Chrome Paint?

[cafepenguin]

I'm working on my 66 CB160 and most of my chrome pieces are in really bad shape.

The side panels are not covered in rust, but have light splotches over most of them. From 5 feet away, they look okay, but up close you can see it.

My brake arms (front and back) are pitted really good, as is the ends of the axels where they were chromed.

So my question is, has anyone used the Chrome colored spray paint? If you have, how did it work out for you (primarily as a temp solution. Months down the line after I can ride it, I will continue to watch ebay for reasonable prices on these items.) I just can't afford to throw all the money out there right now. Still working on getting the pistons unstuck.

Or does anyone have a good lead on chrome plating at a good rate? I live in Los Angeles, but seeing how they are all relatively small pieces, I could ship them out.

Thanks in advance.

james

 

[Big R]

In my experience, chrome paint is terrible. It never fully cures.

Instead of watching eBay for essentially NOS parts, why not look into powder coating? They can actually get chrome type powder, and I'm sure it's a lot cheaper than getting stuff re-chromed.

 

[Sonreir]

There was a chrome paint that Jay Leno had recommended. He used it in a few of his restoration projects (chroming is difficult to get done in California, so I hear). It looked the business.

 

[Big R]

Now that you mention it, I've heard some good things about chrome "spray on systems". I really wouldn't refer to them as paint though........the normal $4-a-can chrome paint is what has never impressed me.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

When I was in your shoes, my personal experiance was exactly as Rich described. The end products looks like siver paint to me. I have inquired from a couple powder coat sources including Joe (JRKshitloadofnumbers) and they said it's close and the examples the provided do look better than the paint.
But maybe the end result of the chrome paint not only depends on your technique, but believe it or not, start with black. I later found this on youtube and many others start the same. Obviously the tiles the guy uses are perfectly smooth and the first coat of black paint is flawless, but the end result is AMAZING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRQIYbX08gM

Now that you've seen that... check this shit out! "Silver Nitrate Deposition"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3kwkki0bMk

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

The chrome paints that give really good results are a multi-layer process.

 

[cafepenguin]

Thanks for all the feedback guys...

Rich, I didn't even think of going the powder coating route. I'm going to look into that, as most of my pieces that are chrome are pretty well shot...

Does anyone on Dotheton do powder coating for a reasonable price?

 

[Captmilk76]

Thanks for all the feedback guys...

Rich, I didn't even think of going the powder coating route. I'm going to look into that, as most of my pieces that are chrome are pretty well shot...

Does anyone on Dotheton do powder coating for a reasonable price?

I have the powder-coating gun from eastwood.com and have done some of my own stuff in the oven at the shop. It wasn't hard but powder coating parts to look really good takes some practice. It only looks as good as your prep work. http://www.eastwood.com/original-hotcoat-powdercoating-gun-1.html

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

I have inquired from a couple powder coat sources including Joe (JRKshitloadofnumbers) and they said it's close and the examples the provided do look better than the paint.

Sorry, maybe it was a little vague but Joe is a member here on DTT. User name is "JRK5892", and runs a Powdercoat shop in the Chicago area. Send him a PM, he's a good guy.

 

[legendary_rider]

I hear ya on the chrome paint. I powder my own stuff too. Tried chrome powder with Eastwood system a few times and didn't come out very well. I'm probably not prepping good enough. I've just decided to either get chrome paint done professionally or stay with polished where I can. It is awesome for a base under transparent candy colors though. Just did a rear fender in candy red yesterday. Looks sweet ass!