Summary for flexible spray chrome Discussion
Flexible spray chrome is the key phrase here, but Sheldon Taylor says true chrome is neither flexible nor applied in the simple DIY way shown on TV. In response to Heath Wynhoven’s question about chroming a motorbike frame and accessories, Sheldon explains that the product likely was not real chrome plating at all. Instead, it was probably a high-quality chrome-look paint or a metallized coating made to resemble a mirror finish. He suggests that the TV demonstration may have been misleading and points readers to an introduction to chrome plating for a better understanding of the real process. The practical takeaway is that if the goal is a chrome appearance, a chrome-look coating may be possible, but actual chrome plating is a different process and not flexible.
Q. Hi,
I’m an Australian who is interested in chroming my motorbike frame and accessories. I recently saw on TV (forget what show) a flexible spay chrome. It appeared to be a do-it-yourself product. The steps were: clean part, wet with de-mineralized (maybe de-Ionized) water, spray on a liquid chrome (like spray paint, but not paint) dry w/compress air dry, and done! 100% flexible too. The part shown on TV was soft plastic and very flexible. It did not look like chrome spay paint at all, this looked like chrome!
do you know what this is? and how I might go about getting the product? thank you.
Heath Wynhoven
hobbyist – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2007
Spray Chrome
Chrome-look Paint Systems
on
eBay
(affil link)
A. Chrome is neither flexible, Heath, nor can it be applied anything like that. You may find our
Introduction to Chrome Plating helpful.
What you saw may have looked like chrome on TV, but it’s actually high quality chrome-look paint, metallized in a fashion similar to mirrors. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
A. I saw the show Heath, I seem to remember hearing the statement that the process was proprietary and not available to the public as a do it yourself kit. That would mean that you have to send your parts to them to be coated. I thought it was very impressive.
Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
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