It is impossible to keep chrome from rusting and corroding out here on the beautiful bayfront...... What do you good,decent folks use for the closest chrome look that can be applied easily...? Meaning from a rattlecan or touch-up gun...... My E-Z Bake oven burned out the lite bulb, so no baking ,please....
The whole purpose of chroming is to make the part nice 'n' shiny & bright, & to protect the metal - keep it from rusting. If it rusts the chrome was not done right. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!
I think for it to stay purty like that it has to be behind plastic, all of the items they showed are clear plastic with this stuff sprayed from the back. Although it does look good and I am very tempted to try it out. $1200 a gallon, chroming costs would be about the same for the amount of parts you could spray with a gallon of paint. I guess it's just a matter of if you plan on chroming that many parts. probably sell quarts and pints... I hope. rjb
We tried Asla's paint here in the shop. A Jap bike guy wanted to do his bodywork in different versions of chrome paint (black chrome, brushed finish, etc.). He bought the Alsa stuff, and we experimented with it. It is a total pain in the *** to use. First you have to put down a perfect layer of black paint, then wait like 2 days. Then you can put on the "chrome paint". Then you have to use their clear over it in another 2 days. Their paint is a water based paint that need extended dry times to use with regular automotive base coats, and clears. Try keeping partially painted parts in your shop for days in between coats! No sanding, or use of solvent cleaners in between the coats, either! VERY inconvenient! The 'chrome' paint disfigures if you touch it, even hours after spraying Now, we got a couple parts painted, after figuring out how to lay on the chrome paint the way they suggest, not easy, either! They looked like dirty mirrors. You can still see the black background, and the reflections look pretty fuzzy up close. We used up a whole kit trying to get it to look better...both the owner, and myself...and I'm a pretty good custom painter. The owner contacted Alsa and complained. Got another kit...along with a sample that Alsa prepared themselves...it looked worse than our best piece. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you need a comprimise (can't use real chrome), and it isn't going to be viewed up close. It does NOT look like real chrome! And it's probably more expensive!
PPG just came out with their version of chrome paint. It's called Liquid Metal (VM4201). Likely similar to the Alsa stuff. If you know any painters that get trained in the PPG custom paints, they might shed more light on this. Thinking of using it for a refinishing a 60's aluminum grille instead of bright annodizing.
Paul, you have obviously never lived on the Texas Gulf coast. Be glad you haven't had the 'ruined finish' experience. Between the chemical plants and the salt air near the coast, metal (any finish) will rust away rapidly. I used to have my shop in Freeport (similar location to where J.A. lives) and we had dailies that needed the chrome redone every five years or so on some occasions. You can wax it, polish it, or do the best plating job ever and the finish will still go away under those conditions. It's the land where br*** turns green and metal turns brown. LOL
There are two versions of this product Mirra Chrome and Chrome FX. Chrome FX requires special equipment that is not in the typical home fabricators budget. The chrome FX does provide a deeper brilliant shine over the Mirra chrome. The Mirra Chrome does take time, but like most things it takes time to develop the finesse. One thing that makes a huge difference on the Mirra chrome finish is to cut & buff the base coat to a final 'cl*** A' finish. I have also seen the grey shadowing of the black base as you mentioned. Since chrome has a cooler tone, I have also experimented with a dark blue base coat, and I think it looks better than the black. Bottom line, I agree it is a lot of work, and it looks more like polished aluminum than chrome, but I think it is great in the right applications.
My dad got some of that PPG product, and demo'd it on a foam football. It looked just like it had been dipped in Nickel. It was bright and nice. But that foam is porous, much different than the flat surfaces that would actually be done.
Nope; haven't lived on the coast. But... you're telling me that chrome won't last as long as paint? Chrome is about the hardest thing I can think of. I can't imagine it not lasting as long as paint - & a good paint job will last for decades. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Giggle Cream - it makes dessert funny!
ive been wondering about that stuff for along time.. i figured it was to good to be true...i was skeptical after watching there video, and saw the price
I have a sample of the Alsa Mirra Chrome at my desk. Went to the local distributor to see it, and they let me spray it myself. The piece is one of those plastic shells that look like a slot car body. It was perfectly smooth gloss black when I started. Dusted on the Mirra Chrome with a little HVLP touch-up gun using really light coats. The result is very reflective, but I wouldn't mistake it for new chrome. It's somewhere between polished aluminum and chrome. Of course the base preparation will be important - same thing as real chrome. Anything that reflective will show up any imperfections and orange peel underneath. Overall I'm really impressed with it. If it's sitting next to real chrome, you'll see the difference. On it's own, it will look like an older chrome job. So I guess you should see if there's a local rep that will let you do a sample. At the prices they're charging I'm sure they'd be willing. Here's a pic. Mirra Chrome (left) vs real chrome. The pic makes the paint look worse than it is.
The Jalopy Journal
