chrome vs. rust

[RivkahChaya]

The the machine my son plays, the one I modded up anyway, because it was sold as not even being repairable (I have yet to see a truly unrepairable machine, unless it was one with so much water damage to the front, that it wasn't worth the work, but then my heart shouts "customize!")

Anyway, there is virtually no chrome left on the front, and I am thinking of sanding it, because I am worried about splinters.

What to do afterward raises many possibilities. I am not going to have it re-chromed, but I have fake-chromed auto parts, with high quality paint, and a glossy black undercoat, and it can look pretty impressive. However, since it's my son's hotrod, I thought I'd leave it to him, and if he wants to paint it teal, put racing stripes on it, or put reflective tape on it, that's his business. He wants to know if it can glow in the dark. I thought maybe putting paint that shows up under black light on it.

I know some purist is calling 911, or reaching for the defibrillator, but let me re-emphasize that this machine had no hope of being restored to original condition, and now it belongs to a 7-year-old.

Has anyone ever done anything like this (not the defibrillator, the non-chrome paint)?

[ballsofsteel]

House of Kolor makes glow-in-the-dark paint. It isn't cheap but you don't need much.

[Moparformances]

i have seen a few that were powder coated.. they look really nice and allot cheaper then recroming

[Mrtoad]

i have seen a few that were powder coated.. they look really nice and allot cheaper then recroming

Where would you get something like that done and is it expensive?


when I restored my pinball machine I needed to do something for the frame that went around the instruction card. It was rusted right through the plating. I looked into getting something cut for me out of stainless and it was around $50 which was more than I wanted to spend. I tried using rustoleum chrome paint on the frame and it looked good but even after 2 weeks the paint gets imprinted finger marks if you touch it. So in the end I wound up cutting a frame from a sheet of aluminum with utility knife. I like it but would like to know more about the powder coating. Thx!


Mike

[RivkahChaya]

Here's a youtube video of a guy applying chrome paint with a gloss black undercoat. The undercoat is really important (as is getting off ALL the rust-- if you can't, cannibalize another machine, or use something sandable, like Bondo for small holes).

I know people who do body work, and this can look really good-- the thing is, it won't match real chrome exactly, so you can't expect to paint just your rusty bottom strip if the rest of your chrome is pretty good. You are better off trying to replace the one strip. But if it's rusty everywhere, and you paint the whole thing, it can look good.

What I'm dealing with is nothing salvageable, and hoping that sanding doesn't destroy it.

I have tried to purchase parts machines, but every time, the machine has turned out to be fixable. At any rate, the boychik is 7, and would like something that looks cool to a 7-year-old. I think right now were going to go with black-light paint, and a strip of trim lights. He like to play in dim light-- like his room with the curtain drawn during the day-- so he can see the pay-out lights better. Maybe glow-in-the-dark paint on the spinners would be nice.

I know this is all very cheesy, but I'm happy my son is interested in this. He's not sitting in front of a video game that can't be customized-- he's playing a mechanical game he understands, and is using a certain amount of creativity to personalize it. He's also learning about using tools. I think a 7-year-old who know standard from Phillips, and can say "lefty-loosey, righty-tighty," even if he has to take a minute to remember which way is left, is good.

[Moparformances]

Where would you get something like that done and is it expensive?


when I restored my pinball machine I needed to do something for the frame that went around the instruction card.

powder coating is a good heavy layer of paint that is baked on.. not chrome... the cost should be fair.. i had a set of wheels for my truck powder coated a few years back 50 bucks a wheel and they sandblasted them and put 2 coats of powder on them... they really look good and really hard to scratch.. they offered something like 50 colors... and then you can get your choice of finish.. high gloss to flat

do an internet search for your area...

[CarlW]

Powder coated...

Remove upper hinge pin to separate door from frame

Learned that is very good idea to mask off hinge areas.

The product used was from Tiger Drylac

GINZA Front.jpg SANKYO Blue Frame Front 2.jpg

[Mrtoad]

They look great. Did you do them yourself or you had them done? They look really sharp.

Powder coated...

Remove upper hinge pin to separate door from frame

Learned that is very good idea to mask off hinge areas.

The product used was from Tiger Drylac

GINZA Front.jpg SANKYO Blue Frame Front 2.jpg

[CarlW]

They look great. Did you do them yourself or you had them done? They look really sharp.

Well, thank you!

Did not do myself; took it to a local sand blasting company. I think a special paint booth and oven are involved.
Cost was $75 each... OUCH

[Mrtoad]

$75 ouch but again they look sharp so in the scheme of things $75 well spent.

[RivkahChaya]

What is the undercoat? Is it gloss black, or a primer?

[CarlW]

What is the undercoat? Is it gloss black, or a primer?

Sorry, I don't have an answer...

[DrDark]

Take a crumpled wad of aluminum foil the size of a golf ball, dip it into soapy water and scrub the metal with it. Try a small area and you will be amazed with the result.

[Moparformances]

What is the undercoat? Is it gloss black, or a primer?

there is no undercoat...

the parts are sandblated and then powdercoated... probably 2 coats then baked in an oven.

its not like paint in the traditional sence

[RivkahChaya]

there is no undercoat...

the parts are sandblated and then powdercoated... probably 2 coats then baked in an oven.

its not like paint in the traditional sence

Oh...I know what that is; it's more like resin than paint. I just somehow had a brain cramp and didn't make the connection that those specifically were done that way, even though it was discussed upthread. It's been a long day-- boychik woke up @ 4:30 this AM and the stay-at-home parent is the one who has to get up with him, since theoretically, one can take a nap later, even though it rarely happens.