If you’re like me, you like black items on your car, truck, or motorcycle to stay black and chrome things to stay shiny.
I have found that black is easy to touch up.
But chrome? That’s another story.
You don’t want to spend your hard earned bucks on replacing chrome items when they rusty or badly pitted. But you’ve probably had your doubts about using a chrome spray paint.
I know I did.
That’s why it is vital to choose a good quality chrome spray paint. Those dollar store brands won’t look good and they won’t last a week.
You still need to do a little prep work to ensure that you get a seamless finish that looks great. Some paints will tell you that you should add several coats before it will look like real chrome.
Which chrome paint is the best to really last and give you that slick, shiny chrome look? I’ve done all the homework for you.
Rust-Oleum Bright Coat Metallic Chrome
Everyone knows the Rust-Oleum brand!
This quality brand is well known for stopping rust while you paint. Their chrome paint is no different.
But here’s the truth.
Nothing will truly stop rust other than sanding it or removing it in some manner.
But if the part you want to paint is difficult to remove or you just don’t want to take the time to remove every speck of rust, users say that this paint lasted about a year before the rust began to show through.
This will work on nearly anything you can spray it on including masonry, wood, and other types of metal.
I like this paint because I really trust the Rust-Oleum name, as well as the fact that it dries in about 1 hour. My wife tried some of this on the legs of an outdoor table and I must say that it came out looking really good!
Most users say that they love the look of this paint and that it worked perfectly for them. Like me, most users say that it dried quicker than they thought it would. You should note that the can says you should wait a full 24 hours before using the item.
A few users were disappointed with the finish. They couldn’t get a uniform look even after several coats.
If you are looking for a nice shiny chrome finish without going through the trouble of removing all the rust or you want to change the look of things, this one is a winner.
Krylon Paint + Primer, Metallic Silver
Krylon is another big brand name when it comes to spray paint. Chances are that you have some in your garage right now.
This spray paint lists itself as silver metallic as opposed to chrome. I’m not sure if they do that so you don’t expect this to be quite as shiny or what their reasoning is. But this product is excellent for making items look like chrome.
I like the spray nozzle on this can because it doesn’t spatter. This one dries even faster than the Rust-Oleum, usually in about 30 minutes. That is super helpful if you want or need to do additional coats of paint.
Krylon, unlike the Rust-Oleum, will NOT stop or slow down the formation of rust. If you are merely looking to paint or repaint an item, then this silver metallic paint will work just fine.
I did find a few consumers who were less than impressed, stating that they didn’t get the “shine” level they were looking for. One or two users who found the smell highly offensive. Not the usual spray paint smell, they likened it to a garbage can left in the heat of summer.
For repainting old projects or new ones, this is a shiny alternative that you can’t pass up.
Dupli-Color Silver High Performance Wheel Paint
This paint intrigued me since I had never considered painting rims before. It actually makes a lot of sense when you consider the price of chrome rims and what it would cost to re-chrome them!
Dupli-Color has been in the paint business for more than half a century. You know they’ve got experience in this area. They claim this can restore original chrome wheels or dress up plain old grey or black rims. It will stick to plastic, steel, or aluminum.
The company doesn’t say that you should add a primer to the wheels first. Some users say they didn’t add primer and their wheels came out fine.
But a great many users say that not priming the wheels first is a mistake. You can take your pick, but I would add primer first.
Some users just took a wire brush to their rims, then washed and dried them. Cutting out a template to block the tire, they sprayed the rims right on the car and thought they looked like new!
Other users were much more careful, sandblasting them down to bare metal before painting.
There were a few consumers who found that the shine was not what they expected. One user said that the paint never got hard.
I believe that prepping is worth its weight in gold. Do at least a little prep work and you should be satisfied with the results.
For this price, you can’t go wrong!
Rust-Oleum Paint + Primer Metallic Silver Spray Paint
What can I say? Rust-Oleum is one of the best paints around for the money. When it comes to painting plastic, you really need to be careful what you buy.
If you have ever tried to paint plastic, you know that most spray paints simply will not adhere to plastic. It usually chips and cracks within days.
I have used this Rust-Oleum paint for plastic items quite a bit. I can tell you from firsthand experience, it works!
This has both a primer and paint in one can and that might be the reason why it works so well. I wouldn’t say that this is a chrome finish. But it is definitely a shiny, metallic, silver finish. It’s similar to what you see on most wheel covers today.
