Brushed (DIY) chrome

T3nnant

T3nnant

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Since the "milky" chrome alu seems to be a pretty common problem, with no fixes apart from painting...

Has anyone tried sanding it down to give it a brushed alu look?
If so id love to hear how it went and turned out.

Having serious thoughts of trying it.
 
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just peel it off mate and do it again, I had a couple of bits on mine peel down at the very bottom, just repainted the bottom section and it blended in perfect with the old plastidip.
 
i have a brushed chrome /alu effect on my dash in lays that looks pretty good i would like to see what it would look like on the exterior chrome
 
T3nnant said:
Since the "milky" chrome alu seems to be a pretty common problem, with no fixes apart from painting...

Has anyone tried sanding it down to give it a brushed alu look?
If so id love to hear how it went and turned out.

Having serious thoughts of trying it.
Click to expand...


It's plastic mate. Getting it wrapped is what most seem to do. Want to get mine done soon. You could probably paint it, I've had that suggested to me.
 
Wrapping is definitely the way to go!
 
Just for the record, I think he rails are polished alloy and not chrome, hence people getting the milk effect when using a metal polish on them. Easy route would be to plastidip, tricky and better route is wrapping them. You will have to do both while the rails are attached. To remove the rails you we need to take the cabin roof lining out, which would be time consuming and a basta@rd one would think.

Good Luck,
BR
A
 
Molnboman said:
Just for the record, I think he rails are polished alloy and not chrome, hence people getting the milk effect when using a metal polish on them. Easy route would be to plastidip, tricky and better route is wrapping them. You will have to do both while the rails are attached. To remove the rails you we need to take the cabin roof lining out, which would be time consuming and a basta@rd one would think.

Good Luck,
BR
A
Click to expand...

I presumed he was meaning the chrome strips around the windows. These cannot be removed (not without destroying them) and replacements are ridiculous in cost! The best way to get them sorted is to get them professionally painted. After that its wrap then plasti-dip.

The problem with plasti-dip is the plastic chrome is a ****** for it to stick to properly. I have done my boot strip in plasti-dip, and while its not bad, its not great. The adhesion is not fantastic. It would be better with a light sanding with something like 1000 grit to give it a little purchase, and use an undercoat. But at that stage, might as well use proper paint and make it permanent. And therefore worth getting it professionally done.

Vinyl wrapping them is defiantly not a diy job. Well it is, as is anything really, but its a very tricky job. There are lots of slight angles, and small amounts that need covered. Again, in my opinion, worth getting it done professionally.

If you want to give it all a go, i would advise plast-dip to start with. Its very quick, and while not permanent and can peel off, its pretty easy to do. And its cheap. While its not perfect, and it wont look smooth (plasti-dip comes in a more rubbery texture), it will give you a good indicator for you to see if you like it black or not. If so, then worth getting it done professionally.
 
If you're going to light sand it, you might as well paint it properly! Plastidip is utterly terrible to put on exteriors. Vinyl wrap or painting them are the only 2 long term solutions.
 
Vinyl wrapping is **** mate. I did my mates Mini cooper S chrome surrounds. It is tricky sometimes but ive been doing it a while and its all about practice and for the money its not going to break the bank if you do mess up.

If you want something thats really easy to apply, try the 3M vinyls with the controltac adhesive, it doesn't stick until you apply pressure so its nice and easy to position it.
 
thanks for all the suggestions.

I have done a bit of wrapping, and i did have a quick go on the surrounds. Alot harder than i thought!
i started at the back with the smallest window, there are soo many angles you need to cut and is a real pain in the ****.
+ i did have chrome showing through which was a major contrast to the black.

Iv done plasti dip on grille before but as said above its not the best at sticking to a smooth finish without undercoats or something.

Im starting to edge towards proper bodyshop painting, but that will want me to get the rest of the car sorted too.


Although i have seen a couple of places near to where i work which are "vinal signs and graphics for vehicles" Im rather tempted to pop in and see if they could professionaly wrap them, then i can get some sort of warranty on them lasting.
 
Having just gotten mine wrapped, I'd defo recommend that route - very pleased with the outcome :)
 
looks great!

not sure i could pull that off though, im not the best with the stuff.
 
I wouldnt have tackled it myself either to be honest - but its maybe worth getting a quote from someone to do it?

I'd recommend my guy, but he's up here in Scotland.

The window surrounds actually looked like a lot easier job than the grille surround... but its easy for me to say that when I was jsut watching on haha!
 
T3nnant said:
Iv done plasti dip on grille before but as said above its not the best at sticking to a smooth finish without undercoats or something.
Click to expand...

Did you use the rattle cans of PD?

I've noticed the spray gun version of PD sticks better than the rattle can and lasts longer.

Also the cleaning of the surface helps a lot.

I did my mates Saab grill which is chrome and he's not had any issues with it for last 6 months.

I'm more than willing to do you grill for you.
I got black, Gunmetal or fluorescent red in stock. :)
 
ESD1711 said:
I wouldnt have tackled it myself either to be honest - but its maybe worth getting a quote from someone to do it?

I'd recommend my guy, but he's up here in Scotland.

The window surrounds actually looked like a lot easier job than the grille surround... but its easy for me to say that when I was jsut watching on haha!
Click to expand...
Bit of a distance sadly haha, im guna get a quote though I think, simplest option.
ScottB5 said:
Did you use the rattle cans of PD?

I've noticed the spray gun version of PD sticks better than the rattle can and lasts longer.

Also the cleaning of the surface helps a lot.

I did my mates Saab grill which is chrome and he's not had any issues with it for last 6 months.

I'm more than willing to do you grill for you.
I got black, Gunmetal or fluorescent red in stock. :)
Click to expand...
I used rattle can ye :( I can imagine the proper mixed stuff will be better though, tends to be. To be honest if I was going to have it redone, id probs go for wrapping as seems to last longer.
 
ScottB5 said:
Did you use the rattle cans of PD?

I've noticed the spray gun version of PD sticks better than the rattle can and lasts longer.

Also the cleaning of the surface helps a lot.

I did my mates Saab grill which is chrome and he's not had any issues with it for last 6 months.

I'm more than willing to do you grill for you.
I got black, Gunmetal or fluorescent red in stock. :)
Click to expand...

I've been wanting to do my front grill for ages. Thinking of just pulling off my bumper and spraying the grill. Need to figure out how to remove it from the bumper though! :D
 
ricostuart said:
I've been wanting to do my front grill for ages. Thinking of just pulling off my bumper and spraying the grill. Need to figure out how to remove it from the bumper though! :D
Click to expand...
I think its just held in with little plastic push through clips.
 
T3nnant said:
Bit of a distance sadly haha, im guna get a quote though I think, simplest option.
I used rattle can ye :( I can imagine the proper mixed stuff will be better though, tends to be. To be honest if I was going to have it redone, id probs go for wrapping as seems to last longer.
Click to expand...

Shame its not a 10min trip down the motorway lol.

Wrap can last longer than dip dipping on its application.
My roof has lasted very well I think, for all the miles, weather and jet washes it's been through. It might help that its a larger area than a grill.


Ricostuart, leave the grill on and spray it in situ.
 
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