Spectra Chrome Window Frames - Chrome Sweet Chrome ... Or Not, As We'll Show You!

Body filler was then applied over the welded areas, plus in a few small dents.

Following a guidecoat, the frames were wet-sanded first with 400-grit, then 800-grit, paying particular attention to not breaking through the primer anywhere, as per my instructions from Gary Watson at Creations N' Chrome. This is particularly important if the Spectra Chrome basecoat is to adhere properly. Of course you can leave all this prepwork to them!

Five heavy coats of primer using a Harbor Freight gravity feed touch-up gun were then applied. Remember when using any two-stage paint, even primer, that overspray will adhere to anything in the vicinity, so mask everything you don't want painted, and use appropriate safety and breathing equipment.

While their chrome process is applied in a conventional spray booth, this rolling spray table basin is used inside the booth, as it incorporates the pressure tanks and spray guns, as well as a turntable on which the part to be coated is mounted. To the right are a couple of similar systems minus the spray table. Creations N' Chrome is not only a training facility for Spectra Chrome, but also the West Coast distributor for their products.

Watson sprayed the basecoat and then baked the frames while I went to lunch!

The third step was the most interesting, as it's where the component gun was used to apply the silver nitrate. First the surface turned brown, then blue then took on a chrome-like appearance before our eyes. It was truly amazing to someone used to applying regular paint, especially as each step appeared to be like spraying water onto the window frame!

Inside these small bottles are the magic potions that make it all happen. The basecoat on the left is the secret to the reflective quality of the end product; the green, white, and red labeled bottles contain the silvering solutions that are added to deionized water at specific mix ratios.

My window frames were supported above the surface of a turntable using cut-down paint mixing sticks attached using a hot glue gun, blown clean, and thoroughly wiped with a tack cloth prior to the basecoat being applied.

As can be seen in image 21, there are four guns used in the process. First a sensitizer solution was sprayed onto the part to be coated, which acts as a wetting agent. This was then rinsed with deionized water.

The final step was to rinse again with deionized water, before the window frame was dried using compressed air.

A little blue/purple toner was added to the initial clearcoat to give the chrome a realistic tinge, followed by actual clearcoat.

By adding different toners to the clearcoat, all sorts of effects can be achieved. Here's just a sample of some of the colors available using the chrome as a base.

Here's a perfect example of precisely what Spectra Chrome is ideal for, as pot metal parts like this can't be chrome plated in the traditional manner, but they can be sand-blasted, filled, primed, and coated with Spectra Chrome.

Watson holds the driver side frame, ready for the clearcoat to be applied.

Here's the finished passenger side frame installed in the Chevy. At this point it can be treated like any regular painted part, and can be color-sanded and buffed if desired.

It doesn't show well on camera under fluorescent lights, but this Mustang has a pink/red candy over the chrome base, for a stunning effect.