Hi all!
New to the site. This thread caught my attention, so I thought could add just a bit.
20 or so years ago I found a guy (through the NSMD mag) in the Northwest who plated drum parts on the side. His technique for pitted pot-metal lugs and rusted t-rods etc. was to acid dip to remove old chrome/nickel; sand-blast them smooth (gently, of course) using a small, table top model (with sort of a pencil/stylus blaster), wheel polishing, followed by a normal plating process. Everything I got back looked brand new.
I wish I could find him again.....reasonable prices too!