"Spray Chrome" / "Chrome-look Paint"

Spray chrome is a well-designed shiny paint system and actually has nothing to do with chromium and its hazards. Spray chrome is something a motivated hobbyist can do.

Most spray chrome systems involve 3 layers, sometimes 4 --

• The first (or the first two) are base layers, maybe a black base or a clearcoat, or both, to provide a good even base.
• Next comes the second and central step, the shiny layer. This can be a layer of very tiny aluminum flakes, but it is probably more common to do simultaneous spraying of a silver-based chemical and a reducing agent, using basically the same technology as is used to make glass mirrors.
• Finally comes a clear coat to protect the very thin shiny layer.

Describing it as 3 basic steps should not be interpreted to mean that it's drop-dead easy to get perfect results, or that the chemistry and interaction between the layers is trivial. Rather, suppliers have worked hard for a long time to develop this imitation of chrome plating.