Interior/Exterior OK, this is going to sound like I'm being cheap, because I am.....
#1
OK, this is going to sound like I'm being cheap, because I am.....
but has anyone tried painting a small plastic piece with chrome paint, rather than paying though the nose for a "plated" one?
Specifically, the black side vent grills on my MC. I can get chrome plated original equipment ones from MossMini for $106.95/pair plus $10.25 shipping. I can get a can of chrome paint from AutoZone for $5.50. I don't want them to look cheap or cheesy but I've noticed the chrome plating on plastic parts appears to be little more than paint.
Think they'd look OK?
Specifically, the black side vent grills on my MC. I can get chrome plated original equipment ones from MossMini for $106.95/pair plus $10.25 shipping. I can get a can of chrome paint from AutoZone for $5.50. I don't want them to look cheap or cheesy but I've noticed the chrome plating on plastic parts appears to be little more than paint.
Think they'd look OK?
#2
resmini,
I have tried the exact thing you are going for.
I was unsuccessful, but maybe my experience can help you.
I should have sanded the grainy texture of the side vents before painting. The bumpiness of the original plastic gave it a matte finish appearance that did not look good to me. I got frustrated and then added more layers of paint than I should have and just made a mess.
Interestingly, I also ordered the expensive plated ones from Moss and was highly disappointed that their chrome shop did not bother to sand them either, and this gave the chrome the same matte finish that my spray painted ones had. I ended up disappointed with my expensive purchase and sold them in the marketplace. They looked good, but didn't look exactly right to me. . .
There is a process that is used to actually chrome plate plastic, but it is very expensive to have small pieces done on an individual basis.
I think you should give this a try and do a better job than I did.
It is definitely worth a try and maybe my mistake can help you to succeed. If so, I'll give it another shot. . .
In short, here is what I would do differently:
1) Mask off the inside space with the tiny black holes to prevent clogging with paint
2) prep the plastic surface by sanding until super smooth, even if it takes all night
3) be very very patient and let this paint dry completely before touching it (I got fingerprint impressions by being impatient)
4) clear coat afterwards
5) let Yucca know if it worked better than my failure so I can try again
I have tried the exact thing you are going for.
I was unsuccessful, but maybe my experience can help you.
I should have sanded the grainy texture of the side vents before painting. The bumpiness of the original plastic gave it a matte finish appearance that did not look good to me. I got frustrated and then added more layers of paint than I should have and just made a mess.
Interestingly, I also ordered the expensive plated ones from Moss and was highly disappointed that their chrome shop did not bother to sand them either, and this gave the chrome the same matte finish that my spray painted ones had. I ended up disappointed with my expensive purchase and sold them in the marketplace. They looked good, but didn't look exactly right to me. . .
There is a process that is used to actually chrome plate plastic, but it is very expensive to have small pieces done on an individual basis.
I think you should give this a try and do a better job than I did.
It is definitely worth a try and maybe my mistake can help you to succeed. If so, I'll give it another shot. . .
In short, here is what I would do differently:
1) Mask off the inside space with the tiny black holes to prevent clogging with paint
2) prep the plastic surface by sanding until super smooth, even if it takes all night
3) be very very patient and let this paint dry completely before touching it (I got fingerprint impressions by being impatient)
4) clear coat afterwards
5) let Yucca know if it worked better than my failure so I can try again
#3
Thanks Yucca, I appreciate your tips. I had thought about the masking but not about sanding it smooth first.
I painted a smooth piece of plastic with the chrome paint I got at AutoZone and thought it looked good. More of an aluminum look than chrome, but still not bad. Masking off the screen part and leaving it black looks good I think.
My biggest problem will be patience, I have very little.
I painted a smooth piece of plastic with the chrome paint I got at AutoZone and thought it looked good. More of an aluminum look than chrome, but still not bad. Masking off the screen part and leaving it black looks good I think.
My biggest problem will be patience, I have very little.
#4
#5
One of the SCMC members had a bonnet scoop chromed professionally at a motorbike place. It looked fantastic on his black convertible, until the chrome started coming off in sheets. Fortunately, he still had his black original scoop to drive around with. I haven't seen his car recently so I don't know what's going on with it now.
Steve?
Steve?
#7
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#8
Originally Posted by kenchan
its tough to get a chrome-like finish.
maybe there might be someone that's de-chroming that might trade
with yours.
maybe there might be someone that's de-chroming that might trade
with yours.
I almost ordered the chrome "S" grills which are on sale at MossMini for $25 a pair. I like them, but I guess I don't want to be an "S" wannabe.
#11
Originally Posted by kenchan
its tough to get a chrome-like finish.
maybe there might be someone that's de-chroming that might trade
with yours.
maybe there might be someone that's de-chroming that might trade
with yours.
ALTHOUGH, this one time i found this great spray that really came out with a great chrome finish....but it was some odd non-namebrand company which i forget at this point and have never seen again. All the others i have tried since then come out with a cool metal finish, but not a chrome.
