Fork woes - rechrome or straighten or find another set?

A minor accident 2 seasons back left my original fork tubes bent. I replaced them with a pair that were straight but from an outdoor wreck with dull, worn looking chrome. Used brand new factory seals. Now these straight ones leak oil profusely (started out small but now is literally dripping out after a ride). The bent ones I removed have very good chrome (garaged all their life) but are bent less than 1/4" out of true; with no dimples or crease.

I'm having a hard (read impossible) time finding any local replacements in decent shape. I can't even get rechroming locally; I'd have to send them out to Montreal and pay shipping.

I don't think epoxy will work as the straight ones are not pitted per se, just worn to the point of having a thin, worn chrome surface that is still smooth but perhaps too small in diameter to make a proper moving seal.

Is it worth looking at having a machine shop straighten the bent ones? Anyone done it? What would I expect to pay?

 

my brother straightened mine , in his shed ,using a hydraulic bench press.
I did the pumping he placed the "v" blocks. got them to less than 1mm run out ,in the full length ,it aint hard, should'nt cost too much.
stu

 

Thanks bensalf - (that was a quick response!) - do you recall how bent they were? I'll check the runout on mine when I get a chance.

 

I was in an accident and my forks were slightly bent. The shop I took it to straightened them and I have been riding on them fine for a year without any issues. I can't say whether or not it is a good idea, but it seemed to work for me. Below is a picture of one of them that they sent me before straightening, I couldn't find the others. They charged me $66 to straighten, there was more to remove & reinstall, but you already have them off, so that isn't a factor.

 

Thanks Gnat - looks like this is a reasonable option for me. Based on that photo, I think mine are bent close to the same amount, maybe a little less. So there is hope. I'll have to search around for a local machine shop willing to do it - (not many shops in this white collar city).