Learn from my failures.

[Danuda]

I have been doing paint testing for the last week or so and I figured it would be handy to pass on what I know so far.  Some of this is stuff I had read does not give good results, however, I wanted to test for myself.  I used poplar for the tests since I had some handy.  I was trying to get a metalic finish so I went with chrome enamel for the beginning tests.

First Tests:
The first tests were a massive failure.  I improperly applied the grain fillers and also used an enamel paint with a clear coat lacquer which never works.  Here is the result.  The right is just the chrome enamel and the left is after being very careful with the Deft clear.

Moral of the story enamel + deft clear = fail.

2nd tests:
They are still on going but here is the update.  I used Benjamin Moor Grain filler let it dry and then sanded it down with 220.  I then used black Duplicolor sandable primer.  I did 3 coats and lightly sanded between each coat.  I then used a Duplicolor metallic silver on top of that.  This is a picture of 3 coats of the silver.

It still needs more coats as you can see the light and dark grain that runs up and down the board.

During all my tests I have used Valspar spray paint (Lowes brand), Duplicolor, Deft and Rustoleum.  I am happiest with the Duplicolor brand.  The spray nozzle is the best out of the brands I have tried and the paint goes on smoother because of it.  Valspar is the worst and I would not buy that brand again.  It shoot an uneven, hard to control fog out of the front where the Duplicolor has a nice controlled fan.

Updates:

I figured I should update this post and also edit the above one as pictures are better than words.  I condensed and added parts as well as adding pictures.

 

[Jusatele]

I have never been able too clear coat a chrome. it always melts out and becomes a nice shade of gray, almost plastic coating looking.

 

[Danuda]

That is my experience as well.  I tried multiple things and no matter what the chrome turned grey.  I even tried paint on polyurethane and still it melted it.  I am doing a quick test of a silver metallic duplicolor lacquer.  We will see how the quick test goes.  I am doing another board with the same technique just not rushed as well for a better idea of what a good paint job would look like.

 

[-CB-]

Spraying nitrocellulose lacquer over enamel is a bad thing... dont do it.

You can put nitro over catalyzed epoxy finishes, or over lacquer.  But over plain enamel or polyurethane... disaster.  Lacquer is the "hotter" finish chemically, and will ruin the enamel.

You can get a really nice metallic finish in the following manner:

Use super glue as the grain filler.  Apply thin, sand off, repeat until the surface is smooth.  Let it dry a few days.  Then primer - white for white, grey for light colors, and red for dark colors.  Give it two coats, 600 sanded in between.  Then put the finish on - I suggest the nitro based metallic finishes from Duplicolor.  Sand lightly with 600 grit to knock down orange peel.  Then use the Duplicolor or Cabot clear lacquer over that.  That should do it for ya.  You can also use SprayMax 2k epoxy over the Duplicolor lacquer.  That would be catalyzed epoxy over lacquer, and that works ok.  Sand that to 1000 grit and buff.  Lacquer clear can be sanded to 600 then buffed.