Alclad masters - I need advice

[DD_fan96]

These are my first two attempts using alclad2 chrome.

I stripped the paint off the busts, primed them with duplicolor primer, used testors gloss black enamel through my airbrush for the base coat, then misted alclad2 on them. Each painting step was approx. 2-4 days apart.

They look almost oxidized? Anybody seen this in their paintups before? Did I do something wrong?

I used about 1/2 a 1oz bottle on these busts, did I put it on too thick? I need advice, thanks.

[nanokiller]

did you shake the bottle very well before you applied the chrome? also, what did you set your psi too?

[Danno]

It looks like the base coat that you applied was not
slick/shiny enough. The key to getting that really
shiny chrome is not how you spray the chrome paint
but rather how ultra silky smooth and shiny the gloss
black is. This is by far the most difficult part and
something I still struggle with from time to time.

Spraying a nice even wet looking gloss black is easy in
small areas (bracelets, boots, helemts, etc...), but
much more difficult on larger areas.

With continued experimenting, here is what I found
works best for me.

1.) Spray your enamel gloss black in a solid even coat.
2.) wait 30 minutes.
3) Spray a 2nd coat of gloss black, applying a
thicker "wet coat" where the paint looks very slick and shiny.
4.) While the gloss black is still wet/not dry, quickly
spray on your first coat of Alclad Chrome. The reason
I do this is 2 fold, first...I find that much greater
adhesion of the paint happens if this is done and the
chrome is less likely to simply rub off on your fingers.
And secondly, it comes out more shiny.
5.) Wait about 30 minutes and spray a second coat of alclad for a nice even spray/coat.
6.) Use a hair dryer to help speed dry/cure the paint
and allow to dry over night.

I hope this helps

[DD_fan96]

Originally Posted by nanokiller

did you shake the bottle very well before you applied the chrome? also, what did you set your psi too?

Oh yeah, I shook the fool out of it. I used 12-15 psi.

[DD_fan96]

Originally Posted by Danno

It looks like the base coat that you applied was not
slick/shiny enough. The key to getting that really
shiny chrome is not how you spray the chrome paint
but rather how ultra silky smooth and shiny the gloss
black is. This is by far the most difficult part and
something I still struggle with from time to time.

Spraying a nice even wet looking gloss black is easy in
small areas (bracelets, boots, helemts, etc...), but
much more difficult on larger areas.

With continued experimenting, here is what I found
works best for me.

1.) Spray your enamel gloss black in a solid even coat.
2.) wait 30 minutes.
3) Spray a 2nd coat of gloss black, applying a
thicker "wet coat" where the paint looks very slick and shiny.
4.) While the gloss black is still wet/not dry, quickly
spray on your first coat of Alclad Chrome. The reason
I do this is 2 fold, first...I find that much greater
adhesion of the paint happens if this is done and the
chrome is less likely to simply rub off on your fingers.
And secondly, it comes out more shiny.
5.) Wait about 30 minutes and spray a second coat of alclad for a nice even spray/coat.
6.) Use a hair dryer to help speed dry/cure the paint
and allow to dry over night.

I hope this helps

Thanks Danno, I really appreciate it. I will definitely try this method, hopefully this weekend.