Help with clear over chrome

[Guest]

I've coated several parts in Powderbuythepound.com's "Patented Ultimate Chrome" product. The pieces are fine; close enough to chrome for what I'm doing and I've had no issues at all with this powder.

However, I recently purchased the "crystal clear super durable high gloss clear" to coat over the chrome powder.

I'm glad I tested a part or two before using it on any important work, because it's not shiny at all. It has a grainy texture and might even be a little foggy. (Hard to tell on chrome)

What am I doing wrong? I'm following the cure schedule to the letter... Is there a different clear I should use over the chrome? I don't have a thickness measuring instrument of any kind and it hasn't been a problem until now... I put it on thick enough that it covers the chrome and the part looks white all over. (Is that too thick?)

Also, those of you who use the chrome, do you put clear over it? I like the look of the parts without clear... is it necessary to clearcoat?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm at my wits end with this powder. It's really frustrating because every powder I've ever shot from PBTP has been excellent; I'm convinced I'M doing something wrong and it's infuriating!

-Deek

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

Welcome to the forum FirstYearDeek!

Yes you have to clear it unfortunately. I use the Ultimate Chrome a lot. As well the SD Crystal Clear. Can you post pics of your part to help us help you? I think it might be a touch thin on the clear. In my opinion the SD clear sprays heavy so it's hard to get use to. JMO

[JW450R1]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

i agree with harley dad

[FirstYearDeek]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

Thanks for the welcome guys...

The chrome parts are fully cured and cool. (room temp) The chrome looks great, then I clear and it's ugly!

Here's a Boca 90 deg. truss:


Here's my wife's iPod Mini. This one will be lots of fun if it comes out eventually... This photo shows the texture the best.


I need to get a better ir gun; mine's a harbor freight cheapie and reflective surfaces throw it off, I think.

I just ordered some of the acrylic clear; the sample shots on the web page look really nice!

-Deek

[FirstYearDeek]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

This shot should show the texture better:



This is how the parts look before I clear them... typical chrome powder look:


(I always get questions about this part... It's a throttle bellcrank from a Goldwing carburetor assembly.)

Have any of you ever done multiple coats of the chrome? I occasionally get a dull spot (probably from too thin a coat, I'm guessing) and I was wondering if multiple coats would turn out okay?

-Deek

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

Did you wipe the chrome off before you cleared it?

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

By Golly I bet you can see it now Now that's a close up What type of camera and lens are you using? I have not had that problem yet so I can't give any advice.

The reflective surfaces will throw off just about every I.R. gun. Maybe eyes are shot, I can't see much texture in the pics.

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

I've coated several parts in Powderbuythepound.com's "Patented Ultimate Chrome" product. The pieces are fine; close enough to chrome for what I'm doing and I've had no issues at all with this powder.

However, I recently purchased the "crystal clear super durable high gloss clear" to coat over the chrome powder.

I'm glad I tested a part or two before using it on any important work, because it's not shiny at all. It has a grainy texture and might even be a little foggy. (Hard to tell on chrome)

What am I doing wrong? I'm following the cure schedule to the letter... Is there a different clear I should use over the chrome? I don't have a thickness measuring instrument of any kind and it hasn't been a problem until now... I put it on thick enough that it covers the chrome and the part looks white all over. (Is that too thick?)

Also, those of you who use the chrome, do you put clear over it? I like the look of the parts without clear... is it necessary to clearcoat?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm at my wits end with this powder. It's really frustrating because every powder I've ever shot from PBTP has been excellent; I'm convinced I'M doing something wrong and it's infuriating!

-Deek

In my humble opinion the best product to use over Ultimate Chrome is the Diamond Acrylic Clear , not to exceed 2 Mils. If you are not comfortable with Acrylic use the Glass Clear

[FirstYearDeek]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

By Golly I bet you can see it now Now that's a close up What type of camera and lens are you using? I have not had that problem yet so I can't give any advice.

