alclad rubbing off

[nurturer]

I'm looking to use Alclad Polished Aluminum or Alclad Chrome for Plastic on a project.

How tough is an alclad finish?

I've read somewhere that the finish can be rubbed off over time and seems best used of exteriors that will be covered or protected and not physically handled.

Thanks in advance . . .

[TurkeyVolumeGuessingMan]

Unfortunately, Alclad Chrome rubs off rather easily, regardless of time. They sell Alclad Aqua Gloss to be used as a clear coat to seal the paint, and it is good for not dulling silver finishes in general.

The best I've found is the Molotow chrome pen. Buy the chrome paint refill and not the pen. You can dump it directly into the paint brush. Just give it 3-5 days to dry b ecause it takes a very long time to set. It is superior to Alclad Chrome for a number of reasons:
1. The chrome shine really stays as a mirror finish
2. You do not need to first create a perfect gloss black undercoat as it can be applied onto anything.
3. It can be brushed on too.

[gsb5w]

This is my first time hearing about Alclad paints rubbing off easily.
That surprising to me as they are lacquer based paints and lacquer paints tend to have “Bite” into styrene.

The only time I’ve had any paint rub off easily is on a resin model and I think that was my fault by not scrubbing the resin good enough with a strong cleaner.

I have that Molotov pen only and thought that rubbed off too easy after dry but I don’t think it was dry for 3 days when it came off.

[Kylwell]

Properly applied you can tape over Alclad Chrome w/o an issue. The trick is that "properly applied". I've managed it a few times but it is by no means an XYZ process.

[seam-filler]

The trick is that "properly applied".

Agreed - it's all in the application & preparation of the black undercoat. Two particularly good (IMO) videos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShXwlemJQUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDZqwW9yFLU

[MillenniumFalsehood]

I'm going to give Molotow a try once I get to a position where I can afford it. I like Alclad Chrome, but it's really difficult to get a mirror finish with it, and some parts really need a mirror finish.

[Star Base 8]

I have just used 6 tones of Alclad metals including the Chrome for plastic and had no rubbing off. As some of the guys have mentioned the base and gloss coats are important. I polished between the primer and Gloss black base and it paid off.

I applied ALC 600 between the top overall coat of Duraluminium. The masking was easily lifted and re applied without any of the finish coming with it. I applied the 600 over each stage to allow subsequent masking and color application.

Thin even coats at 10 to 12 psi on the metals with 20 to 25 for the ALC 600. Do clean the airbrush immediately after the aqua gloss. Its sticky stuff if left in the brush!!