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Topic: Chrome Technique |
Hiro Keitora
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 26 Nov 2006 8:42 am |
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I don't know this is right place for this question;
I need to change the apparence of "Chrome"( like Mic stand.) to Dark brown patinated Bronze look.
I guess I can re-plate copper over Chrome, and "age" the copper? Or is there other easier way to change the patina?
Anyone expert on Metal finishing out there?
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Gareth Carthew
From:
West Sussex, UK
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Posted 26 Nov 2006 9:35 am
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It kind of depends on the look you want.
There some pretty good metalic paints on the market these days. A rub down and coat or two of some bronze might give you what you are looking for.
If you want to go for a plated finish the chrome will be stripped off and the new finish plated onto the steel. I'm not sure abouts costs for plating where you are but in the UK I'd say the price is prohibitive for just a mic stand. |
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Tom Bradshaw
From:
Walnut Creek, California, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2006 1:21 pm
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It sound like what you want is available by powder coating. There are many, many colors and different styles of coatings. In fact, there is a beautiful copper color that has a mottled appearance. You mentioned some kind of a patina finish. I believe that one of the powder coatings is exactly that.
The chrome is first sand-blasted off, with the color then electrically applied. ...Tom |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 27 Nov 2006 11:14 am
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Well, you can't copper-plate over chrome. You'd first have to strip the parts in a hydrochloric acid bath (to remove the chrome), and then probably do a new nickel strike so the copper would adhere well.
Spray-painting would be cheapest alternative. Regular Rust-O-Leum paint adheres very well, but takes 2-3 days to dry fully. The powder coating would cost quite a bit more, but it give you a more durable finish. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2006 1:05 pm
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| There are mike stands that are just painted black. I would start with one of those instead of a chromed one. It would be a lot easier to refinish. |
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Larry Clark
From:
Herndon, VA.
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Posted 27 Nov 2006 2:30 pm
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| Quote: |
| I need to change the apparence of "Chrome"( like Mic stand.) to Dark brown patinated Bronze look. |
I know it's none of my business Hiro, but I gotta ask why?? |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2006 8:03 pm
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Rust-Oleum makes nothing that will adhere properly to chrome. I worked there in tech support. All the aerosold will come f with a fingernail, and epoxies won't hold either - masking tape will pull them right off.
To get the aged copper look, you have the chrome removed by abrasive blasting - not an easy nor cheap process - and apply a copper-pigmented coating . Most of them are avaialable with an aging toner that "greens" them off more quickly than natural weathering.
For a bronze look, as Tom said you could go to powder coating...but the chrome still has to come off.
It might be far cheaper to have aluminum tubing threaded and anodized in a bronze color. Anodizing is done in large batches and throwing in a couple mic stands would not be a big deal. |
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Hiro Keitora
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 6:26 pm
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Hmmmm...Not as easy as I thought...
But thank you so much everyone for great ideas and methods!
How about just "sand blusting" and spray over? Sand blust gives "mechanical grip" for the finish to adhere, no?
What do you think? I know it's kind of cheating, but it's a little easier than powder coating...
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Dave Potter
From:
Texas
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 6:52 am
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| Quote: |
| How about just "sand blusting" and spray over? Sand blust gives "mechanical grip" for the finish to adhere, no? |
No expert here, for sure, but I'd think you'd need to deal with that smooth chrome finish to get anything else to adhere.[This message was edited by Dave Potter on 29 November 2006 at 06:54 AM.] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 9:03 am
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| Yes, you can sand-blast. Better yet would be to vapor-hone (abrasive blasting method using a liquid coolant). Of course, in a pinch, emery paper could be used to scuff up the surface for improved adhesion. Powder coating has an advantage over paint in that the deposited material is actually plastic, not paint. Therefore, it's impervious to many things that will affect a painted finish (lacquer thinners, strippers, and most acids). |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 6:32 pm
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Maybe buy a black stand, steel wool, clean and use the rustoleum coat over it for the look. Less hassle in the long run. My 2 cents.
Lefty |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 8:43 pm
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| Hiro - that's what I said. Abrasive blast and paint it (sand blast...not "blust"...is a bit archaic, sand isn't used much due to silicosis dangers). But blasting chrome off isn't cheap. It'd probably be far cheaper to get aluminum legs made and just save the chrome ones. |
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