Polished Aluminum Look On Fiberglass

[DOORGUY]

Is it possible to paint a fiberglass body to look like polished aluminum i.e. Kirkham look? I recall a post on here sometime ago about a Japanese Co. that was doing different color chroming. Not sure if this is what I'm talking about though.

[Tim Brewer]

I have seen a new kind of chrome paint that looks real good. I've also seen a sorta chrome wrap as well.

[Obsessive]

Originally Posted by DOORGUY

Is it possible to paint a fiberglass body to look like polished aluminum i.e. Kirkham look? I recall a post on here sometime ago about a Japanese Co. that was doing different color chroming. Not sure if this is what I'm talking about though.

I've seen something about this on TV car shows and it looks great. On TV. However, fiberglass wiggles with time and I think the long-term result could be pretty unattractive. Maybe just the stripes?

[Dimis]

ha' hum...

Perhaps this will suffice?

Morphing a Cobra into the P51 concept

Seriously cool work...


Enjoy

[fordracing65]

Yes, their is a gold wrapped cobra by me that shines like 24k...not paint but vinyl wrap...

[Double Venom]

Their IS a special two stage paint that looks "exactly" like chrome. Requires the part to be painted Black first, then the chroming color on top. "IF" successful the results are simply breath taking!

I've done it numerous times for parts of a Cobra and some of my street rods. Very expensive and extremely hard to get the proper finish!

I have won countless painting awards over the years, including "Dupont's" Top Gun award and I wouldn't even begin to try and paint an entire car with it!

Just look up Chrome paint on Google and you should find it. If you decide to go with it, hire the best painter you can find and good luck! I /WE would love to see the finished product!

[TN Shelby Cobra]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsP8pbaRRI8[/ame] Is what you guys talking about used under the hood of this Daytona Coupe and on the ceiling of the interior? Mark

[CobraDan]

Custom Metal Plating and Painting

Custom Metal Plating and Painting

[Double Venom]

OK,
Before we get to far away, the company is 'ALSA'. This is the link:

Alsa Corp | The World's Most Exotic Paints and Finishes

(Hey Dan!)

[Metal-morphous]

Paints are nice but there's Nothing like REAL aluminum :-)


Real aluminum plated to fiberglass. Get out your metal polish!!

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by Double Venom

Their IS a special two stage paint that looks "exactly" like chrome. Requires the part to be painted Black first, then the chroming color on top. "IF" successful the results are simply breath taking!

After awhile the coat turns yellow because of the UV rays.

Here you see my bike, the side cover after two seasons. Some of the crotch rocket guys spent thousands of $$$ just to see their "chrome" bike turn into vintage varnish.....

[RACERAL]

Cosmichrome is what you want. This is the web site
Chrome paint. Cosmichrome Spray on chrome.
This stuff works. I have done extensive research on this. Yes there are 2 other companies that make a similar product that does turn yellow.
If I had metal, I would use real chrome, If it was fiberglass or plastic, or some other non metallic surface , I would give it a try.

[Double Venom]

Someone show me a piece of Also chrome that has turned yellow please? Built with UV inhibitors. Taken from Duponts 5500 Glamour clear. Another point on the paints that DO turn yellow. It is the clear coat changing NOT the paint color. Going on 10 years on a MC I partially chromed and no yellow the last time I saw it. Haven't seen it in a couple of years though, going to try and find the owner and see if he has any negative comments now.

[Tenrocca]

Mine is done brushed aluminium look on fibreglass. It is aluminium powder mixed in resin, thinned and sprayed on. Wet sanded smooth and scotchbrited. In the pic below I had the stripes polished (as you would regular aluminium), but it doesnt come up as nice. Ive since put on black vinyl stripes. It was a bit of work but very cheap to do and has been on the car for about 5 years.

[Rog246]

Did you paint that with a brush !!!

[Paintwerks]

Google Spectra Chrome. West Coast Customs built a custom Audi R8 for the Tron premiere in full mirror chrome with this process. Looked fantastic!

[Silversmith]

By far the best & chrome look is not a paint product. It is real silver!! It is silver nitrate, the same material used to make mirrors. Silver nitrate is 99% real silver! It can be applied via a spraying process very similar to painting. If applied properly it does not yellow and can be made completely pliable to the point of being able to hold up under the stress of a motocross dirt bike fender!! I actually purchased the system & spent a fair bit of cabbage to build a paint booth and other required equipment to use the process. The steps are quit simple. 1. clean & coat the desired part with the suggested primer. 2. Then coat the part with the silver nitrate. 3. Apply the desired translucent color of your choice. Red, black, yellow, purple, etc. Finally clear coat the part. Presto! you have a true colored chrome part Any color can be had except white. If you want white; the chrome/mirror look will have to do. This product can be applied to almost anything, metal, fiberglass, stone, wood etc. It has the same strength as most any automotive paint. But will only resist a heat range of the low 200 degree mark. After that it will start to darken, the higher the heat the darker it will become. So it's not so hot for engine parts, like valve covers & the like. But plastic cover parts seem to do quite well. If you wish to have a closer look go to Spectrachrome.com. The site also list quite a few shops around the country that do the work & they display their work for all to see. Some of you might remember a few years ago a well know paint shop did a Tron movie tribute Audi in chrome & plexiglass. The process used was Spectrachrome. IMO spectra chrome has it all over cosmichrome.

ps: the estimated cost of doing an AC body in spectra chrome should range between 15 to 30k. No one said is was cheep

[itstock]

Wrong wrap

[DOORGUY]

Thanks for a ton of ideas guys. I really like the aluminum plating from Metal-Morphous. I will be in touch to get pricing. I must say it looks expensive!

[cycleguy55]

There's a local guy here who claims he can vinyl wrap a car for $1,500 - and some of those include chrome finishes. I haven't seen his work but if he's any good that sounds like a good price.