The can states it dries to the touch in 20 minutes. I would say not to use whatever you have painted for more like 24 hours. You need to let this fully cure before using.
I’ve also used a clear paint coating to help protect this paint when the items will be used outdoors. For a matte finish, I’ve used this Rust-Oleum Clear and for a shiny clear, this Rust-Oleum Lacquer Clear Gloss Spray works really well.
Of course, you don’t have to use a clear coat, I’m just a bit OCD in that area. I’ve even used the Lacquer Clear Gloss for my outdoor wicker furniture and it still looks like new.
If you are a skeptic, I promise that this Rust-Oleum paint will win you over.
One user even painted some of his plastic car fenders with this in white. I must say it looks amazing from the photos.
The only complaints I found regarding this spray paint were from a few people who didn’t think it covered well. They needed two or three cans and someone else who was not impressed with the lack of shine.
If you have ever wanted to paint plastic but had your doubts, I can almost guarantee that this one will turn you into a believer.
How do you spray paint chrome on metal?
To get the best possible looking job, you really need to do your prep work.
Depending on what you are working on, use the appropriate primer for the job. If you aren’t sure, ask a pro at a paint store which would be the best primer for the application you are going to use.
Be sure to clean the object as much as possible and remove as much rust as you can. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to pick up dust and dirt, then let it dry.
Use the primer you purchased according to the directions. Try to make the primer smooth and even. It is better to use two thin coats than one heavy coat.
Once the primer is completely dry, you are ready to use your chrome spray paint. Hold the can about 10-12 inches away from the surface and move in a slow, sweeping, side to side (or top to bottom) motion. Don’t spray too close or too heavy to avoid runs.
Allow to dry completely before you even touch it. If it is very humid or cold, give it extra drying time. Most people find that 24-48 hours works best.
Remember that patience is a virtue here. It is far better to wait an extra 24 hours than to have to sand off all your hard work and start over.
Can you spray paint rusted chrome?
Technically, yes, you can spray paint rusted chrome. But you shouldn’t if you don’t want to repaint it later. It all depends on how long you want your finish to last.
If you use the Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Bright Metallic Chrome Spray Paint listed above, you can spray paint right over that rust. Depending on the severity of the rust, you might be able to go a year or even two before the rust starts to show through again.
If you really want the paint to last, remove as much rust as you possibly can either using a wire brush, sandpaper, or chemical rust remover, such asEvapo-Rust Super Safe Rust Remover.
If you have some peeling paint or cracked paint, be sure to remove that as well for the best adhesion, longest-lasting, and best-looking paint job.
Does spray chrome paint work?
Yes, spray chrome paint works.
When it comes to spray painting anything, you get out of it what you put into it. This means that prepping the surface will give you a much better looking chrome paint job than simply spray painting and hoping for the best.
Be sure you use a “chrome” spray paint, but not just a metallic paint if you want a super shiny surface. Metallic paint will also work, but you will get more of a satin look.
How do you seal chrome spray paint?
This is an interesting problem with an even more interesting answer.
Have you tried to use clear spray paint over chrome paint to protect and seal it? You may have discovered that using a clear spray only ends up turning the paint a dull grey.
While I have not tried this myself, you will find many users say that they usePledge Floor Care Multi-Surface Finish. No, I’m not kidding. Add two or three light coats of Pledge, allowing them to dry in between coats.
This might sound strange, but it does make sense in some ways.
Most spray paints contain solvents, such as toluene, which can affect some types of paint and plastics. Pledge is more of a wax that will protect the chrome paint, at least temporarily.
Depending on the application, the Pledge will need to be reapplied. But so will any protectant, even if you could use a clear spray paint.
Conclusion
Overall, the Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Bright Coat Metallic Chrome is the clear winner.
Most people want to paint metal items that have at least some amount of rust on them. This paint will slow down the formation of rust, even if you don’t remove all of it.
Rust-Oleum is a brand name that everyone knows and trusts. I’ve used it for decades myself and never, ever, been disappointed.
But if you want to paint plastic, you should go with the Rust-Oleum American Accents Metallic Silver Spray Paint. It may not be as shiny as chrome, but you have the satisfaction of knowing that this paint will stick to the plastic and not flake off.
You will find nothing but terrific reviews for nearly every Rust-Oleum paint, including these two.
Don’t set yourself up for disappointment down the road. Get Rust-Oleum for chrome or the plastic parts and use something that will last a long time.