RIM Paint Chrome

I have a set of beat up old Phone Dials on the car. I read in some Kit Magazine about a guy that used a 2 part Chrome-X paint to add a chrome look to his rims. From the pictures, it looked really good.

I was thinking about trying it on mine. If it Does anyone have any experience with it? How Durable is it and does it look as good as the pictures?

Thanks
Todd

Look at "house of kolor" chrome paint=wow. Remember, it's not chrome it's paint, but it does look good. An alternative would to bead blast to give it a frosty look and then clear coat it
with polyurethane epoxy paint. Super durable and easy to keep clean.

Todd,

Don't know that particular brand, but we've used Alsa's Chrome FX paint with varied results. First few times it went on very nice. Looked like true chrome until it was cleared and then it looked like aluminum. Tried Alsa's "Speed Clear" and that seemed to help, but it still looked much better before it was cleared. Unfortunately, if you don't clear it, the "chrome" will wash off with water...
Alsa's process is also VERY long. Base and clear in black, let cure for 4-7 days, scuff and buff, a few more days, then chrome paint, then polish by hand with a soft cloth, then clear, a few more days, then scuff and buff.

Plus, at $2K a gallon... for us it was only appealing to "chrome" objects that you can't chrome.

Have you thought about powdercoat? Our local guy has "near chrome" and it is much easier, and would be much more durable on something like wheels.

Carey

Why not try Powder Coat? Eastwood has a chrome powder coat that does not require clear coating. The powder ocat equipment and chrome powder might set you back $150 and you'd have to get an old oven to bake the rimes in but you'd have to equipment to do more projects or start a small business

Or, Caswells has a product called Copy Chrome. Don't know how good it is but their website should have some info.

Or send your wheels here: http://www.awesomepowdercoat.com/index.html

At $40.00 a pop it seems like a good deal....

carey , did you use the chrome fx or the mirra chrome system from alsa ? i've used the mirra chrome for a polished aluminum look but have'nt had a chance to use the chrome fx system yet , ron

Ron,

My mistake. It is the Mirra Chrome we used, NOT the Chrome FX, which appears to be a complete system using Alsa's own spray equipment.

I have the 1 step(no clear needed) chrome powder from Eastwood. I haven't tried it yet but was thinking of using it for the rims as well. I will have to dig something up to try it on.

My rims are powder coat, with the sterling silver.....it looks ok, but it isn't chrome.

Peter, I assume your "one step" requires baking and, if so, do you have an special oven to do it?

Is the Eastwood Powder a powdercoat.

I'm not feeling the powder coat. It goes on a bit thick. It might look to "caked on" Especially on the turtle rims that I have.

I like the Mirra Chrome by Chrome FX. How durable? That is the $1,000,000 question.

Sorry for not being more detailed in my first post. The one step I'm referring to does not require a clear coat as some of the original chrome or metallic coatings do. The old way you had to bake the piece twice once for color once for shine.

My understanding is that the clear coating second step would often yellow or dull with time. Supposedly not an issue with this new process.

I'm using a regular electric range, 23 inch so it should hold a rim. The oven just needs to be capable of 450 degrees, otherwise nothng special.

todd , the mirra chrome is just paint , and as carey said it is a long drawn out procedure if you could find someone who has the chrome fx system that would give you the chrome look you are after not sure what it would cost , i know the system itself is very pricey , there is always the option of having them polished

"for us it was only appealing to "chrome" objects that you can't chrome"

Yeah, I went through a similar thing after I took the class in doing wood graining. Once the upper door caps and dash were done, all hell seemed to break loose . . . . ended up doing up a styrofoam cup and a little book of matches.

Every once I a while I think about starting in on a generator stand, but thankfully I gotten into silver leafing big time, so I safe for now.

Just to give everyone an idea of what the chrome powder coating looks like. Here is a rotor that I did the outside edge and hub on.

BEAUTIFUL ! ! !

Thanks T.C., it's not a perfect finish just a quick and dirty little job to keep the rotors from rusting. A tip I picked up from Angela in another thread.

That's Hot! Where did you send it to get it done?

Todd,

I did it in the basement myself.