chrome on plastic knobs?

[ferninando]

Has anyone restored the chrome on plastic knobs? How'd ya do it?

[Sam Cogley]

Search Google for "vacuum metalizing." There are some places that re-do that chrome.

[ferninando]

Originally Posted by Sam Cogley

Search Google for "vacuum metalizing." There are some places that re-do that chrome.

I mean do it yourself. not pay for it. Not for 100pt show restoration.
I can live with it if it can't be done.

[jr_tech]

I use a can of "chrome" spray paint from a local auto parts store... not 100 point quality for sure... but ok.

jr

[ferninando]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

I use a can of "chrome" spray paint from a local auto parts store... not 100 point quality for sure... but ok.

jr

Thanks for that.

[jeyurkon]

The chrome paint used for plastic models doesn't look too bad.

Then there's this method.

http://www.caswellplating.com/pickak...ticchrome3.htm

John

[amptramp]

If I'm not mistaken, chrome plating on plastic usually starts with electroless nickle plating followed by chrome plating. Electroless nickle is a process that does not depend on external electricity and can be used on any surface - you could plate an apple if you wanted to. Then the nickle surface is used as an electrode for electroplating of chromium.

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by amptramp

If I'm not mistaken, chrome plating on plastic usually starts with electroless nickle plating followed by chrome plating. Electroless nickle is a process that does not depend on external electricity and can be used on any surface - you could plate an apple if you wanted to. Then the nickle surface is used as an electrode for electroplating of chromium.

That might be possible. Electroless nickel has improved over the years. Orginally the surface of plastic had to be activated by dipping it in a dilute acidified stannous chloride solution. Then it would be dipped in an electroless copper solution. Once that thin layer formed a thicker bright eletrolytic copper plating was done. Then depending on how bright it was they would either go directly to chrome plating it or polishing the copper first.

John