As we began our trek back to the traditional lowriding standards of deep candy paint and laced-up rides soaked in chrome, we realized that the last few years a trend not only in lowriding but in custom cars in general of stripping once-chromed parts and covering their luster in matching paint with a color-coordinated interior had somehow infected the industry. Like the many trends that came before it that transcended one genre of custom cars and spilled over to lowriding, this trend has run its course. We can now return to our roots; refined and trimmed, but our roots nonetheless.
For us as lowrider loyalists, we may incorporate some parts of these trends into current or future lowriders, but never will we allow ourselves to turn our backs on what makes a juiced, custom-painted and chromed-out lowrider. This is what sets us apart and has all other car factions copying and biting our style, wanting to borrow it for a video or invite us to a show, or just be happy that we drove by to add a lot of flash and style to their mundane turnkey cookie-cutter custom cars.
We lowriders are the individuals that other custom car owners aspire to be. We are originators, so if we feel like layering patterns across a car while we bolt in plush swivel bucket seats, all while sitting on 14-inch wire wheels in a stance held by hydraulic fluid and enough pressure to crush a skull, that's what we're going to do. We're the only car group that isn't worried about the next man or the resale value of our masterpiece of culture and pride.
That being said, we lowriders are the true leaders of chrome, so we have a bit of a dilemma when it comes to the shiny stuff. If we plan to build a ride that was made after 1968-since most '69 through present day grille work is made of plastic-it's either a custom-built metal grille, n.o.s. grille or fixing what you got. If it's not bad, you might be able to pull it off, clean it up and slap it back in place. For most street riders, this will be more than okay, but if you're building a show stopper or just want the best ride with no room for error, you will need to find a source.
Until recently, VMC (vacuum metalized coating) was the process of choice, but with many parts the process was not an option, so we searched further to stumble upon Chrome FX. Chrome FX is a process produced by a machine manufactured by the alsa Corporation. The machine is simple: it has four tanks and three spray guns. each tank is regulated by a valve with a gauge built into the knob to ensure accuracy. The tanks are filled with filtered water and mixes of chemicals are added to three of the tanks while one is left for a rinse.
Setup of the Chrome FX system is easy enough and training is provided with each machine, which is kind of them since the sticker price on this dreamweaver is a glassshattering eight-grand, more than we were expecting, but then again, it's cheaper than trying to open a chrome shop and less caustic than the chemicals used in the hexavalent chrome bath that many bumpers took. The mixing of these chemicals creates a metal deposition that can be sprayed to any surface, which leaves a bumper-shine finish.
Since Chrome FX uses paint as a base and for topcoat protection, its only drawbacks are the same as the paint on your ride: scratches, chips and fading. Much like the custom paint on your car, however, if you take care of it, you'll be gleaming for the next few decades.
In short, Chrome FX is in no way a replacement for chrome on the undercarriage or any metal part that's fit for traditional chrome, but if it's plastic or an irreplaceable diecast part that's too damaged to dip in chrome because of the body filler, Chrome FX is the answer to your prayers. Chrome plating will continue to change and evolve like everything else in the automotive industry, and with ridiculously strict ePa and osha regulations tightening with each new year, a system like Chrome FX is a solution for many who would have no other option but to paint their parts a real nice silver and live with it.
For those of you who can't afford the Chrome FX system, you are kindly invited to contact the alsa Corporation for a referral to one of the many customers who have thesystem and can fulfill your request. hopefully, this will help you fill the gap between your hood and front bumper.
 The first steps in this process...  The first steps in this process are no different than that of any other surface refinishing. We remove, clean, degrease and prep the pieces for primer to fill and seal any imperfections in the surface. since that's the most basic of concepts, we've moved on to prime, which is what you see here. We primed these pieces like you would if you were going to prep them for paint, so you can use body fillers and sealers to make sure that you achieve that flawless finish. Just be sure to seal the work with a good primer sealer. as you can see here, the pits and breaks in the grille have been fixed and finished. The importance of the primer sealer is imperative to lock down any of the grease remnants in the plastic grille and keep chemicals from the body fillers from seeping through to our final finish. |  Once all of the pieces have...  Once all of the pieces have been refinished to specs, they're placed together and set aside for a day so that the dynatone epoxy primer can completely dry and gas out before the Chrome FX basecoat is applied. This will reduce flaws in the basecoat, which needs to be completely flawless. |  Here the Chrome FX basecoat...  Here the Chrome FX basecoat is applied and shot over each part. The basecoat is clear and thicker than most basecoats or clears. This is because nothing can touch the pieces between the basecoat and chrome process. so the basecoat was made thick to be used to fill and flow out evenly to give you a perfect finish. once the basecoat is applied to the parts, any contamination will result in burns from the acids and oils in our skin. For example, if you put your finger on a piece, your fingerprint will show as a burn in the final finish. |
 Now after the basecoat has...  Now after the basecoat has baked in the booth overnight, the rest of the process moves pretty fast. start with spraying on the activator, which needs to be sprayed over the entire part, soaking into every crease and crevice of the parts. This prepares the surface and removes any small amount of contaminants like dust. |  Starting from the bottom,...  Starting from the bottom, chrome is sprayed quickly. It initially looks black, but as you begin to build the layer, chrome starts to show through. always be sure to not leave any area of the part unfinished or to allow the chemical to spill over to an already treated area. This will cause unnecessary burns if the chemical is allowed to pool up on the parts. |  Lastly, a blast of air is...  Lastly, a blast of air is used to remove all of the rinse water which may contain traces of chemicals that could create a burn. The burn may be slight, but it's very critical if you're looking for a flawless finish. |
 Once all of the parts are...  Once all of the parts are chromed and baked, they receive a topcoat of Chrome FX clear set to dry and you're ready for assembly. |  Next hose it down with a rinse...  Next hose it down with a rinse of clean filtered water to rinse off all of the activator, which prepares the surface for the layer of chemically based chrome. |  Immediately after the chrome...  Immediately after the chrome has been laid down, hit it with a final rinse of purified water to remove any and all excess chemicals from the chrome. If any chemical is left on the part and not rinsed thoroughly, you will get a yellow burn very similar to those in an actual chrome process. |
 Now it's time to pull back...  Now it's time to pull back the curtain and reveal some of the tricks to this chrome process. one of the major components is the chrome spraying gun that facilitates the metal deposition. It's a fully adjustable pilot dual component spray gun. With separate adjustable outlets for each of the two chemicals needed to create the chemical reaction and using 99-percent distilled water as a carrier agent, the deposition occurs when the two chemicals are mixed on the surface of the part at a ratio that's conducive to producing a metallic chrome finish that's thinner than a sheet of paper. | | |