The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Low cost chrome alternative?

I caught the tail end of My Classic Car today. Leno was on talking about a low cost alternative to chrome plating called Spray on Chrome. I wasn't able to get much info on the product from the show but did some research and came up with this. Anyone else heard of it?

There was some talk about it on one of the model car boards I frequent. They were looking at it because it will work on plastic. Unfortnatly, it's actually more expensive that actual chrome plating once you buy the equipment required. I beleive the starter kit was well over $1000. It would really only be a good investment if you were going onto business applying the finish.

"Rim Werks" open up here close to me about 2 years ago. I had them "spray" a couple of rain deflectors for my panel as a test.
I was not pleased with them because of some orange peel appearance but after I told him how I felt we "agreed on a price" and I decided to use them.
In their defense they had just opened and were still working out some of the bugs. They specialize in repairing rims and I hear they do a good job and have vastly improved.
Still, I really don't like it. There is just no sustitute for the real deal.
While I was there they showed me, on the computer, a lot of what has been being done on the West Coast where a complete fender is "chromed" and then other colors added on top of it and so on and on.

I guess it will have its place but I'm still leery of it and not convinced its the thing to do.
Just my nickels worth.

There's a guy in Dallas that does it. I met him at a car show. He has a Lincoln Navigator that he has done a lot of it on. He did a cowl that is next to the chromed steel bumper and it's hard to tell the difference.

Well I'll darned. I was thinking of what we used to call Kentucky Chrome (alum paint in a spray can.) Maybe this process is similar to the Gold plating that I've seen at some auto shows and SEMA.

I learned something today.

I found another option called Killer Cans. This one looks even simpler.

Ha, ha! We call it Polish Chrome!

cm

Did Ron Popeil invent it?

naw...if Ron Popeil had done it you would have seen him on TV chroming a turkey with the audience dressed in hazmat suits. Or mixing it in with his hairspary crap for the genuine Chromedome!

I had read this information back when it came out and got curious. I looked at several articles covering the prep, application and handling of items after the treatment was applied. I just saw a intake and exhaust manifold on an inline six with this applied. Now I'm pulling my manifolds and going to get them blasted and do it myself. The finished product looks good if the preparation is done correctly.
Normbc9

thats funny, all those cars and money Jay Leno has and he is worried about a cheap chrome alternative...