With which paint to chrome an object for the exterior ?

Today, the effects of chrome plating by painting are very popular because they are much more accessible and easy to achieve, but the important question is where and how to use chrome paint ? And above all, what type of chrome paint will be able to resist abrasion, bad weather, etc. outdoors... We must distinguish between purely decorative paints (such as Go Chrome) and professional chrome paints, such as mirror chrome paint.

It is indeed imperative to have a paint that can be varnished, because make no mistake, it is the varnish that provides all of the mechanical resistance to abrasion and also to chemical attacks, oxidation, humidity. There is really no need to worry about exposure to the sun, because the various effects of metallization by painting are composed of 100% metallic pigments, without any addition of colored pigments, which gives perfect resistance. to UVs.

How to use chrome paint on works or structures for the exterior ? 

In the process of applying mirror-effect chrome paint to an outdoor statue, which will be exposed to cold, rain, humidity, heat..., it is very important to take particular care at each stage, from the preparation of the support, with the application of the primer, to the varnishing. It is also important to ensure the best possible cohesion between the layers, so that moisture cannot infiltrate. It's a little less simple than with traditional paints, because with chrome paints, it's impossible to sand between each coat.

We therefore recommend buckling to ensure maximum adhesion. It should be understood that humidity is the main cause of deterioration over time, when it manages to infiltrate between the primer and the varnish, to oxidize the chrome paint: to prevent humidity from infiltrating , it is therefore necessary to apply the varnish, to the ends, and even from behind. We have experience of many outdoor applications of statues with chrome paint that have stood the test of time for many years.

Is silver chrome plating valid for outdoor statues ?

This is not chrome paint but chemical metallization processes with silver in a thin layer. It is well known that this precious metal oxidizes easily with the sun and even humidity. It is therefore logically not recommended at all for use on a statue displayed outside, because its appearance would become yellowish in a few weeks or months. However, there are cases where, exceptionally, silvering can be successfully used outdoors: this is the case when making a colored varnish, in false tones, i.e. the colors of gold and others. In the latter case, the yellowing goes completely unnoticed.

Which varnish to protect statutes outdoors ?

For 20 years, we have known that acrylic varnishes are the most resistant, on average, to all the different factors of aggression, such as time, friction, shock, sun, heat, the air. Acrylic varnishes are not only water-based varnishes. They are also automotive or industrial varnishes. Among this, there are also even more resistant so-called ceramic varnishes. To ensure maximum life for the work of art exhibited outdoors, we recommend applying several coats of high quality varnish, because it is this that creates the shine and the final touch, but above all that protects both paint and oxidation support.

How to apply chrome paint to a wheel rim ?
How to apply a chrome paint on statues or piece for the interior use ?