Chrome on Plastic
Has anyone ever rechromed or chrome painted a plastic knob such as a 67 lighter knob?
If I can find a method, I'll give it a try with a spare original I have.
If I can find a method, I'll give it a try with a spare original I have.
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Jerry Fuccillo
1967 327/300 Convertible since 1968 -
Re: Chrome on Plastic
Hey Gerard !
Try this place. They do chrome on plastic for model cars. They can probably help. They do dash parts for real cars too !
Tom Hendricks
Proud Member NCRS #23758
NCM Founding Member # 1143
Corvette Department Manager and
Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet. -
Re: Chrome on Plastic
Jerry:
I plate plastic all the time. Caswell has all the supplies you need although it is costly for one item. First you need to make the plastic electrically conductive.
You need to coat the plastic with a paint that will adhere to plastic and have conductive qualities. "Silvaspray" from Caswell is the coating. It is expensive because it is rich in silver. Then you need to plate with acid copper so you can get a very smooth, shiny base for the nickel/chrome or their "Copy Chrome" which is nickel in a cobalt enriched bath which makes the plate tarnish proof and have the deep "bluish" quality of chrome. I have been using this for several years.
JeffComment
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Re: Chrome on Plastic
Jerry, a coupleof vendors advertise in Hemmings for chroming plastic interior parts if you want to farm it out. Search under services at Hemmings.com.
SteveComment
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Re: Chrome on Plastic
Original parts were created with a process known as "vacuum metalizing" Been 40 years since I saw it in our engineering lab at work, so I don't remember all the deatils, but "Hemmings" has ads in the "services" section for folks who have the equipment to re-metalize old parts if you underlying plastic is in good shape.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: Chrome on Plastic
The part to be "chromed" is placed in a vacuum along with a piece of aluminum. The aluminum is melted with an electric arc and the molten aluminum is deposited on everything inside the vacuum chamber.
I am sure it is more complex than that, but that is the basic process. I would expect some protective coating is also applied to the deposited aluminum, but I don't know what that might be.TerryComment
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Re: Chrome on Plastic
Mr. G's in Forth Worth does alot of MOPAR knob rechroming. (817) 831-3501 mrgs@mrgusa.com www.mrgusa.com Gary....
NCRS Texas Chapter
https://www.ncrstexas.org/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631Comment
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Re: Chrome on Plastic; Farm it out...
Gary,
I really did investigate the vacuum metallizing, but I couldn't fit the equipment in the garage (as well as pay for it). Also not into the Caswell Copy Chrome, yet.
So my Plan B for one lighter knob is to investigate the mirror chrome paint, airbrushed on, like they do with the models.
Looks like another project coming up, and before I finish the last.
But having lots of fun.
Jerry Fuccillo
1967 327/300 Convertible since 1968Comment
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Re: Chrome on Plastic
Jerry:
If this paint is the laquer paint that you put on over a gloss black, I have tried it and was not satisfied. On a very small part it looked ok but the larger the part the more it did not appear to be chrome. I would be anxious to see your reults and hear your opinion. By the way- CopyChrome is a great product for small pieces like brackets or fasteners. I took a small deduct for some screws that were "too nice" (not typical factory production) at the Novi regional that were plated with this. Let us all know how the paint works.
JeffComment
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