Painting Egg Crates
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: AR
Painting Egg Crates
The egg crates on my 72 are solid chrome, and I am trying to paint them to where just the horizontal and vertical lines are chrome, correct for the year. I have tried every local auto paint shop and no one will touch them saying paint will not stick to chrome. I am pretty sure they came all chrome from the factory and painted over top. I am looking for some guidance on how to paint these things. Mine have some pitting in them that will have to come out. Any advice on removing the pitting and getting the surface down to where they need to be ready to paint, prepping, etc, would be appreciated. I guess I will have to get the paint matched and try to do it myself.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
I think the best way to repaint those side vents is to use chemical stripper to remove ALL paint from the vents (sounds like you already did that). Next, wash those vents really, really well; then rinse them really, really well. Allow to dry completely.
Get a spray can of Dupli-Color self-etching primer (olive green color). This is the stuff to put on bare metal, as it etches the surface very slightly...but enough to get a 'bite' into it and allow adhesion.
Wait only a couple of minutes after painting, then use a sharp X-acto knife to shave the primer paint off of the [raised] surfaces that you want to stay chrome. DO NOT try to wipe off the shavings from the fresh paint; wait until dry, then brush off the shavings.
After doing that, spray on the final color. Wait about 5 minutes, then shave the paint off the raised edges again. If you need another coat, repeat the process.
This method sounds difficult, but it is really simple and works well...as long as you don't touch the fresh paint in the process. Masking the edges sounds like the way to go. But, if you try it, you will find that when you remove the masking tape, some of the primer coat will be visible along the line of the tape. Not good.
Good luck.
Get a spray can of Dupli-Color self-etching primer (olive green color). This is the stuff to put on bare metal, as it etches the surface very slightly...but enough to get a 'bite' into it and allow adhesion.
Wait only a couple of minutes after painting, then use a sharp X-acto knife to shave the primer paint off of the [raised] surfaces that you want to stay chrome. DO NOT try to wipe off the shavings from the fresh paint; wait until dry, then brush off the shavings.
After doing that, spray on the final color. Wait about 5 minutes, then shave the paint off the raised edges again. If you need another coat, repeat the process.
This method sounds difficult, but it is really simple and works well...as long as you don't touch the fresh paint in the process. Masking the edges sounds like the way to go. But, if you try it, you will find that when you remove the masking tape, some of the primer coat will be visible along the line of the tape. Not good.
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Can only speak for myself
Wet sanded (don't remember if it was 400 or 600, probably 400) all the areas to be painted.
Masked off the chrome edge with pinstriping tape and shot an epoxy primer (guess you could use urethane now) then top coat. I removed the masking and cleared over everything (was trying to prevent edges in the paint that might let it start to lift)
Mine have held up for quite a few years with no issues.
If I did it today I might be tempted to mask the daylights out of it and lightly blast them rather than sanding, as I recall it was rather time consuming....
M
Wet sanded (don't remember if it was 400 or 600, probably 400) all the areas to be painted.
Masked off the chrome edge with pinstriping tape and shot an epoxy primer (guess you could use urethane now) then top coat. I removed the masking and cleared over everything (was trying to prevent edges in the paint that might let it start to lift)
Mine have held up for quite a few years with no issues.
If I did it today I might be tempted to mask the daylights out of it and lightly blast them rather than sanding, as I recall it was rather time consuming....
M
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
Can only speak for myself
Wet sanded (don't remember if it was 400 or 600, probably 400) all the areas to be painted.
Masked off the chrome edge with pinstriping tape and shot an epoxy primer (guess you could use urethane now) then top coat. I removed the masking and cleared over everything (was trying to prevent edges in the paint that might let it start to lift)
Wet sanded (don't remember if it was 400 or 600, probably 400) all the areas to be painted.
Masked off the chrome edge with pinstriping tape and shot an epoxy primer (guess you could use urethane now) then top coat. I removed the masking and cleared over everything (was trying to prevent edges in the paint that might let it start to lift)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Egg Crate Painting
Make sure all the paint is removed and make sure they are absolutely clean.
Lightly sand all areas that are to be painted using care to avoid sanding the edges to be exposed. I like steel wool. Clean again. Wipe down with lacquer thinner and clean again with dish washing detergent and rinse thoroughly.
Carefully tape all chrome edges to be exposed. Shoot a high quality self etching primer. Take off the tape and clean up any edges carefully with a razor. Re tape for base and clear if going two stage. Shoot base, shoot clear, remove tape quickly and carefully. Clean up edges with razor and shoot a little clear blending material to take care of any rough edges.
I also know the guy that painted mine baked the crates after going through all the above. Mine is a 70 so different than a 71-72 and they came out beautiful and have held up.
