My comment would be that you can probably buy good condition used parts, or new reproduction parts, for less money than having old parts re-plated. Also, it is difficult to re-plate any pot metal parts like some lugs. If there is something that is irreplacable then you may have no choice.

I recently wanted to do a Ludwig snare in all polished brass. I bought the hoops and tension rods from DrumFactoryDirect...they're pretty good quality. I had some old bowtie lugs and a WFL P-83 / butt plate brass plated at a place in Ft. Worth while visiting there over Christmas. They came out fair considering the starting condition of the lugs. I couldn't find a place locally (So. Cal.) that would even talk to me about doing the parts and the place I found on the internet wanted 3 times as much as the place in Texas. All-in-all I'm very happy with the finished snare. It cost me about $100 to have the parts done in polished brass. http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12439&d=1264024070

I've had stuff replated in 24k gold from chrome. Expensive, but was worth it..

Segmented purpleheart w/ 24k gold hardware...

[IMG]http://www.ghostnote.net/vbforum/picture.php?albumid=4&pictureid=14[/IMG]

That looks very nice - how much $$$$ are we talking about if you don't mind?

I'm thinking about having it done on some snare drum hardware.

It was $400 about 14 years ago. Quality plating in Nashville. The lugs were raw brass, but everything else was chrome to begin with, Gibralter Die cast hoops, Index tuning rods, die cast butt plate and throw....

Actually, that drum isn't mine, but I have one just like it only deeper, 6.5" x 14". That one is only 4" deep. Just happened to have that picture handy.

Oh, and thank you. I agree, purpleheart with gold hardware does look pretty cool.. :D

Will, First let me say you have to fine a very good shop and check there work out that they have done for others...With that said, the shop i [we] use has been doing all of re- chromeing and powder coating also nickel for us from 1990 and still to this day..As far as cost i [we] do alot of drum parts at a time say 10 to 12 sets[lugs,rims,t-rods,claws,ete,ete] this will cut the cost down.Ia'm not sure what the cost would be on say 5 pc set. for all the parts[lugs,rims,ete] to get re-chromed i would say maybe from 200.00-300.00 but thats just a guess..Mikey

Mikey, does this place do black nickel and die cast parts (lugs)?