Chrome paint

Post by **Sidney'61** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:44 pm

Just looking on the internet for paint and I came across this; chrome paint
http://www.paintsprays.co.uk/catalog/ch ... 1da51e7f0a

It would save a lot of money if I could by all the parts in steel then paint them chrome, but I imagine it isn't very good, has anyone actually tried it?

Post by **MoggyTech** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:30 am

I've used 'Just Metalics' spray chrome paint which is one of the best available. It's ok for painting items such as starter motors, suspension parts, but the finish on something like a bumper looks naff.

FWIW when buying actual chrome parts, try to source chrome on brass specification. Chrome direct to steel tends to fall off PDQ

Post by **dunketh** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:47 pm

I used Plastikote chrome spray many years ago and it rubbed off!
Looked great to start with but you could rub off the 'shine' with your fingers, leaving a dull grey behind.

I guess lots of lacquer would have helped.

Post by **picky** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:38 pm

I have used this exact paint on a set of alloy wheels, and various metal engine parts. It does not look as good as chrome, but gives a fairly shiny finish. It is easily scratched though. You get what you pay for....

Picky

Post by **nick69** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:43 pm

If you want Chrome paint then the ONLY one worth using is Alsa Corp Mirrachrome. Its very expensive but the best.

I sprayed a corvette with this last year and it was amazing stuff and ive seen plenty of paints!! LOL

Post by **Alec** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 8:51 am

Hello all,

it is like all surface treatments, it needs to be applied to a well finished surface. When items are chromed they are polished to a mirror finish first, it's not the chrome that gives the finish but the polishing, the plating is a protective finish. By the way it is copper not brass that is the first coat on well plated steel.

Alec
Alec

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:58 pm

By the way it is copper not brass that is the first coat on well plated steel.

the suggestion was to have brass not steel as the base material (not brass on top of steel)

[sorry for the typo!!]

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:31 pm

rayofleamington wrote: the suggestion was not to have brass not steel

I genuinely don't understand the triple negative - sure I'm being thick, but what are you saying?
a

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:37 pm

I think he means look for brass parts with chrome plating rather than steel parts with copper & chrome plating.

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:57 pm

rayofleamington wrote: (not brass on top of steel)

But that confused (still does) me. Were/are there any parts made from brass?
a

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:19 pm

Not that I know of. As I understand it the top quality chrome plating processes have two layers of nickel plating under the chrome and possibly also a layer of copper under the nickel.

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:33 pm

I'm sure all will become clear - I thought that too. but can't reconcile it with what Ray's saying
a

Post by **Rasputin** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:35 pm

I thought that at one time most chrome was done on parts made of brass.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 4:23 pm

you can (could) get a some chrome parts that are brass base metal. I'm not sure if they are still available (Chrome on brass used to be advertised by some suppliers).
I never really paid much attention but I think it was stuff like headlight rings and bumper blades.

Post by **neiltomlinson** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:59 pm

hi all
some of the old parts used to be brass on the early moggys the light rims etc used to be made of brass you can always tell these only piting not rusty these days most of the parts are made of steel which are just nickel plated then chromed on top but if you get a knock chipped etc it may go through to the nickel this will rust very quickly nickel is not good in the wet winter .so this is why they used to use brass in the olden days they used to put copper on top of the steel then polish the copper so if the chrome was scratched went through to the nickel there is copper there to protect the steel a good 1/2 hour of nickel then chrome when we do jobs for eg ford bently etc & these parts are made of steel we put 12-24 hours of copper then polish the copper .nickel. chrome as some ofyou know what i do for a living neil

Post by **Alec** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:33 am

Hello all,

brass was certainly used for some components, notably windscreen surrounds or door window frames, (Jaguar) but not a good choice for bumpers.
It was the comments that included 'specification' and 'chrome on steel' which led to my interpretation that it was to get good quality plated parts rather than buying brass base metal components.

Alec