pierce- I don't think a sandblasted surface gives a good chrome plated result. It's been a long time since i tried plating frame parts. But the two shops i was with then both had sand blasters and believe me when i say that if all it took was a blasted surface I'd have a rather different view of chroming. I'd also venture that every plater would have a sandblaster and save considerable time. But since that doesn't happen I can only think it's because you'd still have to polish the blaster surface. How fine a grit can a sandblaster get down to? When i had to prep the last frame ends for plating (when i lived in Chicago) I went through 80, 180, 360(?), 600 then crocus paper before I used the buffer. This job had good luster after the plating but it started to flake off as we were putting the wheels in. Under the flaking chrome we didn't see any nickle or copper. I can easily understand the current drive with stainless steel. You go through the same prep but don't pay the plater and get close to the same results. Andy.