Anyone have experience painting plastic pieces chrome?

[LA dreamer]

I know this belongs in the technical section, but for some reason I was not able to post new threads there...so until I can...here is my question:

Does anyone who has experience painting PLASTIC, know how I can get a CHROME finish that won't turn dull gray after I put on a clear coat? This is not for any of the parts on my P5, but for a knight type costume I am making. I have asked at paint stores and hobby shops, but no one seems to have an answer. I figured someone who paints car parts might have a better idea.

Up to this point I have been using metallic silver spray paint which looks great when it goes on, but is destroyed when the clear coat is applied. Please keep in mind this is a low budget kind of project.

 

[Stormtrooper77]

Those chrome paints are not really chrome. It'll look more like a shinier silver if anything. Chrome is usually dipped and not sprayed on.

If this is low budget, why not just use the chrome paint without the clear?

 

[LA dreamer]

I tried that, but the paint would slightly smudge whenever I handled the pieces.

I need something that is clear coated or won't smudge.

Do you think the dipping process would work? I don't have to spray it on.

 

[Ceej]

I dunno......they make some paints these days that are made for painting plastic.

 

[joka1]

krylon fusion is perfect for plastics but i ont know if they make crome yet!!

 

[LA dreamer]

I've seen a line of those paints in the hardware store. They come in many different colors, but not in chrome or metallic silver.

 

[Stormtrooper77]

I don't know if you're going to want to spend the $$$ on dipping, but you could find out. Also find out if it's a hot or cold dip. Hot may melt your pieces.

 

[Prodigy]

What you good do is go out to a r/c shop and pick up some Pactra spray can paint in silver. I have experience in painting r/c car bodies and it turns out as silver should. The clearcoat shouldn't harm the silver as long as you let it dry long enough so it's cured. Just make sure you use the paint made to paint on Lexan plastic so it sticks well to your pieces.
Anything else? I'm here for ya.
-Chris

 

[zmepro]

moved to apperance for ya

 

[Protege5Gurly]

He isnt looking for a silver look for the plastic. He wants it CHROME. Search google for plastic chroming. Its not something you can really do at home.

Pe@ce

 

[mypfizzle]

99 cent walmart aluminum. -=P

 

[Reffoxel]

How complex are the curves? You might be able to acheive the desired result with Vinyl. There is a a more or less chrome vinyl but it doesn't conform to 3d curves very well.

I know this belongs in the technical section, but for some reason I was not able to post new threads there...so until I can...here is my question:

Does anyone who has experience painting PLASTIC, know how I can get a CHROME finish that won't turn dull gray after I put on a clear coat? This is not for any of the parts on my P5, but for a knight type costume I am making. I have asked at paint stores and hobby shops, but no one seems to have an answer. I figured someone who paints car parts might have a better idea.

Up to this point I have been using metallic silver spray paint which looks great when it goes on, but is destroyed when the clear coat is applied. Please keep in mind this is a low budget kind of project.

 

[LA dreamer]

Thanks for everyone's responses so far and thanks for the move into this section.

I haven't tried vinyl, but I have tried mylar which was difficult to work with. There are a lot of curves on the costume and I know the mylar scratches too easy. I tried aluminum (foil that is) and that is way too cheap looking and of course rips too easy. I've tried the google search and mostly found professional spray kits available for around $4000 and not a whole lot else. I'm willing to spend $100 max and that's only if that's the only option.

One thing that I did notice in an automotive store was something you could spray that metalizes the surface. I think you first prime, then metalize it, then spray the chrome, but it didn't say what materials it would work on and I know that odds are high it wouldn't work on plastic.

What bugs me is that I've got a chrome (painted?) halloween type hockey mask that is made of plastic and I've noticed the silver metallic spray paint caps are made of plastic...those are two perfect examples of what I'm going for so it's got to possible somehow, someway.

Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

[LA dreamer]

Oh yeah...who does dipping? Where should I look for a service like that?

And I'm positive a hot dip would melt the pieces, so cold would be the only option.

 

[Protege5Gurly]

Chrome isnt dipped --- its plated -- with electricity, and since plastic wont conduct, you cant plate it.

Pe@ce

 

[Prodigy]

sorry, I misread

 

[iam7head]

Chrome isnt dipped --- its plated -- with electricity, and since plastic wont conduct, you cant plate it.

Pe@ce

sir yes sir, we got the answer.

anyone tried powdercoat plastic before?

 

[Protege5Gurly]

I dont think you can P/C plastic either.

Pe@ce

 

[ZapWizard]

You can chrome plastic with real plated chrome, but you also need to find someone who can do it.

This is for a computer mod:
http://www.bit-tech.net/article/114/3

But if you look at the last three images on the page you can see he had normal plastic boxes done in real chrome.

The last image shows how they did it, they painted the box with a electricly conducting paint, and then plated the plastic box.

(The chrome sticks to the metal paint)

 

[LA dreamer]

Just a brief update. I never was able to find a decent paint that could do the job. I tried Duplicolor Instant Chrome, but that had to be the worst paint I've ever used. Instead, I opted to paint most of it it navy blue and used the Krylon fusion paint. That paint is awesome! It's goes on great and it looks great. I clear coated over it, but I probably didn't need too. I broke down and used silver mylar for the pieces that weren't too big where I still wanted a chrome type look. I avoided the areas with a lot of curves because it just didn't look good.