If you want chrome, do chrome. (I have to save up my pennies for this)
I never ask for estimates, as it puts a crimp in the quality. A good shop will never let a part out that has blemishes, because that is their reputation on the line. The exception to this is if you've been doing business with them long enough to convince them that you really don't care if they fix that fender crack, etc.
Like Wulf says, any and all blemishes can be made perfect by starting out with corrective action on any welds, etc. This is followed by several layers of copper which is blended and buffed between each application. Before the part ever hits the nickel/chrome stage, it is already in perfect condition with the copper. They pay a couple of big apes to wrestle these parts around on giant buffing wheels. That is where the money goes.
$600 for a set of forks is robbery. I paid $600 for the complete chrome job on my last Gote.
I do not know what the importance is of having a chrome job done "in your state" especially when the "next state" is a few miles away and packed full of chrome shops. The copper process is not illegal anywhere. What the states are cracking down on are emissions from the process.
Some shops are not willing to comply with these regulations, or do not have the customer base to support the added costs. I get my work done in California, despite the internet lore saying all of the CA shops are shutting down, and only illegals are performing the work by sneaking back and forth across the border. (same website that stated the state of VA outlawed copper by the way)
Both
Street-EFX (Norfolk area) and
Hanlon Plating (Richmond) have excellent reputations. If not, Paul's has a shop in PA and they have a stellar reputation.
Interestingly, in one of the
links to the VA shop is a tab for the repair process which has some decent photos.
Powder coating in place of chrome is just plain wrong. Plenty of people all over the internet will tell you how great it works, and how it's not the same as chrome, but surprisingly good. Screw that. Nothing duplicates a properly plated chrome muffler bearing.
