Has anyone tried powdercoated chrome?
 

I have a lot of pieces I want to get redone on my car, like bumpers and smaller pieces, but the price of chroming is crazy. There is a powdercoating shop near me and I have seen chrome powdercoating online before. Has anyone done this before? How does it turn out?

There is a long-time powder coating business near me. I talked with the owner about the results of the chrome coatings. He told me saw failures after 2 or 3 years of using it, so he quit offering it. He claimed it does not hold up well to UV rays like colors do.

Unless your going for a concours restoration, cheaper to get reproductions

going on a gasser, don't need it perfect, just something better than sand blasted bare metal. And I don't really dig the paint matched to the body idea whenever I get it painted

Would silver ceramic be an option?

If it were me, I'd talk to someone that does wraps, and see if they could do a chrome wrap on the bumper. The cars I've seen with either silver or gold wraps look pretty convincing.

Link to video comparing a wrapped bumper to a a plated bumper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hryV3EqRSqo

There are also paint products that mimic chrome, not just silver but closer to a chrome look than just aluminum color.

Link to You tube video that demonstrates a product called Easy Chrome results where he paints a bumper, than compares it to a real chrome bumper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBtdU10PIcE

I doubt anyone at a glance would know that bumper was painted rather than plated.

Two alternatives to plating, hope one will work for your gasser.

Is Cosmi-Chrome still in business? The local franchises around me are all gone. I had used them for my Falcon's bumpers a few years ago. They looked great, but only until winter got here, since I drive it year 'round.

I've seen that Easy Chrome a lot. I like the painted color on the Spine Tingler gasser wagon bumpers, I might do that and if I don't like the look, then I think chrome wrap is my cheapest option and I can always peel it off.

I’ve had pieces done in the past. Just doesn’t hold up long at all. It will slowly take on a flatter Hazy sheen and then show water spots whenever it gets wet. Having a clear powder coat over the top doesn’t seem to help allot.

Photo
 

Rear Cosmo-Chromed bumper (prior to winter salt bath).

The front bumper on the LeMans is pitted and faded on the top. I sanded down the whole thing and used chrome spray paint. It looks fair but better than it did. I never thought of chrome wrap and I think that's the path I'll take. Can't afford a $1200 OEM bumper LOL

The website shows all sizes of Easy Chrome are sold out except one liter and four liter. The one liter is $1,399.:eek::eek::eek:
Also, it is not recommended for outdoor use.

A gasser doesn’t need any bumpers, at least not a front bumper. A lot of racers would replace the rear bumper with a tube filled with shot or cement as ballast.

Back in the day removing the front bumper would put you in a different gas class.

Exactly!

Not many Gassers have them, mine has a front stub kit from Speedway, so it has the tube up front & that's all.

The powdercoated chrome looks pretty good from 10 feet, but yes it does tend to fade over time.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

Call fini finish, best chrome. Detroit area

I have a 56 star chief, Im not doing the huge bumper up front, but I need the lip on the hood and the little U shaped piece below that to be chromed. Ties up the front end and both weigh next to nothing. And I'd like to have the rear bumpers on there since I have 2 sets of them

I want my front bumper like what Tom Kurak has on his 56 chieftain gasser

When I restored my 55 Chevy Sedan Delivery, I had the hood hinges, door catches and other items done in powder coat chrome. If you also clear them in powder coat for UV protection, they turn a dull aluminum color. I left that out since none of it would see much sun and they are still shiny. So, for a bumper that wouldn't work.