plastic chrome?

reeel dumb question but..If I have fibergl*** bumpers could they be chromed using the same process as say, model cars? never seen it done,must be a reason! Thanks for listening.

 

I would think it is possible as long a there is a big enough vacuum chamber to fit the bumper. I think it would be expensive and not very durable, last 66 chevelle SS396 I restored I sent all the dash plastic out to be replated the same way.

 

I ***ummed it may flake off at speed but what a great way to screw with people! Have you seen articals on the stock appearing drags? This is very sneaky.I like the concept, although not new. Rodders have been doing this to some degree forever.

 

Anything is possible but I would think the process for a bumper wouldn't be practical.

Just paint them argent silver which was very popular for gl*** bumpers on the Thunderbolts. HRP

 

New car grilles are chrome plated plastic. Last a long time. Now, who can do it is the problem!

 

I saw a fibergl*** '56 F100 grille at Tunica a while back that had been chromed. The owner told me that it was an experiment by his plater and would be very expensive to market. The grill first was zincated then hard coppered, buffed then nickled then chrome. Lots of time and and tlc but it did look decent.

 

Just considering all the cheesy chromed plastic parts modern cars use on the exterior trim... I think it'll be fine from a durability perspective. It's good enough for the OEMs.

Then again, you could maybe just paint it chrome too, but I think that would be even more likely to chip. Bumpers do tend to take the brunt of road debris, that is why people started using those nasty car bras after all.

 

Advanced Plating usually has some plastic parts in the booth's at shows, so I know it can be done.

 

Plastic is chrome plated all the time, but if I had plastic bumpers I'd look at the spray chrome that is getting popular.