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anybody know where it can be done
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Chroming Plastic
- Thread starter Shifter_Hull
- Start date
Soldato
dont think you can do that* but you can spray shiney, metal looking silver paint on it.
*its done by a process of electroplating and plastic doesnt conduct electricity!
*its done by a process of electroplating and plastic doesnt conduct electricity!
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cheers for the reply will then spray it then
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Plastic can be chrome plated, it's done by priming the plastic with a conductive paint first and then electroplating the chrome on. Most good electroplaters should be able to do it 
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Soldato
Soldato
i stand partially corrected then... theres an intermediatory step if you want to chrome plastic!
It can certainly be done. As a kid i had enumerable toys that were chromed. the chrome would always rub or fall off revealing the yellowish beige plastic below.
[nerdy engineer]
The plastic electroplating process was invented by Richard Feynman.
[/nerdy engineer]
[nerdy engineer]
The plastic electroplating process was invented by Richard Feynman.
[/nerdy engineer]
You can chrome plastic using paints, but you need to be decent with an airbrush.
Basically you prep the plastic using something like Halfords plastic bumper primer, it’s around £3 or something a can. Grey is a good idea, wash the plastic and prime grey. You then need to airbrush some black “enamel” paint to the part and allow to dry. Then www.alclad2.com sells bottle chrome paint. You then spray using an airbrush at 15psi. It’s tricky but it can be done.
Plasti kote or something also sell aerosol chrome paint, you can get this from Halfords as well. I’ve chromed plastic before, just using primer, black paint and airbrushed lacquer chrome. It’s important to prime, as lacquer melts plastics, but Halfords plastic primer protects, and helps the paint stick.
Of cause, if you don’t have an airbrush, or access to anything like this, then canned chrome paint is the better option, or a plating service.
Edit - OK, website has expired. Odd - try here http://www.modelsinmotion.co.uk/category.asp?catcode=83&tamiya=273
Basically you prep the plastic using something like Halfords plastic bumper primer, it’s around £3 or something a can. Grey is a good idea, wash the plastic and prime grey. You then need to airbrush some black “enamel” paint to the part and allow to dry. Then www.alclad2.com sells bottle chrome paint. You then spray using an airbrush at 15psi. It’s tricky but it can be done.
Plasti kote or something also sell aerosol chrome paint, you can get this from Halfords as well. I’ve chromed plastic before, just using primer, black paint and airbrushed lacquer chrome. It’s important to prime, as lacquer melts plastics, but Halfords plastic primer protects, and helps the paint stick.
Of cause, if you don’t have an airbrush, or access to anything like this, then canned chrome paint is the better option, or a plating service.
Edit - OK, website has expired. Odd - try here http://www.modelsinmotion.co.uk/category.asp?catcode=83&tamiya=273
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Soldato
This is very cool info. I need to rechrome my spotlight on my car as the parabolic reflector has been eaten away by the salt on the roads.....
sweet cheers