anyone use chrome paint?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
just the rattle can ones....and for light reflectors on an old Ford.....it works well but not for any where that you would "brush" up against it. when you rub it it just dulls up, the finish is not very hard or durable but i bet there are lots of choices out there.
however i did use the brush on rustoleum aluminum paint on rusted and pitted out bumpers and that was durable and lasted pretty well
however i did use the brush on rustoleum aluminum paint on rusted and pitted out bumpers and that was durable and lasted pretty well
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
ive used it also. when you spray it on, it doesnt look half bad, but it doesnt hold up for crap.
freshly painted
freshly painted, and slightly handled
i dont have pictures of what they look like 2 years later, but its basically a dull silver now.
freshly painted
freshly painted, and slightly handled
i dont have pictures of what they look like 2 years later, but its basically a dull silver now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,920
Likes: 838
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
with both paint and powder they need to be covered with clear to protect it and in both cases makes it look worse. i don't know how they can call it chrome. there are chrome shops that can plate fiberglass. they use a copper rich paint then nickel and chrome. i think new aluminum covers would be cheaper.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Mount Sinai New York
There's a company out there with a new product. (I can't remember the name) They were actually on West Coast Customs, and they developed a true chrome paint. It's flexible, can be applied on almost any surface, and REALLY looks like chrome. They actually painted a Audi R8 with it for a promotion of the movie Tron. I then saw these guys on another show like "how's it made". I have no idea what their price point is, but they were saying you can send them items to be painted.
Sorry I don't have more info, but I'll see if I can get a lead on it and post it to you....Vince
Sorry I don't have more info, but I'll see if I can get a lead on it and post it to you....Vince
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
ALSA makes a chrome paint system that can be sprayed with conventional equipment. It's incredibly expensive but is the closest to chrome you will find in a paint on finish.
BASF came out with a water based catalysized finish that requires special spray equipment and recovery system. It can not be told from Chrome as it actually creates a metal film on the part to be coated then gets cleared. Some of the platers have gone to this as it does not use any toxic chemicals. Many states have regulated the platers out of business.
Anything else out there is junk.
BASF came out with a water based catalysized finish that requires special spray equipment and recovery system. It can not be told from Chrome as it actually creates a metal film on the part to be coated then gets cleared. Some of the platers have gone to this as it does not use any toxic chemicals. Many states have regulated the platers out of business.
Anything else out there is junk.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
BASF developed and licensed the system that FantaChrome and CosmicChrome is marketing it uses a base primer coat and a water based electrolyte to deposit the metal on the substrate. It can be used on any material but does require special equipment to spray the system. It would be very tough to do an entire autobody but I guess it would be feasable if the shop were set up to do it. It can be tinted to duplicate bronze, copper and gold and any other colors of the rainbow. The best thing about this system is it uses no toxic chemicals so disposal is no problem unlike traditional plating methods.
The ALSA system is called Mirra Chrome. It is a paint based system and provides a 95 -98% reflectivity of chrome. I have used it for motorcycle gas tanks and it looks great if properly applied. don't know how durable it is though since I sold the bikes.
The ALSA system is called Mirra Chrome. It is a paint based system and provides a 95 -98% reflectivity of chrome. I have used it for motorcycle gas tanks and it looks great if properly applied. don't know how durable it is though since I sold the bikes.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 6
From: springfield ohio
Don't use the Spray can chrome, it will look very cheap if you're actually trying to achieve a chrome look.
Here is a product I have not used, but recently seen on one of the shows with Jay Leno, it looks like there are a few steps to take, but the end results look great.
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/...chrome/1232328
Riggs.
Here is a product I have not used, but recently seen on one of the shows with Jay Leno, it looks like there are a few steps to take, but the end results look great.
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/...chrome/1232328
Riggs.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
i've been using aluminum colored imron for alot of stuff and holds up great so was going to go with that.have been seeing alot of the chrome stuff out but doesn.t sound like it will work.probably stay with the imron.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Hillsborough/Ocean Grove NJ
I have a bicycle frame finished with the Cosmichrome process. In my case, it is actually a chrome finish with a blue tint, and it is really nice. On a few spots where I have nicked the frame, the top coat color was removed but the base chrome remained.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
I just rec'd an email from this company re: chrome paint, it is likely similar to what Texas had posted above.
http://www.innate.com/Paint/Chrome/Chrome.htm
http://www.innate.com/Paint/Chrome/Chrome.htm
