Vac Mirror Chroming...anybody specialise in it?

ChopShop

I've tired Alclad, and whilst it's pretty good, i'm just not getting the true mirror finish i need.

is there anywhere in Ireland or the UK that would be able to apply proper mirror chrome plating to plastic components at a semi-reasonable price?


I'm thinking like these guys

http://www.chrometechusa.com/

only, obviously more accessible.

The Doktor

when you say "true mirror finish" what is it you mean?
Ive got pretty good results with alclad.. what id call mirror finish, have a look and see if they are the kind of finish you are after
Ive attached 2 pics of results that ive got with alclad, not great pics, but its all i have handy.

It might be the way you are using it. I done a "how to do metal finishes" thing for the IPMS newsletter a while ago, ill see if i can dig it out.

ChopShop

Admittedly, True Mirror is an exaggeration.

But i'm talking reflective to about this point:




Alclad just seems to take a LOT of patience, and multiple upon multiple thin coats. I do suspect i may be doing something wrong.

The Doktor

I seem to be able to do it in maybe 2 or 3 coats. The important thing is that you have the parts painted black, and as shiny as possible. If you have a good gloss black base then you are gonna get your mirror finish in 2 or 3 coats. More than that and I think it takes from the finish.

1. Paint part with light coat of halfords primer (through airbrush). Flatten it with 12000 micromesh with water. Wipe clean and then wipe with a tack cloth (about a fiver in halfords, lasts for ages). Its important theres no blemishes or dust.

2. Paint light coat of halfords black, then heavier coat. Again through airbrush, this should give you a super shiny black finish.

3. two coats, maybe 3 of alclad, at the lowest pressure it will atomize at. When putting the paint on, do not over spray any part that has wet alclap on it.. wait til its dry (a couple of seconds)

I had a look for the step by step thing i done a while ago, but it seems to have gone missing at some point.

ChopShop

The undercoat definitely went on smooth enough, but i was using Tamiya X1 black...which may be the problem. I'll try something else.

Thanks.

The Doktor

ah theres your problem! the tamiya paint!
You can never get that shiny and hard enough to give you the mirror finish.

I use car paint for a lot of stuff, its going to be much harder and glossier than the tamiya acrylic. I find the halfords stuff better than the stuff you get in woodies etc.

Just drill out the atomizer in the spray cap (the little black bit) and you can spray it into a small container. Leave it sit for 10 mins, then straight into your airbrush.