Aclad fail

[Lownslow]

its almost like it needs to be thinned. i have better results with polished aluminum than chrome

[Steve Keck]

If its the wheels, then it looks like you are laying it on too thick.

I shoot mine with as low an air presuure as I can & the finest needle. Just dust it on in many coats over a GLOSSY black enamel smooth, smooth surface. Some think its better to apply the Alclad to tacky enamel. I've done both with the same results.

[crazyjim]

Supposed to shoot at 5psi.

[Karmodeler2]

Ensure your black is glossy. A quick coat of Future floor wax will help. Dries in about 30 minutes if shot thin. Then, put on a rubber glove (if you are right handed, then put one on your left hand). Using a double action air brush, set your PSI to no more than 5 or 6 PSI or as low as you can read to around 5 PSI. Then pull slowly back, while pointing the gun at your gloved hand, and holding the part in your gloved hand. When you start to see it coming out like fine specks or small particles, move the gun and start misting the part. Check your hand again and make sure the tip is not clogged. If it is, then just pull back more, unclog it, then repeat the process above. You should be misting it on VERY LIGHTLY and it takes several coats to get it to look like chrome.

The glove for me helps to see the rate at which it is coming out. I find that a fine mist of 4-5PSI is best.

David

[Lownslow]

nothing comes out at 5psi it registers at 20 but if i crank it down to 10 it does just that spits it out

[made007]

i use tamiya gloos black i think TS-13, when you apply the black it must be very gloss, allow to dry and the airbrush i put it at 15 to 20 psi, and apply the alclad, thin layers

[Mike]

When I use Alclad, I base coat with acrylic gloss black paint. Then the key is to MIST the Alclad on in very light coats. I run my compressor at 15-20PSI regularly, so I just hold the part farther away, though shooting it at 5 is not a wrong thing either. To each their own method. Just make sure build up very light coats and you will see the reflective property start to show. Here's a couple examples of things I've used Alclad on - the firefighter and the exhaust on the Cobra to show my personal results with Alclad. Hope this helps you some.

[Agent G]

nothing comes out at 5psi it registers at 20 but if i crank it down to 10 it does just that spits it out

Is it spitting, or is it misting? If you are getting uneven spits and sputs of paint then stop. If it is barely coming out as a fine mist you are on target.

What type of airbrush are you using? If you can achieve a fine mist, then maybe back off and spray from a distance.

Gloss black, maybe even a clear gloss over that, and thin, thin layers of Alclad barely misted on. The rubber glove is an excellant tip to test paint flow.

G

[Lownslow]

Is it spitting, or is it misting? If you are getting uneven spits and sputs of paint then stop. If it is barely coming out as a fine mist you are on target.

What type of airbrush are you using? If you can achieve a fine mist, then maybe back off and spray from a distance.

Gloss black, maybe even a clear gloss over that, and thin, thin layers of Alclad barely misted on. The rubber glove is an excellant tip to test paint flow.

G

im using a badger 150 anthem its a thick mist like what hit the wheel. i can get a mist at 20psi. im waiting on a smaller compressor with a more dialed in regulator

Edited August 31, 2010 by Lownslow

[Lownslow]

its all solved switched compressors and airbrush. im gonna use the tire compressor and HF airbrush for just aclad chrome