not really. I used the Alsa Corp Mirrachrom on these parts. Turned out pretty good. Sure as hell a lot cheaper than chrome. Cost about $200 and I still have half a bottle left............for next project.
and now for something completely different... A club member is restoring this 1940's pedal car. It's a "Thistle" brand. Turned out beautiful. He is going to use the MirraChrome on the grill and windshield frame.
It's a pretty simple process. Preparation is the key (which I am lousy at). First step is to prime your parts. I used high build primer. Secondly, sand the primer and spray with a black base coat. Third, clear coat the part. I used the clear coat that Alsa sells. You have to let the part sit for a week after you clear coat it. The next step is the tricky one. Using a touch-up gun, set at a really low volume with the compressor at 20 lbs, you lightly fog the part with the MirraChrome paint. When you first apply it, you think that it is going to be kind of foggy. It's amazing to watch though as the gases escape from the paint. It turns shiny before your eyes. It takes about 24 hrs for all the gas to escape and then you can clear coat it. The clear coat really gives it a gloss. I've probably left a few steps out but the Alsa website has more info (www.alsacorp.com_
I really appreciate the info, I book marked their site and will read up on the stuff later. Once again thanks!
Nice results ! Tried to check the site, got the "cannot find server." It's snowing pretty heavy here, so will try later. Thanks for the info ! 302
Sounds like Alclad II for scale models. Similar application, but clear coat knocks the hell out of the reflectivity with the Alclad, and it's doubtfull that it would hold up outside. Keep us posted on the stuff you used. Especially want to know how it holds up under use/weather, and how it's luster/reflectivity is. Olson
That souds like some pretty cool stuff! Thanks for the details..... try this address....extras removed http://www.alsacorp.com/
Sinkemlow........the car will be going back together in the next few weeks. I'll get some more pics once I put the body back on. ('32 sedan)
Anybody know where the Alsa Discount Supply House can be located? Nice stuff, but I hope they can get down to Walmart style prices soon! -85%
What happens if you buff it with some rubbing compound before you clear it? does it get more reflective or does it just dull up?
You couldn't do those drums in chrome and get a good job. The chrome won't throw between the fins, nickel would be thin and corrosion set in pretty damned rapid. That is very cool stuff. Especially if it has any endurance. Ceramic coating are getting better all the time too. Won't need chrome before too long, except for resto jobs. Well done. Looks nice,
I had looked at that a long time ago as a substute (cheaper) alternative for chroming my bumpers but was always afraid of what it would look like. So does it lay down pretty good, coverage wise? I know it isn't cheap so I was wanting someone else to try it before I spend the money
Polisher. .......thanks for the compliment. Coming from you, it's an honor. It is kind of a 5 footer though. Looks good from 5 feet. I am a lousy prep guy. Wild Willy.......I was your guinea pig! The coverage is amazing. I used approx. 6-7 ounces for all those parts. The key is to gently 'fog' it on to the parts. The challenge is to make sure you cover all the parts. It's so reflective that sometimes you lose your place in spraying. There is also a new machine applicator that Alsa is selling that imitates chrome's reflective properties to a 't'. I didn't see it but the local distributor was telling me about it. Bugman........yes, they say you can polish the base clear before you apply the MirraChrome. I didn't do this. Apparently, the shine is even better if you do polish it. They also say if you use a hair blow dryer or heat gun the gas escape faster.
If you have a mirror finish on the black base coat, you should get a pretty good approximation of chrome. so polishing the basecoat is probably a good thing. The base of it is alcohol, so it dries pretty quick, the clear is what protects, what I'm guessing, is a pretty fragile finish.
By chance, do you have any guesstimation on how much material it would take to shoot a 'A' sedan ? Was it as easy to use as they show in there videos ? Thanks,
AHotRod.....I have no idea how much it would take to paint an A sedan. I used approx. 6 ounces for all the parts. It really is easy to use. The trick is having the compressor set at 20 lbs and a very low volume on your spray gun.....to the point of it almost shut off. The product has to be fogged on, as they say in their web site.
That stuff look a bit more like polished aluminun to me, which is not realy a bad thing, and in the videos,Wow, it looks like it dries very quikly. I just may have to try some out on a tailgate over the Mercury letters and put some suede around said letters to give it the primed over chrome look. And most likely on my A coupe front alxe, being how my rear axle is real chrome. Thanks for the link, the videos were pretty neat.
The video clip on their website explains that it is aluminum milled a particular way in an alcohol base.
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