12 replies to this topic

[greenmini1275]

I've noticed that Carbonweezel have now added grills and surrounds to their stock. Now I've always wanted to swap as much of my car as possible for weight saving rust proof carbon fibre goodies. But when it comes to things like bumpers, grills, headlamp surrounds, I would still want them chrome. Now my question is, can you chrome vinyl wrap these items and would they look as good as the real thing?

Paul

[Dusky]

You could paint them with deception chrome ( or get them painted by someone who can, from experience it's not something I D do if you don't have experience painting cars). Looks 99% identical to real chrome

[timmy850]

If you can get them in stainless they are lighter than chrome. Not sure how they'd compare to painted or vinyl wrapped carbon?

[Midas Mk1]

No replacement for Carbon weezel, best carbon supplier around. Parked up at l2b two years back next to a mini with a vinyl wrapped bonnet, my CW one looked 1000x better.

[Steve220]

No you can't chrome carbon fibre. But you can get chrome vinyl for them to be wrapped in.

[Lt-SilverDragon]

Shame wrapping lovely carbon, I've ordered a carbon mk1 moustache and headlamp rings and can't wait for them to show up.

Canny be much weight saving getting those in carbon.

[greenmini1275]

It's not just about weight saving though is it. It's also about not rusting.

[mini-geek]

Why buy carbon to cover up? It's not really carbon fibre like used in F1.. (unless it's something new I'm not aware of)

I'm not sure you'd save much if any weight, you'd save more by going for a poo before you drive

[tiger99]

Are you COMPLETELY SURE that you can't chrome plate carbon fibre? You possibly can arc or plasma spray it, or try vapour deposition if you have a vacuum tank, with Copper and then plate over that, Nickel first and then Chromium. Or etch and paint with conductive silver and plate over that. There may be other techniques too.

I would like to hear a top-notch plating expert say whether it can be done, and give some indication of cost. Most such things can be achieved, but may not be economically viable.

Having said that, what is wrong with plain carbon fibre? It can look very attractive.

[Dusky]

If you can see what you can achieve with 3 stage paint systems I wouldn't doubt what I chose , especially price wise. Then again, plating is very expensive over here while I can paint myself.

[Rocket.]

lot of effort for very little gain IMO

[The Elfman]

type in Chrome painting into U-Tube and see the results....very impresive. 

[tiger99]

I imagine that chrome PAINTING has no risk of causing hydrogen embrittlement and is therefore safe on all structural parts. That is a major attraction.

 

Personally I dislike chrome as it reminds me of vile, wallowing Yank Tanks of the 1950s and rusty bumpers in the 1960s, but each to his own.