The reflective surfaces will throw off just about every I.R. gun. Maybe eyes are shot, I can't see much texture in the pics.

That's the power of a 12 megapixel digital camera. You can zoom the crap out of a photo and it's still fairly detailed for the most part. I don't particularly like this camera for any reason except its resolution. It's slow to react to shutter commands, slow to write to a memory card, has a very sharp and spotty flash, and takes the worst low-light pictures I've ever seen. It's a Kodak Z128S (my wife's) and I wouldn't sell one to my dog. I'm a Sony fan myself, but my newest Sony is only 5MP (FC717) but it takes the best pics I've ever seen.

Did you wipe the chrome off before you cleared it?

Now that's a good question; no, I didn't wipe the part at all between coats. I didn't think of that... what would I wipe it with? (Not acetone... made that mistake yesterday with a part)

-Deek

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

I just got through shooting some black on a piece and my son wanted it heavy so it would fit tighter so I laid the powder to it and I am seeing something close to what you have but not that bad? Mine looks more orange peel. Just maybe you did go to thick? Maybe someone will come up will the real cause soon?

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

I got 1 of those little LED lights the other day...WOW...spend that $10 with a quickness. My shop lighting is ok, but with that little thing in hand you can see 100x better. I have been going over every inch of my pieces w it since i got it...2 minutes well worth spending. I just cant decide if I want to cut the wrist strap on it or not. I am still trying to decide if i should leave it on and use it or cut it off so it doesn't dangle when I don't use it

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

"mikmj wrote:
Did you wipe the chrome off before you cleared it?


Now that's a good question; no, I didn't wipe the part at all between coats. I didn't think of that... what would I wipe it with? (Not acetone... made that mistake yesterday with a part)

-Deek"


De-Natured Alc. in the paint dept Lowe's and Home Depot is about all there is to use but always make sure you use a lint free rag or paper towel type to wipe it down with then air blow off and always use a quick blow by of a torch to get any fuzzies off. Great for getting those little things off that you can't see till you charge the piece and hit the trigger and then they stand right up at you These work good. You can find them at the same places as the ALC in the plumbing dept. You want a wide flame if possible and just do a quick run around the part. If its coated then don't get to close and do a quick pass. http://www.nothingbuthardware.com/385816.html I use this one and love it. And yes there has got to be gold in it some where http://www.drillspot.com/products/28501 ... niting_Gun They used to cost around $50 and had to start buying them by 6 or 12 depending on how they were packaged for use in the CATV work I did for 13 yrs. I have 3 new ones left. Out the door and shipped US $80 each

[FirstYearDeek]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

...Apply just enough clear so that you cannot see the base coat through the clear uncured powder.
Does that make sense?

That makes total sense. I'll do a part tomorrow using that method...

I do usually use an LED light to shine through the powder, but I haven't yet on clear. I figured the powder wasn't opaque so the chrome would always shine through no matter how thick I put it on!

Thanks for all the tips guys, the acrylic clear shipped today (On Sunday! WOW) and I'll do some experimenting tomorrow with test pieces. When the other clear shows up I'll do a side-by-side...

Thanks again!

-Deek

[Guest]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

easy on the acrylic and watch the temp. It will still darken the chrome but its one of the best you can get.
A lot of the pictures you see posted are done with no clear so you get what you get with the clear coat! there is no workaround it! The better the chrome the better the candies and transparent work, so keep that in mind when dealing with it and don't try something that is made to go over real chrome or stainless or polished aluminum and think it will work. It WANT do it. Like the Black Chrome ones and the trans black. They need to be on the real surface to look right.

[FirstYearDeek]

Re: Help with clear over chrome

...don't try something that is made to go over real chrome or stainless or polished aluminum and think it will work. It WANT do it. Like the Black Chrome ones and the trans black. They need to be on the real surface to look right.

See, now there's something I didn't know... When the Black Chrome product states "shoot over chrome" I assumed they meant chrome powder.

I haven't tried any candies or chrome effects like that, but it's good to hear it in that way.

-Deek