Extreme Chrome problem

[BobPastor]

Hi Guys,

I followed the sticky note directions and have a problem.

After bringing the chrome back up to temp and applying Lollipop red and curing it properly, after the piece cooled down the chrome is showing fractures in it like cracked ice. The top coat looks great but the cracks below really show thru.

Can the piece be reheated to close the cracks?

Thanks for all the help in advance.

Bob

[JTW37]

If the piece has been completely curred, no. You will have to strip and start from scratch. The sticky is for using clear coat to retain the chrome look. I don't know if would apply to using a candy. I've read that the candy don't effect the chrome powder the way clear does, because of different formula for the clear, which is the UV protection.

[Harleydad]

I have to ask, how do know it was cured properly?

[BobPastor]

I cured it according to the sticky note above. 375 for 30 minutes and the chrome looked great, then after the lollipop cooled the fractures appeared. The top coat is smooth but the chrome seems to have pulled apart like ice cracking.

[Harleydad]

Are you checking the part temp with an I.R. Temp gun or you just put it oven at 375 for 30 minutes. That 375 refers to the part temp.

[BobPastor]

I used the IR gun. The chrome looked great when it first came out but cracked only after I got the lolli pop finished.

Lance from Casswell just emailed me and said those sticky instructions were only for clear coating. I'm still waiting for his second response. This one just has me baffled.

Bob

[Harleydad]

Next question. Did you shoot the chrome surface with the I.R. gun? It won't read shiney surfaces very accurately. When doing chromes I try to take the part temp on an uncoated surface i.e inside of a valve cover.
You could try putting the part thru another cure cycle, other than that I think you may have to strip it.

[BobPastor]

I'll try another heat cycle and see what happens.

I'll let you know.

Thanks,

Bob

[JTW37]

Originally Posted by JTW37

If the piece has been completely curred, no. You will have to strip and start from scratch. The sticky is for using clear coat to retain the chrome look. I don't know if would apply to using a candy. I've read that the candy don't effect the chrome powder the way clear does, because of different formula for the clear, which is the UV protection.

Harleydad, is my above reference correct or close to correct, for future reference for me? Or am I off base?

[BobPastor]

Problem solved. I re heated piece to 400 for 15 minutes and fractures seemed to melt back together and stayed together. It was almost like the top coat pulled the extreme chrome apart after curing the top coat.

Thanks For All The Help.

Bob