Possible to Chrome a plastic engine lid grill?

[speedracer]

A friend of mine has a mid year car that he is thinking he may want to partially backdate. Is chroming a plastic part different than chroming steel. I seem to in-vision placing the part into moulting lava...........and it comes out nice and shiny.

[bigchillcar]

get the metal grill and do it..i would think plastic would melt in the chroming process?
ryan

[Fishcop]

there is a process that chromes plastic, but it's not the same as metal and I suspect the average plater will not be set up for it. I think for all the effort and expense, your friend would be better off sourcing the correct polished aluminum grill.

[efhughes3]

There are some pretty sophisticated spray paints out now-including "chrome". If the aesthetics of the plastic grill are lacking right now, why not give it a shot?

[gerry100]

The only plastic parts that can be plated are those molded of a plastic formulation designed for plating, which the part your talking about is not.

Even if it were , the few plastic platers around, don't do one- it's mass high volume process.

[wholberg]

From www.chromeservices.com, located in Orange, CA.


"Many People think it’s impossible to chrome plastic, it is not. The process of chrome plating over plastic is actually a process called vacuum metalizing and it is different than electroplating or chrome plating. Vacuum metallizing is process used to make flash light reflectors and automotive lighting shine like chrome. Vacuum metallizing is the process of evaporating aluminum in a vacuum chamber forming an aluminum cloud which than condenses back on and bonds to the plastic to form a uniform layer, which shines like chrome. After the metalizing takes place there is a protective topcoat applied similar to the ones used in the automotive industry. You can also add dyes to the topcoat to achieve bright chrome colors and different shades of gold, bronze, copper, and gunmetal. It is much more environmentally friendly and cost effective than chrome plating or chrome painting. You can vacuum metalize many materials including plastic, metal, glass, fiberglass, and more. There are many different applications for vacuum metallizing including; chrome helmets and accessories, motorcycle/dirt bike parts and accessories, sporting goods, toys, car parts, novelty items, display items, decorative fixtures, cosmetic enclosures, ect. If you want the look of custom chrome on anything plastic, glass, metal, ect."

[speedracer]

Thanks all....would a chrome grill from an early car fit a mid-year??