#12
You might want to try Testors model paint (go to a model store). The side vent is small enough that the paint could be applicable, but I know they have a chrome silver that really does look like chrome.
They also make several (or did about eight-ten years ago) "metal" colors that can be buffed to a bare-metal finish for painting WWII aircraft and such.
They also make several (or did about eight-ten years ago) "metal" colors that can be buffed to a bare-metal finish for painting WWII aircraft and such.
#13
Thanks for the helpful comments.
I'm confessing I ordered the "S" chrome side grills from Mossmini because I like them, and they were a very reasonable $25/pair.
I'm still going to paint the black ones, but will spend some time looking around for a different paint. Like someone said, all the chrome paints aren't created equal, some actually look chromey, others just crummy.
In the meantime I will be violating MINI law by driving my CR/W MC around with a big CR "S" on the chrome side grills.
Live dangeously I always say .
I'm confessing I ordered the "S" chrome side grills from Mossmini because I like them, and they were a very reasonable $25/pair.
I'm still going to paint the black ones, but will spend some time looking around for a different paint. Like someone said, all the chrome paints aren't created equal, some actually look chromey, others just crummy.
In the meantime I will be violating MINI law by driving my CR/W MC around with a big CR "S" on the chrome side grills.
Live dangeously I always say .
#14
check this out....this might be a good bet. Although the price isn't exactly cheap. They even have chrome paint for fabrics if you want to bling-bling your seats
http://alsacorp.com/products/mirrach...irra_price.htm
http://alsacorp.com/products/mirrach...irra_price.htm
#15
Originally Posted by RallyMINI
check this out....this might be a good bet. Although the price isn't exactly cheap. They even have chrome paint for fabrics if you want to bling-bling your seats
http://alsacorp.com/products/mirrach...irra_price.htm
http://alsacorp.com/products/mirrach...irra_price.htm
#17
resmini- another thing you might want to try (if the black is what's
bothering you) is to get some factory color spraypaint and paint your
vent trim your body color. might look cool, and will be original.
ive bought factory paint from these people and they were both good.
PaintWorld has faster turnaround:
www.paintworldinc.com
www.paintscratch.com
bothering you) is to get some factory color spraypaint and paint your
vent trim your body color. might look cool, and will be original.
ive bought factory paint from these people and they were both good.
PaintWorld has faster turnaround:
www.paintworldinc.com
www.paintscratch.com
#18
Originally Posted by kenchan
resmini- another thing you might want to try (if the black is what's
bothering you) is to get some factory color spraypaint and paint your
vent trim your body color. might look cool, and will be original.
ive bought factory paint from these people and they were both good.
PaintWorld has faster turnaround:
www.paintworldinc.com
www.paintscratch.com
bothering you) is to get some factory color spraypaint and paint your
vent trim your body color. might look cool, and will be original.
ive bought factory paint from these people and they were both good.
PaintWorld has faster turnaround:
www.paintworldinc.com
www.paintscratch.com
Might be a good idea.
#21
painting plastic
Originally Posted by resmini
but has anyone tried painting a small plastic piece with chrome paint, rather than paying though the nose for a "plated" one?
Specifically, the black side vent grills on my MC. I can get chrome plated original equipment ones from MossMini for $106.95/pair plus $10.25 shipping. I can get a can of chrome paint from AutoZone for $5.50. I don't want them to look cheap or cheesy but I've noticed the chrome plating on plastic parts appears to be little more than paint.
Think they'd look OK?
Specifically, the black side vent grills on my MC. I can get chrome plated original equipment ones from MossMini for $106.95/pair plus $10.25 shipping. I can get a can of chrome paint from AutoZone for $5.50. I don't want them to look cheap or cheesy but I've noticed the chrome plating on plastic parts appears to be little more than paint.
Think they'd look OK?
I was going to buy the S grills for _much_ less $$ than the replacement Cooper vents, but my car is not an S, and I am nothing if not pretentious.
I've painted plastic before (motorcycle parts) with good results. Sand with a fine paper, and then make sure _all_ residue is removed before painting. I use either rubbing alcohol applied with a clean towel, or spray-can brake parts cleaner. That stuff takes _everything_ off the surface of whatever you spray it on. Since the vents are plastic, I would go with the alcohol, though. Then, don't touch any of the surfaces with your fingers that you want to paint.
I may try it on my stock vents with some 'chrome' (not really, though) spray paint just for $hi+$ and giggles.
Zip
#24
#25
Originally Posted by erickvonzipper
I was going to buy the S grills for _much_ less $$ than the replacement Cooper vents, but my car is not an S, and I am nothing if not pretentious.
I asked my wife what she thought and she said, "99% of the people around here have no idea what your car is, let alone whether it's an "S" or not".
I ordered the "S" grills from Moss.