Any powder coating color close to chrome?

[Mark Parks]

I am thinking about getting some GTA wheel lips powder coated chrome,and want to know if there is color that would look good in chrome. How close would it be to chrome?

 

[Bobs rare 6]

You need skis where you are at!

 

[Mark Parks]

You need skis where you are at!

lol

 

[rmar]

I am thinking about getting some GTA wheel lips powder coated chrome,and want to know if there is color that would look good in chrome. How close would it be to chrome?

The only substitute for chrome is chrome.......
Chrome powder is OK in its place..Small brackets, round stock ect..... The larger the area the more unchrome it appears.. Jmo.
If that's the way u choose to go...I believe Tiger Drylac had the best, Dupont also OK.
If you use the European clear it will have a blue tint, if u use the US version it has a yellow tint.
And you must clear the chrome powder if you want it to last.
Hey but what do I know........

 

[m233roller]

NOTHING !!!!!!

 

[rmar]

NOTHING !!!!!!

The funny part Mike is when Tiger first made there new chrome and black chrome I ran most of there real world samples for them.... Let's just say black chrome needed a Lil work. Now the chrome actually looks OK in its place I've seen the black chrome come out any where from grey to green.

The chrome powder would look good on some wheels as long as you are not expecting actual chrome.
Upside no polishing years of maintenance free looks if done properly. And I prefer the European clear.
Its the same BMW and Mercedes uses.

 

[m233roller]

Very interesting Ronnie,
We have a powder coater here that thinks he knows everything. When black chrome came out I went to him about powder coating ALL my brackets, caps, covers, ect. in black chrome and he says OH yeah no problem. Paid damn good money and it came back a grayish. I was pissed but that's the way it is and I still have & love my blue.
Here's some of it.

PS. Sorry for the Hijack Mark. Thanks Mike

 

[Jay J]

Mike, actually those parts look pretty good. IMO. As Easy said above, smaller parts have a better result with the powder coat.

 

[turbobully]

The process is called PVD chrome google it there is a ton of info on it. Edelbrock uses it for their carbs, intakes, water pumps, etc. Lots of aftermarket and now OEM rim manufacturers offer it. You need a vacuum metalizing system to apply the chrome in between a base of powder and a top clear coat. Its what my company does but we use liquid paint rather than powder and its maily for plastics. In fact we are the largest interior chrome restoration shop in the country. We work with another resto company who strips the parts (dash board, instrument cluster bezels, shifter bezels, etc) down to bare plastic sends them to us for the vacuum metalizing or PVD chrome. All the 60's and 70's muscle cars had metalized interior chrome and ALL head light, tail light marker light reflectors have always been vacuum metalized. I have worked with a local powder coater to try and dial in the process but its not feasible unless you have the powder coating equipment and metalizing equipment under one roof. Attached is a picture of a bike frame we did. You are going to see more and more electroplated chrome replaced with this process because of design flexibility, cost, and environmental impact. Hope this info helps.

 

[turbobully]

here is good youtube link on the process

 

[coach]

This is my radiator from Alradco.

 

[coach]

The process is called PVD chrome google it there is a ton of info on it. Edelbrock uses it for their carbs, intakes, water pumps, etc. Lots of aftermarket and now OEM rim manufacturers offer it. You need a vacuum metalizing system to apply the chrome in between a base of powder and a top clear coat. Its what my company does but we use liquid paint rather than powder and its maily for plastics. In fact we are the largest interior chrome restoration shop in the country. We work with another resto company who strips the parts (dash board, instrument cluster bezels, shifter bezels, etc) down to bare plastic sends them to us for the vacuum metalizing or PVD chrome. All the 60's and 70's muscle cars had metalized interior chrome and ALL head light, tail light marker light reflectors have always been vacuum metalized. I have worked with a local powder coater to try and dial in the process but its not feasible unless you have the powder coating equipment and metalizing equipment under one roof. Attached is a picture of a bike frame we did. You are going to see more and more electroplated chrome replaced with this process because of design flexibility, cost, and environmental impact. Hope this info helps.

It's called Vapor Deposition coating. My friends Vapor chamber was $750,000 to set up. They do wheels for Mercedes, BMW, Callaway, and several others. It is really cool. It paid for itself in less then 5 years.

 

[turbobully]

Coach what company? We worked with GM on initial process


Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

 

[turbobully]

PVD is physical vapor deposition or vacuum metalizing


Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

 

[coach]

Coach what company? We worked with GM on initial process


Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

I honestly wish I knew. He doesn't do any work but contracted work, and has never told neither myself nor my friend who uses him. We've asked for the address to ship to, and he has us drop off our stuff at his house. I just picked up some items a few weeks ago, and the boxes they came in were blank...
He doesn't want tortured with requests, so he says.
He did do my intake, turbo housing, and timing cover...

 

[Jerryl]

Wow Coach. That looks fantastic.

 

[turbobully]

that looks awesome! how long have you had it on the car? The only issue with PVD chrome is the metal has a tendency to shift or crack if the temps get hotter than the cure temp of the under coating (the powder primer) the metal is actually only 1000 angstroms or .1 microns thick....

 

[turbobully]

That actually looks like he used aluminum not chrome but hard to say without seeing in person. Al is more common than chrome for this process because its brighter than chrome. Its what edelbrock uses

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/endurashine/intro.shtml

 

[turbobully]

I am not trying to promote my business here by any means but if you guys want to learn more about the process check out my website www.muellercorp.com we have been in business since 1955 my grandfather was a pioneer in the vacuum metalizing service industry.

 

[Jerryl]

I am not trying to promote my business here by any means but if you guys want to learn more about the process check out my website www.muellercorp.com we have been in business since 1955 my grandfather was a pioneer in the vacuum metalizing service industry.

Seriously man that looks great!
I say, become a vendor, promote away, and give member discounts.