It is very very tedious but very doable.
Bill
Lightly sand all areas that are to be painted using care to avoid sanding the edges to be exposed. I like steel wool. Clean again. Wipe down with lacquer thinner and clean again with dish washing detergent and rinse thoroughly.
Carefully tape all chrome edges to be exposed. Shoot a high quality self etching primer. Take off the tape and clean up any edges carefully with a razor. Re tape for base and clear if going two stage. Shoot base, shoot clear, remove tape quickly and carefully. Clean up edges with razor and shoot a little clear blending material to take care of any rough edges.
I also know the guy that painted mine baked the crates after going through all the above. Mine is a 70 so different than a 71-72 and they came out beautiful and have held up.
It is very very tedious but very doable.
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
If it's pitted where the chrome edges are there's nothing you can really do except carefully fill the hole and touch it up with some chrome-in-a-can and hopefully it won't be noticeable when everything is said and done.
If it's in the areas to be painted, roughen it up more and fill, small spots that are deeper can be done with something like JB weld, sticks like mad to a clean surface...
M
If it's in the areas to be painted, roughen it up more and fill, small spots that are deeper can be done with something like JB weld, sticks like mad to a clean surface...
M
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
If it's pitted where the chrome edges are there's nothing you can really do except carefully fill the hole and touch it up with some chrome-in-a-can and hopefully it won't be noticeable when everything is said and done.
If it's in the areas to be painted, roughen it up more and fill, small spots that are deeper can be done with something like JB weld, sticks like mad to a clean surface...
M
If it's in the areas to be painted, roughen it up more and fill, small spots that are deeper can be done with something like JB weld, sticks like mad to a clean surface...
M
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
Michael's (craft store) and Hobby Lobby sell a silver paint pen that looks 'decent'. Or, you could even glue silver leaf to the raised surfaces, then polish them up and coat with acrylic clear paint.
Those are the only approximations to chrome edging that won't look totally tacky.
Those are the only approximations to chrome edging that won't look totally tacky.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
3M (and others I'm sure) make a chrome-mylar film tape that for all it's worth looks like actual chrome. It's semi-stretchy and pretty thin and would probably follow a curve / curved surface pretty smoothly. Covered in a shot of clear coat it would probably last forever.
I've just never been in a position to need to try it.
I think it would be worth a try for some small - thin edges like these if it was a "nothing to loose" situation.
M
I've just never been in a position to need to try it.
I think it would be worth a try for some small - thin edges like these if it was a "nothing to loose" situation.
M
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
I'm surprised there is not a company having them reproduced in China out of plastic with the chrome edging. They seem to be able to make any other kind of plastic part over there. The chromed plastic would hold up fine if it's not an every day driver and would be reasonable to reproduce.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
You guys are making this WAY too hard! These things were never perfect from the factory. Every C3 (with those side grills) had pits in the chrome, etc. It's just another 'trim' piece that is bolted to the car.
But, make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, if you want....
But, make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, if you want....
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,381
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From: Redondo Beach, California
From what I know, they are difficult to rechrome. The louvers are a cast aluminum alloy, not pot metal. Any re-chromer can strip them down; remove the chrome plate, the nickel plate..and polish the basic aluminum. For re-plating, the polished aluminum has to be anodyzed with a electro conductive anodyzing. After this specialized anodyzing plating, the part can then be nickel and the chrome plated. There are not that many shops that can do the electrically conductive anodyzing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 32
From: Bowtie, Pennsyltucky
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15,'21
Wait only a couple of minutes after painting, then use a sharp X-acto knife to shave the primer paint off of the [raised] surfaces that you want to stay chrome. DO NOT try to wipe off the shavings from the fresh paint; wait until dry, then brush off the shavings.
After doing that, spray on the final color. Wait about 5 minutes, then shave the paint off the raised edges again. If you need another coat, repeat the process.
After doing that, spray on the final color. Wait about 5 minutes, then shave the paint off the raised edges again. If you need another coat, repeat the process.
Last edited by Mick71; Dec 19, 2014 at 10:31 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
From what I know, they are difficult to rechrome. The louvers are a cast aluminum alloy, not pot metal. Any re-chromer can strip them down; remove the chrome plate, the nickel plate..and polish the basic aluminum. For re-plating, the polished aluminum has to be anodyzed with a electro conductive anodyzing. After this specialized anodyzing plating, the part can then be nickel and the chrome plated. There are not that many shops that can do the electrically conductive anodyzing.
No mention of anything out of the ordinary, with respect to the crates.. Its been around 4 years now and the edges still are perfect...
Last edited by MakoShark72; Dec 20, 2014 at 11:14 AM.