Thread: Is there a good "Spray on" chrome paint?

Tweet

I'm lucky that I have a business close to me that offers a good 'spray on chrome'. Notice I don't call it paint, I was told the substance sprayed is the same as used for making mirrors but the process is totally different. A good friend took a tour of the facilities, watched the process in action (was completely amazed with it) and even tried to buy a franchise but they wouldn't sell him one because he was in the same city as their location. Check out their web site and the videos, maybe there is a similar business near you.

Mike

I would just like to know if.it will hold up on bumpers??

Originally Posted by slantback37

I would just like to know if.it will hold up on bumpers??

If it holds up on the parts & pieces shown on their advertising then I would think it should hold up the same on a bumper, provided you don't "use" the bumper. It's paint, so where chrome may take a hit to a softer surface and not show any damage, the paint will likely be scuffed or peeled away, I would think. Same would be said for bumpers painted body color, or silver - they will look pretty until they are bumped, then you have scuffed paint. More of a question to me would be can the SpectraChrome be spot repaired, or are you looking at stripping and re-applying?

I missed this in the May '11 issue of Rod & Custom but it appears that Spectre Chrome has already entered the hot rod arena.

Mike

I have looked into this, talked to some shop owners, and convinced that if you are doing this process, only to save money, then don't do it. It's three steps, takes some specialized equipment, and probably cost as much, or more than chrome. May get cheaper in time to come, as more shops get into it, and the process is perfected.
Jack

Jack, I'm curious about what you said. You mentioned that you've "looked into this, talked to some shop owners", did these shops have the equipment to apply Spectre Chrome and that's where you got the idea about the cost or were these shops that you simply talked to about the product and got their opinions?

Mike

Guess I will have to paint them the same color as the car. Like repears said. It is just paint. The "Killer cans" DIY paint in rattle cans is still $115, and looks like a shiney aluminum finish. I suspose I can look into the Bumper Boyz. A couple of rodders said they wern't all that good either. I do have a pair of real good bumpers. Now I have to find a set of rear brackets for it..

Originally Posted by Mike52

Jack, I'm curious about what you said. You mentioned that you've "looked into this, talked to some shop owners", did these shops have the equipment to apply Spectre Chrome and that's where you got the idea about the cost or were these shops that you simply talked to about the product and got their opinions?

Mike

NO, none had the equipment, and my research shows it to be very expensive, and the process is very labor intensive.
In a rural area like I live, most haven't even heard of the process, don't have resoures to buy the equipment, nor skills to perform the process, IMO.
Jack

Originally Posted by slantback37

I would just like to know if.it will hold up on bumpers??

I've used the Mirra Chrome by Alsa on more than one occasion, and IMO this product would be best suited to graphics and not a total chrome look. To answer your question, it is a clearcoat topcoated process, so it should hold up to anything a paint job would. If you were to take a car and want to mimmick stainless molding on the side using their product and some airbrushing, I think you would be happier with the results than if you wanted to paint a chrome part and hope that it looks like chrome. The mirra chrome is basically microscopic particles of aluminum suspended in a alcohol based solution (rubbing type, not drinking type) and the particles tend to align themselves for better reflectivity if you follow more of a dusting application vs. a typical painting application. To further amplify the application effects, I tended to have better reflectivity in areas you would consider overspray (around corners where it was not directly sprayed, etc.) than from direct application in the "Dusting fashion". But no matter the reflectivity I achieved, when the clear was applied, the finish was dulled out to a point that I should have saved some money and just used a silver metallic.

Before clear:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...l/HPIM2124.jpg

After clear:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...l/HPIM2130.jpg

Complete album (start at the end):

Motorcycle painted using Mirra chrome

I was very unhappy with the results, and expressed this to the owner before he even came over to look at the finished product. He agreed, and in an attempt to save the flame layout that he did like, the complete job was covered in intercoat clear with pearl, then burgundy kandy, then recleared:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...Picture101.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...Picture105.jpg

Now in their defense, I was using a cheap Badger airbrush, and may have experienced better results if I had used the Iwata I presently have, but the clear (their product, which they recommend to prevent dulling the reflectivity) definitely seems to dull out the finish from the solvents affecting the Mirrachrome. Feedback from Craig Frazer (Air Syndicate) has indicated the initial coat of clear should be applied in a similar "dusting" fashion, to minimize the effects of the solvent on reflectivity. But in the end, if you are looking for a chrome finsh, have it chrome plated. The "chrome" painted products by Alsa, House of Kolor, or whomever is selling a similar chrome effect, are pricey enough that only a few applications of trial and error, and unsatisfied results will quickly Make the chrome plating much more appealing and cost effective. For durability, I think it will hold up as well as any other paint product, so if it will cause scratches, blemishes, etc on paint, then this stuff will likely show similar defects.

Disclaimer form HOK: "Kosmic Krome kustom metals are one of the latest effects for kustom painting. Not intended to be a total finish, but rather an additional tool for graphics or airbrush projects that need something unique."

Based on what I have seen, I think that speaks volumes.

It still looks good after the clear, but looks more gray than chrome

Jack