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This is a market thats changing rapidly. Lets say I have some stuff I want to get done in a chrome effect finish, but can't afford to get them chromed, what are my options?
items would be steel but due to repairing damage and making modifications to suit there will be ground back welds as a minimum and probably need to filler them to make them smooth. I know on chrome they solder and polish marks out first... With powder coat or other fake chrome finishes what are my prep options?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Not sure of the ins and outs, but this guy is doing a chrome helmet for me. He could probably do other bits and is based in Birmingham... ;D www.jimsfactory.com/ChromeInfotorial video as well
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Not sure of the ins and outs, but this guy is doing a chrome helmet for me. He could probably do other bits and is based in Birmingham... ;D www.jimsfactory.com/ChromeInfotorial video as well Wow, that looks superb!
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Last Edit: Nov 3, 2011 20:41:59 GMT by Seth
Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Bryn - that looks good; could do with investigating a bit further...
In general though I have done some investigating as I was thinking of investing in a chrome spray business myself with a friend of mine who has an industrial model making business - well sort of...
They make stuff in SLA but their main business is electro-plating plastic. That's proper triple chrome plating - its etched and Nickel plated, then copper plated then flatted, copper plated again then chromed.
The finish is incredible and it lasts - we're currently making composite bumpers and chroming them....
We were also planning setting up a chrome spray side as a cheaper alternative/quicker perhaps. Our findings were that it's all very hit and miss - some companies did a good/consistent job others were dull - like dull polished ally, others had orange peel and other spraying defects.
The main concern was that the finish didn't seem to last - get it in the sun and some of the finishes yellowed quite alarmingly.
Then there was the question of matching colours - making things look like chrome is very difficult - some came out a bluey shade others yellowey. Some processes were tintable to ressemble other non-ferous metals - Gold etc... They look pretty convincing.
BUT! We were looking at the process as a rival to our bumpers and it seemed that the spray chromed finish is easily damged by stone chipping. Then water gets behind and ruins the finish. It seems it's quite delicate.
Now, I'm not sure about Bryn's company - hence I put it needs further investigation because he says on the website, this is the next level - and it may well have had more development than normal chrome-spray finishes. It may well be and I'd like to see the results. In the right place and application, the product could work very well but there is still the damage/durability factor plus the exposure to the sun element.
What is attractive is that you can make bumpers/trim/whatever, then fill it, prime it then apply their base coat, then the chrome spray - from that point of view, it sounds ideal.
As for the companies applying the product, we didn't have much luck in our search - they were all happy to provide a price to flog the system but not that keen on us visiting to see the product applied. There are plenty of companies in the States who were a lot more professional but this country gave us the impression that it was all a bit - bloke in the shed sort of outfit. Not that confidence filling if you're going to invest a load of money.
The feedback we got fromother model making companies at a recent show we attended gave us real cause for concern and we have put the whole project of spray chroming on hold...
If you want to know more about electroplating plastic I can oblige - although I'm trying not to make this a big plug for our products - which are fab by the way!! ;D
My experience - hope it helps?
Cheers,
Jon
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Mk1 Cortina Wagon Chopped Minor 2-dr 54 Minor Traveller x 0.5
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Not sure of the ins and outs, but this guy is doing a chrome helmet for me. He could probably do other bits and is based in Birmingham... ;D www.jimsfactory.com/ChromeInfotorial video as well Wow, that looks superb! Indeed it does... Not a single joke about Bryn's shiny helmet either... *n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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Chrome powdercoat: slightly peely but looks good from a bit of a distance.
Jims Factory - curious about that process, does it not need to be cleared.
Chrome paint - as above, some of them have a bad rep, see the HAMB for lots of posts inc opinions of different ones, and pics of results. I'm trying some at the mo. Only done a quickie impatient test, not strictly followed the guidelines. Came out a nice black chrome but will be trying soon for a brighter shine. These need: prime, gloss black - must be flawless chrome on, buff with damp cloth waterbase clear or sealer 2k clear, or 1k at a pinch Solvent in clears kills the shine hence needing waterbase intercoat. I've got a 'transparent base' but not sure that's enough of a sealer. At the end it's not cheap, the chrome itself plus the other gear, and a lot of prep.
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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I don't mind sending the stuff off to be done so long as the doing will be good and last a fair while.
Someone posted a link last time I asked about refinishing wheels but in this market companies seem to come and go quickly...
Their website featured a '59 or '60 Pontiac where they'd fake-chromed the bumpers on that.
Anyone know who I'm talking about?
Will try the chaps in Birmingham.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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oh and, I've had a play with the House Of Kolor chrome and its more of a pewter but for the cost of doing it myself I'd be tempted and call it a deliberate custom finish choice rather than chrome LOL
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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:)Yeah, if I can't get it proper bright-shiney the black chrome will be entirely deliberate ;D
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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