Extreme Chrome 1st time

[JTW37]

Just did a cast iron intake for a guy, in extreme chrome and clear. First time for this type powder or intake. Felt like the clear dulled the finish from what it looked like with just the chrome. Maybe optical allusion?

The first time cured, got some spots that didn't take the powder and left bare places, plus had some puddling in these same area's. Looked like powder run off, from not sticking. Intake was baked for about two hours at 400 deg and then media blasted with black magic. Cleaned off with air then with metal cleaner, that I have used, before painting a car. So, I'm sure it was clean. The spots that were showing were maybe the Faraday effect?

I then used a Dremel tool and a small deburring tool, to remove the puddles. Re-coated and cured again. Turned out much better. Coated with clear and cured. Very pleasing, for the first time doing this type, but not 100%. Maybe 98%.

Turned off power to coat the pockets (to avoid Faraday) also turned down the air to about 5 psi. I guess I don't have a right to complain. The guy it belongs to flipped out. Thought it was great!

Anything you guys see I did or didn't do correctly?
See pictures - Thanks

[Harleydad]

Can ya repost the pic a little larger?

[JTW37]

I posted as large as I could on here. 97 kb is all that is allowed. I'll post them to the web and give the URL to them. All that I did that time is uploaded to the site.

http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...wder%20Coated/

[Harleydad]

Originally Posted by JTW37

Just did a cast iron intake for a guy, in extreme chrome and clear. First time for this type powder or intake. Felt like the clear dulled the finish from what it looked like with just the chrome. Maybe optical allusion?
Clear does that to chrome that needs a top coat. Be sure you fully cure chrome basecoat. You could try Eastwoods single stage chrome, no clear required.

The first time cured, got some spots that didn't take the powder and left bare places, plus had some puddling in these same area's. Looked like powder run off, from not sticking. Intake was baked for about two hours at 400 deg and then media blasted with black magic. Cleaned off with air then with metal cleaner, that I have used, before painting a car. So, I'm sure it was clean. The spots that were showing were maybe the Faraday effect? Faraday is probably the culprit and you got too much powder in the surrounding areas trying to get it covered.

I then used a Dremel tool and a small deburring tool, to remove the puddles. Re-coated and cured again. Turned out much better. Coated with clear and cured. Very pleasing, for the first time doing this type, but not 100%. Maybe 98%.

Turned off power to coat the pockets (to avoid Faraday) also turned down the air to about 5 psi. I guess I don't have a right to complain. The guy it belongs to flipped out. Thought it was great!

Anything you guys see I did or didn't do correctly?
See pictures - Thanks

Seems as though you did everything correctly. That intake looked to be in pretty rough shape to start with.

[Banditperformance]

Intakes are realy tricky to do. Because of the irregular shape, theu need special spraying attenion. Spray the tough nooks first, then the easier areas. That will lessen the chance of overbuildup. I also like to shoot intakes hot, 180* or so, lets you see the buildup better in the tough areas. Trick to Chrome, it will allways dull when clear is applied. But, Half cure the chrome, thn let cool to 180, then shoot the clear, and bake for the clear full clear time. Half baking allows the clear to adhere better to the chrome. And if you full bake the chrome, then let it cool. The aluminum particles start to oxidize, thus causing the dulling. Half baking, then sealing it with clear lessens the oxidization time it has with the air.

[JTW37]

Yep, because it look really good, until I put the clear on it. I mean it still looks good, but not like it did before I put the clear on it. Would it be a good or bad idea to not clear something that don't get to much sun or will it dull over time anyway.

I will try the heating it before coating, next time.

I do have an axle housing coming up and he wants it Chrome, so do I do it the same way? I would think so.

[Banditperformance]

Chrome needs the clear. It will oxidize, even if ind ors and turn grey. Will also scratch easily if not cleared

[JTW37]

Okay, thanks for the help. I will be ready next time. And that appears to be soon.