Metal Shop Guide

21 shops · Chicago and area

Metal polishing and electropolishing in Chicago

Buffing, polishing and electropolishing for stainless, brass and aluminum parts. Timing and what to ask.

  • 21shops listed
  • 8list a certification
  • 9take small jobs

21 shops

Able Electropolishing

Chicago 10 km

  • Polishing
  • Anodizing and plating

Electropolishes and passivates metal components for medical, aerospace, food processing, electronics and other manufacturing customers.

Certs
ISO 9001ISO 13485+2
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Takes small jobsProduction runs
Since 1954100 to 199 staff View shop
  • Polishing
  • Metal fabrication
  • Welding
  • +4

Metal polishing and fabrication for sanitary equipment, architectural structures, transportation and agricultural applications.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
ID/OD polishersTime Saver+2
Jobs
Not listed yet
7 services View shop

Art Metal Finishers

Chicago 15 km

  • Polishing
  • Repair and rebuilds

Art Metal Finishers restores, polishes and repairs metal antiques, lamps and household items for residential and commercial customers.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Takes small jobs
Since 1947 View shop
  • Anodizing and plating
  • Polishing
  • Sandblasting

Aluminum anodizing, polishing and blasting for aerospace, automotive, medical and other industrial customers.

Certs
ISO 9001
Equipment
Type II Sulfuric Anodizing TanksLaser Marking Machines+1
Jobs
Production runs
Since 194750 to 99 staff View shop

Circle Gear & Machine

Cicero 12 km

  • Machining
  • Repair and rebuilds
  • Heat treating
  • +2

Custom gears and gearboxes with machining, heat treating, grinding, reverse engineering and emergency repair for industrial customers.

Certs
ISO 9001
Equipment
gear grinding machines
Jobs
Takes small jobsCan help with drawings
Since 1951 View shop

Leitelt Brothers

Chicago 14 km

  • Casting and foundry
  • Machining
  • Welding
  • +2

Aluminum, brass and bronze sand castings with machining, design assistance and finishing, from single custom parts to production runs.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
TOM 250 Air Set Mixershot blast machine+1
Jobs
Takes small jobsProduction runs
Since 1908 View shop
  • Anodizing and plating
  • Powder coating
  • Industrial painting
  • +2

Anodizing, powder coating, painting, polishing and blasting for architectural, aerospace, medical and industrial parts, from single prototypes to production runs.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Precision Cutback Saw SystemRack Tanks+1
Jobs
Takes small jobsPrototypes
5 services View shop

Gentner Fabrication

Chicago 10 km

  • Machining
  • Welding
  • Bending
  • +3

Fabricates custom metalwork and lighting components with CNC machining, welding, forming, lost wax casting and finishing.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
CNC press brakelathes with mill turn
Jobs
Takes small jobsProduction runs
Since 1990 View shop
  • Sheet metal
  • Metal fabrication
  • Laser and plasma cutting
  • +4

Precision sheet metal fabrication for OEM customers, with laser cutting, forming, welding, assemblies and engineering support.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Mitsubishi 3015 NXF Fiber LaserCNC Turret Punch Press+2
Jobs
Production runs
Since 1912 View shop
  • Anodizing and plating
  • Polishing

Nickel and chrome plating and polishing of customer supplied parts for automotive and industrial products.

Certs
ISO 9001
Equipment
5 Head CNC polisherManual polishing lathes+1
Jobs
Production runs
Since 1948 View shop

ES Precision Metals

Bedford Park 15 km

  • Machining
  • Polishing
  • Bending

ES Precision Metals grinds and polishes metal components for aerospace, automotive and medical applications, from single prototypes to production runs.

Certs
ISO 9001
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Takes small jobsPrototypes
3 services View shop
  • Anodizing and plating
  • Polishing
  • Industrial painting
  • +1

Provides electroplating, buffing and lacquer finishing for parts, and manufactures custom musical instrument accessories.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Not listed yet
Since 1902 View shop

Imperial Plating

Chicago 18 km

  • Anodizing and plating
  • Powder coating
  • Polishing

Metal finishing shop providing plating, powder coating, polishing and buffing for automotive parts, hand tools, electrical contacts and machined components.

Certs
ISO 9001
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Not listed yet
Since 1967 View shop

Reliable Plating

Chicago 4 km

  • Anodizing and plating
  • Polishing

Electroplating, electroless plating, passivation and polishing for aerospace, automotive, electronics, marine and other manufacturers.

Certs
ISO 9001
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Not listed yet
Since 1954 View shop

Al Bar Wilmette Platers

Wilmette 23 km

  • Anodizing and plating
  • Metal fabrication
  • Machining
  • +3

Restores and replicates metal hardware and fixtures, with custom fabrication, plating and finishing for homeowners, architects and builders.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Takes small jobsCan help with drawings
6 services View shop

Advance Grinding Services

Bedford Park 19 km

  • Machining
  • Polishing

Centerless grinding, bar processing and stainless steel polishing for industrial, medical and aerospace manufacturers.

Certs
ISO 9001
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Production runs
2 services View shop

KCP Metal Fabrications

Chicago 17 km

  • Metal fabrication
  • Sheet metal
  • Laser and plasma cutting
  • +4

Sheet metal fabrication from design and prototypes through production, including laser cutting, forming, welding, milling and polishing.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
IPG 2000 watt fiber optic LaserCube
Jobs
Prototypes
7 services View shop

West Supply

Chicago 11 km

  • Casting and foundry
  • Metal fabrication
  • Polishing
  • +1

Custom metal casting, fabrication, polishing and restoration for furniture, lighting, architecture and sculpture.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Prototypes
4 services View shop

Tru Coat Plating

Bellwood 22 km

  • Anodizing and plating
  • Polishing

Hard and flash chrome plating with polishing for industrial parts, including agricultural and heavy machinery components.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
chrome plating tankspolishers+1
Jobs
Production runs
Since 1961 View shop

Empire Hard Chrome

Chicago 4 km

  • Anodizing and plating
  • Sandblasting
  • Polishing

Industrial hard chrome plating for production components, with blasting and polishing services.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Not listed yet
Jobs
Production runs
Since 1946 View shop
  • Machining
  • Polishing

Centerless bar grinding, polishing, straightening and chamfering for service centers, precision machine shops and OEMs.

Certs
None listed
Equipment
Meeco Straighteners
Jobs
Takes small jobsProduction runs
2 services View shop

Before you call

Polishing: the short version

Smoothing and brightening a metal surface by abrasives, buffing or an electric bath.

When you need it

  • Stainless parts for food or medical use
  • Brass and bronze hardware to restore
  • Rough welds to blend and finish
  • Parts that must clean easily

What to send the shop

  • Photos and sizes of each part
  • Metal and the finish you want
  • A finish spec such as Ra, if you have one
  • Quantity and your date

Typical lead time

3 to 5 working days at one Chicago electropolisher. Same day costs extra.

Ask the shop

3 questions worth asking

  1. Q1

    Hand polish, buff or electropolish: which fits my part?

  2. Q2

    Can you measure and report the surface finish?

  3. Q3

    Do you passivate too?

Questions

Polishing FAQ

How long does electropolishing take in Chicago?

3 to 5 working days at one Chicago shop. Next day and same day cost extra there.

How much smoother does electropolishing make a part?

One Chicago electropolisher cites up to a 50% better surface finish.

Good to know

  • Say how the part is used: food, medical or looks. The finish follows.
  • Polish after welding and grinding, not before.

Sources

  1. Able Electropolishing, Chicago, read Oct 28, 2026

Need polishing done?

One free request reaches up to 3 Chicago shops that do it.