: 10321
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:00 am
- Tag: KTF
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
Bob-
It might help if you named the shop, so if anyone else has stuff there or is about to drop off, they can be forewarned.
It might help if you named the shop, so if anyone else has stuff there or is about to drop off, they can be forewarned.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Ron LaDow
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 8094
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
Bob, that is a heart-breaker. I'm sure it's not the first time you've gotten crap in return, but you'd hope by now quality shops would have standards.
I would second Adam's comment: that shop needs identification in the hopes of others avoiding it, and to make sure that sort of 'workmanship' gets wide exposure.
I would second Adam's comment: that shop needs identification in the hopes of others avoiding it, and to make sure that sort of 'workmanship' gets wide exposure.
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
- Bob Cannon
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:48 am
- Location: Sacramento, CA
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
The shop will remain unnamed for the time being. Local folks will get the word; hopefully my "discussion" with them will encourage them to do things right. I was able to find another set of 4 outer recliner pieces, complete with visible rivets, and they are being plated by the same shop. They better turn out perfect this time around.
Bob Cannon
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA
- Wes Bender
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 4940
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:54 am
- Location: Somewhere in the Gadsden Purchase, USA
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
OK. So we can't trust any chrome platers north of, say, Bakersfield?
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 12388
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
Just show up at the platers with these pictures as an example of what you don't want. If they get a funny look on their face when they see them, they probably really understand, by way of Bob.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Bob Kittel
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:12 am
- Location: Long Beach, California
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
You must inspect your parts before you pay and leave. I had a similar experience with an LA plater. I took the parts, bad now, and left without paying.
Bob Kittel
- Charles H Jacobus
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 493
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:02 pm
- Location: Dallas, TX
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
But the base parts are hard to come by and expensive. Seems like they should redo them.Bob Kittel wrote:You must inspect your parts before you pay and leave. I had a similar experience with an LA plater. I took the parts, bad now, and left without paying.
Chuck
Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
- Paul Hatfield
- 356 Registry Member
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:46 pm
- Location: Washington State
- Contact:
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
About 15 years ago I took all the fasteners, clamps, etc for my soft window Targa to a very high end shop here in Washington. They left them soaking in the prep solution overnight and ruined every piece. Probably over 100 pieces. The shop did offer to purchase replacements, but these were all original. I sourced replacements from everywhere I could find, and they paid the receipts I submitted.
Paul Hatfield
"Miss April"
http://www.enginesinback.com
"Miss April"
http://www.enginesinback.com
- Leo Dreisilker
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 11:02 am
- Location: Wheaton, Illinois
- Contact:
Re: Don't let this happen to you!
My recliners were re-chromed by a high end chrome shop and they looked great. When I went to reassemble them I found the chrome was a little thick and they would not clamp together all of the way. The grooves for the clips were chromed over too. I had to spend many hours grinding the insides until they clamped together and then I had to use a dremel tool and wheel to grind the grooves. Once they were assembled everything looked real good and has lasted too. Later someone told me I should have sent the whole set to a California shop(forgot name) that specializes in our hinges and offers exchange sets.