Chrome Powdercoat?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 4
From: Out and about
Chrome Powdercoat?
I'm wondering if anybody here has used chrome powder on their bike or anything else for that matter. If so, how does it look? How close is it to real chrome?
Seems like having parts dipped in real chrome is hugely expensive and if chrome powder looks good it would be a more affordable option.
Seems like having parts dipped in real chrome is hugely expensive and if chrome powder looks good it would be a more affordable option.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 351
From: MO
Some of the OEM car manufacturers are using chrome powder coat or a similar process. It's not as smooth or as deep as real chrome. I would describe the finish as a little grainier than real chrome. But it's cheaper and more durable.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 452
Likes: 7
From: Westminster, CA
PVD coating
Hello,
I believe that the finish you are asking about is known as "PVD" which stands for "Physical Vapor Deposition"
It's a bit more complicated than traditional powder coating but when applied on the right surface it can give a look that is close to real chrome.
In order to have a result like traditional chrome, you will need to make sure your parts are smoothed and polished to a mirror finish prior to having the coating applied.
My company offered this service for about three years. It was used primarily for items made of magnesium that could not be traditionally electro plated. We stopped offering it a couple years ago because it is very expensive and the finish is inferior to a real chrome plated part.
Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer.
JR
I believe that the finish you are asking about is known as "PVD" which stands for "Physical Vapor Deposition"
It's a bit more complicated than traditional powder coating but when applied on the right surface it can give a look that is close to real chrome.
In order to have a result like traditional chrome, you will need to make sure your parts are smoothed and polished to a mirror finish prior to having the coating applied.
My company offered this service for about three years. It was used primarily for items made of magnesium that could not be traditionally electro plated. We stopped offering it a couple years ago because it is very expensive and the finish is inferior to a real chrome plated part.
Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer.
JR
our shop uses powder chrome pretty often, on a large scale it would look great but to be honest nothing can sub for real chrome... if it helps here are a bunch of pictures of parts we have coated in chrome powder coat for you
parts from a 1920's barber shop we restored
and chrome powder HAS to be cleared, sad cause this is what it looks like without the clear
parts from a 1920's barber shop we restored
and chrome powder HAS to be cleared, sad cause this is what it looks like without the clear
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 4
From: Out and about
It looks much more like chrome before the clear, it looks like silver paint after. What would happen if you didn't clear? I want to do my primary, trans, and timing cover, so would it flake off without the clear?
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will not flake off, but will stain, yellow, and with some chemicals turn to goo. with clear it has a look of a dull rubbed alum. def not the same look as silver but also not chrome, your best bet is to find someone that has chrome covers and swap them or have yours coated black and trade