A Lifetime of Hands-On Craftsmanship Keeps One Plating Shop Shining

Fifty years ago, a teenager in Sterling discovered a side hustle that would outlast his school years—and his factory job. Gary Schultz started by building a plating machine in his dad’s garage to customize parts for his motorcycle project. Friends took notice and asked him to plate their parts too. Back then, plating was just a weekend gig, but after high school, Schultz balanced days at a steel mill with nights at his plating bench. When layoffs hit the mill hard, he bet everything on his plating side hustle, hired two helpers, and moved into what’s now his longtime shop. Today, Quality Plating isn’t flashy—it’s one of the last custom plating shops left in the Midwest. Schultz plates everything from motorcycle parts to car trim, boat fittings, and even brass coasters sent as gifts. Over the decades, his work has touched high-profile projects, including a motorcycle for a famous athlete and a custom coaster set delivered to the White House. But Schultz isn’t in it for the fame. He stays because of the everyday tinkerers restoring cars, the hobbyists chasing a dream, and the joy of seeing someone’s project finally come together. Plating hasn’t changed much since Schultz started. The process still demands elbow grease: clean, polish, buff, then dip into tanks of copper, nickel, chrome, and cleaners. Every piece is handled by hand, from tiny screws to large panels. Gloves come off when precision matters most—because even a speck of dirt can ruin a finish. Schultz’s calloused hands tell the real story: this work is slow, meticulous, and built on patience.Running a plating shop isn’t just about skill—it’s about survival. Schultz credits his long run to strict compliance with environmental rules. Many competitors folded because they couldn’t keep up with regulations or afford rising chemical costs. Schultz plays by the rules, and it’s kept him in business for decades. Now, customers from around the world ship parts to his shop, trusting him to get it right. After 43 years of marriage, Schultz and his wife Cindy run the shop together. She handles orders and paperwork while he focuses on the plating. They downsized years ago, ignoring pressure to grow bigger. Now, they travel more, spend time with family, and work reasonable hours. It’s a far cry from the early days when Schultz barely knew what day it was, jumping from the mill straight to his plating bench. Still, challenges remain. Material costs keep climbing—nickel from Finland, chromium bars, copper nuggets—all subject to price swings. One order might take eight months, but prices can shift dramatically in that time. Schultz sticks to his original motto: fair prices, honest work, and happy customers. For him, it’s not about speed—it’s about doing the job right, even if it means waiting longer.