clear coat for chrome?

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:22 pm

Hey guys I've got a problem. I'm making a base for a terminator brain chip that i had my brothers 3D print for me. I've done the base up like part of the inside of the terminator.And I've painted it rustoleum metal finish chrome. It looks amazing!

http://imgur.com/a3kPPDl

http://imgur.com/zl9DgLh

http://imgur.com/KEpc7Tl

The problem I'm having is the paint, even after a week to dry, is soft. So if i handel it to much it gets dull, or if i grip it to tight i can still leave a finger print. I wanted to put a clear coat on it to protect it and harden things up a bit. But as soon as a clear coat touches it, it fogs up an almost looks like i put a thin coat of flat white over it. I've tried three diferent brands of clear. And all of them do this.

Anyone have any idea what i can use as a clear over this?? I was thinking future wax migh work but i haven't been able to find any around here since they werw bought out by pledge. And my last bottle went dry about a month ago. Any help would be great! Thanks for looking guys.

Rogviler · Post by **Rogviler** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:15 pm

I bet you'll still have the stickiness problem no matter what you put on it, as the incompatibility of enamel on various vinyl and nylon products tends to migrate up through paint...

Unfortunately you'll probably have to strip it back and then you may or may not have luck with first priming it with a lacquer and then using the enamel over it.

-Rog

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 3:15 pm

The top part was made out of styrene though. The bottom and side were made from one of those lids from a kids chocolate milk. You can see one next to it in the pics. I don't think either piece was made from vinyl. I did put a primer coat and a coat of flat black under the chrome. I just want to put a clear on it to stop it from getting marred up while sitting on the shelf and being handled a little when people pick it up. The problem is the fogging issue i have as soon as the clear hits the chrome.

Rogviler · Post by **Rogviler** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:38 am

Oh, okay. I was following the lines of it being 3D printed, and sometimes those can be made of odd plastics that don't work well with enamels.

I'd still think it's a reaction issue, but I guess the primer would be the only suspect if everything else is "normal."

I'm afraid I've never found a clear for chrome paints that doesn't immediately ruin the metallic effect.

That isn't by chance their "silver leaf" paint, is it?

-Rog

dizzyfugu · Post by **dizzyfugu** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:54 am

Rogviler wrote: I'd still think it's a reaction issue, but I guess the primer would be the only suspect if everything else is "normal."

Second that. Many styrenes, especially from packagings, contain softeners that keep the material flexible - and make painting it/adhesion complicated if not impossible. If you want to stick with it, I'd redommend a thorough paint strip, some surface opening (sanding) and then several coats of acrylic primer, maybe even a filler coat first. That might improve adhesion, but the long term reactions of the softeners can only be guessed. Sometimes the paint cracks when the softener evaporates, or there are chemical reactions like yellowing, flaking or warping.

Concerning the chrome finish and a varnish: I also haven't found anything that preserves the "pure" look. My bet would be several thin coats of clear acrylic varnish, applied with an airbrush or rattle can, with good drying periods between the coats. But it still might tarnish the original finish, so I'd rather go with the uncoated result if that's O.K.

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 2:52 pm

thanks guys,

i was hoping for better news. Rogviler, yeah i didn't make it clear in my first post. the brain chip is what is 3D printed the base is a cap from a chocolate milk bottle from Mc Donalds with a styrene disk on top. that had a few screws added and a button from an old computer drilled and added, then scribed. i guess i'l have to just find a clear case to put this in so it's more hands off on the shelf. thanks again.

i have another lid that i'm using as a test piece so if i find a clear that works i'll let you guys know.