A cheap alternative to re-chroming

SLO · Sep 2, 2015

I think I read something somewhere here on chrome pinstriping for reviving tired looking chrome. I found this metallic strip at my local Auto Zone and figured why not give it a shot.

View attachment 23793

I cleaned the surface before applying the metallic tape over the entire midrange cover, then very patiently and carefully, trimmed the excess from the edges. Now this stuff will stick and stay in place, but it will also peel off easily enough if you make a mistake or are unhappy with the results.

Overall I love the results. My 975 is happy again :-)

Heres some before and after's

BEFORE
View attachment 23791 View attachment 23792

AFTER
View attachment 23794 View attachment 23796
CHEERS!

MyOhMy · Sep 2, 2015

An interesting idea and a very good result, you'd never know the difference from the real thing on the photographs.

redbenjoe · Sep 2, 2015

i always use that --comes in many widths
looks perfect

oldskool69 · Sep 2, 2015

Nice work and awesome solution. You can also find items like this at craft stores. :yes:

SLO · Sep 2, 2015

redbenjoe said:
i always use that --comes in many widths
looks perfect

Thank you sir :-D

Is there already a thread about using this stuff? I think you are the one I got the idea from. :hmmm:

I just can't remember what thread I read about this on?

MyOhMy said:
An interesting idea and a very good result, you'd never know the difference from the real thing on the photographs.

oldskool69 said:
Nice work and awesome solution. You can also find items like this at craft stores.

Thank you both :cool:

Hey thanx oldskool, I'll have to check some local craft stores in my area for this stuff

trippy1313 · Sep 2, 2015

Pretty cool idea. Autobody/paint supply stores wI'll usually have stuff like this as well.

Reli · Sep 2, 2015

Here's an Ebay seller with many different colors of chrome, including holographic:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321247008454?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

duckman · Sep 2, 2015

Reli said:
Here's an Ebay seller with many different colors of chrome, including holographic:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321247008454?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They even have Diamond Plate and other patterns in various colours! Could make for some interesting projects for sure. Never delved into this stuff before.

JustCruisin · Sep 2, 2015

HOLEE MOLEE, I bet that was some intricate cutting! Looks fresh! :breakdance:

baddboybill · Sep 2, 2015

I used the same stuff on my M90 chrome trim at the bottom of tuner window a few years ago and came out real nice. Looks stock on the 975 Great job!!

Bad Boy Bill

SLO · Sep 2, 2015

Reli said:
Here's an Ebay seller with many different colors of chrome, including holographic:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321247008454?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thanks Reli, I never knew about all these different colors, pretty cool

JustCruisin said:
HOLEE MOLEE, I bet that was some intricate cutting! Looks fresh!

Yea James its time consuming but worth it. I went though quite a few blades, thanks for the big props man ;-)

baddboybill said:
I used the same stuff on my M90 chrome trim at the bottom of tuner window a few years ago and came out real nice. Looks stock on the 975 Great job!!

Bad Boy Bill

Thanks Bill, thats a good idea for the bottom trim on the M90, looks really good man :thumbsup:

Its these little touches that make a big difference sometimes.

mancardo · Sep 2, 2015

that is awesome SLO....I gotta do that to a couple of my boxes. How does it stick...does it come with adhesive?

SLO said:
I think I read something somewhere here on chrome pinstriping for reviving tired looking chrome. I found this metallic strip at my local Auto Zone and figured why not give it a shot.

2015-09-02 10.27.09.jpg

Heres the BEFORE pics of the midrange covers on my 975.

2015-09-02 10.23.16.jpg

2015-09-02 10.26.43.jpg

I laid the strip over the entire part, and then carefully trimmed the around the edges with a razor blade. After A LOT of patience, and quite a few razor blades, heres the end results.

2015-09-02 10.27.47.jpg

2015-09-02 10.28.36.jpg

It adheres easily, but not to the point where it will damage the part if it is removed. I removed and reapplied this stuff a few times before I was satisfied with the results. I think my 975 is happy again

2015-09-02 10.50.02.jpg
* Sorry for the small pictures, it keeps telling me the file is too large so I had to resize them *

mancardo · Sep 2, 2015

why did you have to go through many blades?

SLO · Sep 3, 2015

mancardo said:
why did you have to go through many blades?

Thanks Manny. Well its like cutting through tin foil so the blades dull kinda fast, and I wanted crisp clean lines on the edges (Im such a neat freak) so I used fresh blades to keep the lines as neat as possible :cool:

And yes its peel and stick :thumbsup:

mancardo · Sep 3, 2015

thanks for the awesome info SLO.... :thumbsup:

...where did you get it from?

caution · Sep 3, 2015

Hey SLO! That might have been me, I mentioned getting pinstriping to redo the tweeter covers on my C-100F.

I got my pinstripe from modelexpo-online.com, they had 3/32" which was a couple thousandths within what I needed so I lucked out.

But anything else custom I am going to use my Silhouette Cameo, If you get really ambitious you could get one of those and feed the Stripez sheet into that. They cost a couple hundred bucks but will but the results are flawless! You'd have to draw out the shapes on the computer first but that's not hard. I'm about to do a new chrome backing sticker for the lower deck.

I never actually used the pinstripe, I found that I'd have to sand off the old chrome paint first to get it smooth enough, that's just way too much commitment for me :hmmm:

SLO · Sep 3, 2015

caution said:
Hey SLO! That might have been me, I mentioned getting pinstriping to redo the tweeter covers on my C-100F.

I got my pinstripe from modelexpo-online.com, they had 3/32" which was a couple thousandths within what I needed so I lucked out.

But anything else custom I am going to use my Silhouette Cameo, If you get really ambitious you could get one of those and feed the Stripez sheet into that. They cost a couple hundred bucks but will but the results are flawless! You'd have to draw out the shapes on the computer first but that's not hard. I'm about to do a new chrome backing sticker for the lower deck.

I never actually used the pinstripe, I found that I'd have to sand off the old chrome paint first to get it smooth enough, that's just way too much commitment for me

That might be where I read it, I always remembered the idea, I just forget what thread I seen it on. Im gonna have to look up the Silhouette Cameo :hmmm:

Sounds interesting. I'm anxious to see how your lower deck sticker comes out so please post some pics when you get it all done bro! :thumbsup:

SLO · Sep 3, 2015

mancardo said:
thanks for the awesome info SLO.... ...where did you get it from?

I bought this roll at Auto Zone, but like some of the boys posted, theres quite a few colors/patterns available on the Bay, autobody supply and craft stores ;-)

jimmyjimmy19702010 · Sep 3, 2015

That stuff might come in handy on boxes that need a little more bling than factory.

blu_fuz · Sep 3, 2015

Great execution. No harm in using a chrome sticker to make the box look complete again. Sometimes it's the only way.

A cheap alternative to re-chroming

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