Who dose plastics

[customandsound]

What can be sprayed on plastics to chrome plate them? Better yet .. Dose any one Plate plastic. These are for my personal show car.. I was going to low cure powder them but i want a better look

[fly]

I used the paint from caswell, but it is hard to do but it can be done.

[customandsound]

What paint? silva chrome..

[fly]

Silvaspray™ - Silver Conductive Paint
I had trouble with my airbrush spraying a smooth finish, but I did get the copper to plate on the paint. The part was a plastic chain gaurd for a sport bike.

[customandsound]

you got a pic ?

Any one else..

[fly]

Sorry I don't take pictures because I don't have a camra.

[customandsound]

thanks any ways..

[fxstcguy98]

I have never tried this, but a guy on an electroplating forum uses this method, others have tried this and they were successful. Let me know if it works. The plate he is refering to is copper.

NAPA Balkamp # 765-1375 is a 2 oz bottle of superfine graphite. I've
been using some clear lacquer I had for clear coating cars and some cheap
thinner. 1 oz of lacquer to 7 oz thinner and about 1/4 oz of graphite. I use
an airbrush and hold back about 12-14 in with a couple fine coats. After
drying completely I take some powdered graphite on a cloth and lightly rub
the surface to get a slate grey coating.This will even out the graphite and
make a good conductive coat. I start with the lowest amps I could go to start
the plating and go to .1-.3 amps/sq.in when I have full coverage.

[mcaswell]

Try just mixing the graphite into the lacquer thinner without any lacquer.
Then spray that on. The lacquer will soften the plastic and the graphite will stick to it without any lacquer as a glue.

In fact, the graphite is more conductive doing this.

[Alpesh24]

Re: Who dose plastics

Try just mixing the graphite into the lacquer thinner without any lacquer.
Then spray that on. The lacquer will soften the plastic and the graphite will stick to it without any lacquer as a glue.

In fact, the graphite is more conductive doing this.

Sorry to bump up this post agian...

If i mix some superfine graphite & lacquer thinner together and spray that onto to plastic, wait for it to dry, can i then brush plate the coated plastic?

Where can i buy superfine graphite in the UK?

[STAINER88]

Re: Who dose plastics

You can get the graphite from http://www.graphitetrading.co.uk/ its about ?17 a kilo. Let us know if it works.

[STAINER88]

Re: Who dose plastics

I should of said, I doubt that you can brush plate onto the graphite. After you have sprayed it you need to rub on some graphite to thicken the part up. It will more than likely make a very rough surface. Thats why you acid plate it after as that will make a smooth surface. What kind of plastic are you trying to plate?

[brucegorby]

Re: Who dose plastics

I recently posted a query on a similar thread concerning plastic toys (looking for details on the Silver Nitrate method). I am also interested in the graphite method. I would be graphite coating resin beads.

Have you actually used this method Stainer88? Somebody else? I would be interested in finding out how "rough" the surface is likely to be following the rub. I would also like to know whether it can be plated without the rub, and how it looks when it's done (good results?).

Also, if you're familiar with a stateside supplier, that would be helpful. If not, I'm sure I can find one.

Any info you have is appreciated! Thanks.

[STAINER88]

Re: Who dose plastics

I have never tries this method but I have used a graphite paint. It left the part quite grainy. If I was you id try Ebay as I know there are a few sellers in the USA that sell micro fine metals and powders. I tryed making my own conductive paint but I didnt have much luck. The paint was conductive but cracked n chipped as soon as I touched it. The best resuts I have got when plating plastic parts is using SILVASPRAY and to mask the parts I dont want plated I used nail laqure then Acid copper plated them. As Caswell says somewhere on this fourm there is no way round about it.

[brucegorby]

Re: Who dose plastics

Thanks Stainer88 for your comments . They have been helpful.

I finally bit the bullet and just ordered the stuff (hopefully the right stuff). It was, as you said, available on ebay. I will try to play around a bit with both the silver nitrate and the graphite methods. When I have some idea of how it works, I'll post again.

In the meantime, if anyone else has comments, I'd love to hear......