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Out of curiosity has anyone tried or seen anything done with Eastwoods Liquid Chrome paint or the reflective chrome powder coat? Neither are the current typical hardware store spray paint products we all know that call themselves chrome. These claim to be a decent substitute for the real thing that could pass on non show items. Just wondering if either is really passable for chrome at one yard or only 10 yards or more.

Howard,
There have been a few threads on this topic on the AACA web site.
forums.aaca.org/f120/chrome-spray-systems-283520.html
forums.aaca.org/f169/jay-leno-demonstrates-new-spray-chrome-336134.html

David

The video of Jay showing the application of it may be in David's link above. But here it is. They just "hose" it on like water. ...no careful spraying at all.

youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8

Thanks for the all the links. They do all appear to be talking about the stuff Leno showed in the video. Leno is right when he says chrome shops have all but disappeared in California and is the reason I'm looking for options for some small items.

The video process is impressive compared to what usually passes for spray chrome -- particularly on the potmetal piece. Didn't find a US retail outlet for that particular name although there is a product called Spectra Chrome that looks like it may be the same.

The one Eastwood offers doesn't appear to be quite the same stuff but maybe it is. This is the one I'm curious about anyone having experience with since it is something readily available.eastwood.com/ew-liquid-chrome-and-clear-kit.html

I checked the web site for the stuff Jay Leno had and they claim the company is defunct.

It was some kind of two liquid process which started with something like a grey Epoxy paint which was allowed to set up and then they hosed on this greenish liquid which slowly built up as chrome.

Then they clear-coated it.

It certainly looked just like real Chrome but I gather from the Leno's Garage show that it can't take any abuse as it is about like paint.

Could work on small things that don't go out in the snow and salt like dash knobs and inside trim things.

But Defunct according to the web site.

Jim

At one time I was looking into chrome substitutes. The plan was to serve the hot rodders and secondary old car segment. For example, try pricing the grille on a 55 Studebaker. The process was water based and used a silver ion. The samples looked okay, but definitely like a substitute. More like what you see on plated plastic.

I dropped the idea after I ran into a few old car bad apples. The best way to get even was to let them choke on plating bills.

i watched a few you tube videos on spray on chrome, its been around for awhile.

think you need to watch out if you take something in to have chromed now.. they could paint it instead..

but charge you the chrome price..

eastwoods looked dull to me, and they use aluminum mixture from what I saw.

might want to check out auto paint stores to see what they say or have.

one video showed a car door being sprayed chromed,,looked like paint shop..

Krylon or Cook & Dunn has had a paint, "Almost Chrome" or perhaps "Nearly Chrome", for quite a few years. For exterior trim it's at best a 40-footer, but it does have uses, for example inside tail light housings and reflectors to enhance reflectivity. It might also be tolerable to some for small pieces of interior trim. Also for small and not very noticeable underhood parts that were originally nickel or chrome. But don't expect it to look like real chromium plating.