Thread: Chrome paint

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Hey, I recently saw a car that was chrome....

http://www.chromem3.com/

After doing some research, I found out that its a paint, thats applied like regular paint and then clear coated.

I found a company that makes it:
http://alsacorp.com/chrome.htm

I was wondering if anyone here has ever applied chrome paint, or used any products made by Alsa, and how hard was it to apply the chrome paint? Should any body shop be able to do it?

I've seen the Caswell plating powder coat stuff,,,,There's is a Cerramic powder,,bakes on,,and is more durable than real chrom (They say ) it's even being used to coat the insides of Engines for superior protection from heat.
I guess time will tell how long all these fake chrome product's last.

Just got the brochure from those guys ,they have some wild products!!!!!!!!

A long time ago they used that paint of dirt bike plastics and made them chrome etc. It flakes off and doesn't last very long. Now on a well preped car on metal may be different. Thunderbucket, I do powder coating and do chrome, etc it holds and looks very good. It doesn't wear, doesn't crack, doesn't yellow, doesn't fade, no chipping, etc. Columbia makes a better chrome in my oppinion.

If your painting plastic, you need to use a plastic model primer, such as a testors primer, then like a dupli color spray primer and then your color, or use an adhesion promoter,if using non plastic specific paint ( Krylon fusion or other ).

It wouldve been to paint a whole car (metal), then apply a dark grey/black candy coat over it to produce a "black chrome" finish.

I know...It sounds a little "rice" (for lack of a better term), but I think it would be different and cool, and the car would be done monochrome with subtle mags, so I think it would be tasteful and simple.

Thanks for the tips guys.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BlueDSM
[B]Hey, I recently saw a car that was chrome....

http://www.chromem3.com/

After doing some research, I found out that its a paint, thats applied like regular paint and then clear coated.

I found a company that makes it:
http://alsacorp.com/chrome.htm

So, I can paint my bumpers instead of having them plated?

Fill out the catalog request and their brochure contains much more info than is on the web site.Its free.I personaly would not use it ,unless it was a wild custom,I would like to know the price of the stuff.

i cant resist any longer. IF IT DONT GO CHROME IT sorry i am going to take my nap now. Ives rdhotfrd

If you go with powdercoating then you can save the money and have a better and stronger finish and get highgloss chrome black from columbia. Looks really sweet!

I have read several articles about the Alsa "Mirror-Chrome" paint products... I subscribe to several Airbrush magiznes including Airbrush Techniques, Auto Graphics and Airbrush Action... There have been reviews in each of those publications as well as "How-To" articles... I have not sprayed this myself, but from what I have read you will definately need to know what you are doing... It is recommended to spray in a downdraft booth or other "clean room" invironment to achieve best results... You first use a black base coat then use the chrome over the base... As I understand it the main problem is that once you spray the chrome overcoat you will see every imperfection in the base coat including sand scratches, dust, dirt and any other blemish that may be on the surface of the metal or the base black...

I have also read that the mirror-chrome looks great until you clear over it then it looses much of it's chrome effect...

I am not trying to discourage you from using the product only trying to inform you of the limitations I have read about...

Hope this helps...

Dave Brisco

I have use the alsa chrome paint and it was a mess. Cost $200 for a small bottle that would do 2 motorcycle wheels. I had a pro paint shop do it with thier booth and just as the directions said. The wheels were prep right and then sprayed. It went on with a dull shine. But did have a little shine to it. The You have to clear coat or it will come off. No way around it. After the clear it was dull. I have had better shine with cheap chrome in a can. I spent the next day cleaning it off and shining the wheels back up to stock. This was a company project so I was not out of the $$ only labor. I gave the results to my local body suppy shop and he said he has others with the same results, bad. O and I did call alsa and the reply was the pro painters did not know what they were doing. I have used some other paints from alsa with great results but not mirrochrome.

Dangeroustoy, you are on airbrush forum right? I see you post on there all the time. I still haven't gotten me an air brush. I have money for it but not the time right now, heh. Maybe after the next 2 months go by I will. But yeah if you are going to do any parts chrome too then I would either chrome with real chrome, powder coat chrome them or polish them to a mirror shine and then put a clear powder coat over it and then you don't have to ever polish them again and they won't yellow. But I think you said you wanna do a whole car...

Yeah it was for the whole car.... And I work in a speed shop that is fortunate enough to have a modern (2003) body shop with new equipment like downdrafts, frame machines, and HVLP guns, as well as up to date ventilation and lighting - I wouldve had to snake them into doing the job

Actually, THANK YOU to everyone that told me about the Alsa stuff, Im not discouraged at all, thats exactly the kind of stuff I needed to know.

I emailed the guy with the chrome M3, he said he didn't use the Alsa stuff, and of course the prick won't tell me which paint he used, so I'll have to keep looking till I find a good one.

Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
Dangeroustoy, you are on airbrush forum right? I see you post on there all the time.

Sorry, just getting caught up on my forum reading... Yep I frequent the Airbrush Technique forums... Lots of very talented folks there who are willing to share what they know about Airbrush Graphics... There are at least 3 or 4 people from CHR who post there...

Dave Brisco
Dangerous DesignWorx