Ok I want to document my painting process.
Silver paint is Krylon Shortcuts
Chrome paint. Comes in very small spray cans unfortunately. But can be had for $2.80 each after coupon at HobbyLobby.
The paint is not really chrome or mirror. It is shiny steel colored. It needs some work to make it look more real, details are below.
Sand surfaces with 400 grit, then 800 and up to 1500 for a smooth finish.
Likely you will need a coat of filler. Each tank takes about 1.5 cans of my spray filler of choice, Duplicolor automotive primer filler - the one with dark red cap. Pictures. Any automotive parts place carries it. Try Oreiley’s.
Spray each tank with 2 coats 15 minutes apart. That’s 1.5 cans for each tank if you do 2 coats.
Let dry for 24 hours.
Now wet sand down the primer filler with 800 grit. Everything should look smooth. Let dry for 2 hours or so.
If you feel like it still
Shows imperfections, use the 0.5 can left for another red coat and more sanding.
Next, this is the time to glue rivets if you need to.
Now apply a coat of gloss black primer. Cheap stuff from Home Depot is fine. I used Rustoleoum gloss black.
You only need two light coats 10 mins apart. That’s about 1/2 can for each tank. Let dry for 48 hours and never touch it or you will leave fingerprints.
After dried, if you see orange peel on the surfaces you can wet sand it off with 800-1000 grit. It will lose some gloss but should be ok. Better than an irregular surface for sure. The gloss of the paint was slightly relevant because we lay silver on top and helps give some shine after you buff the silver. Anyway, wait till all is dry a couple of hours if you did wet sand.
Moving on, time for silver/chrome paint. Apply one small can throughout the entire tank. Do it all in one coating. You should still see the black underneath after this first coat. Wait 10 mins and apply a second can throughout. It is important you do ONLY enough to cover the black fully. It may not take the entire second can. Usually a little more than half would get you there. DO NOT OVER APPLY the second coat. If it is laid too heavy you won’t have much luck getting the metal look in the next steps.
Ok, let dry the silver paint for 12 hours or so. I normally wait till next morning. You will then take a green scotch brite pad and run in ONE ORIENTATION along the length of the tank. You are creating small scratches throughout. In one direction only back and forth. Try to keep it really straight. You want to apply some pressure as you glide the pad with your palm. Don’t over do it though.
Ok the important part that makes it look more like metal... Take a quality car Cleaner Wax like Zymol cleaner wax - pictured. You will put a SMALL DOT of it on a cloth, then put a few touches of that dot on the surface of the tank, and then start spreading. You only need a small dot of this stuff or you will regret it. Work one area at a time. Spread evenly with strength and pressure. It will look a little cloudy. Then take another clean rag and buff off to a shine... you need to buff the cloudy areas with quite a bit of pressure.
Move to the next area of the tank and repeat. If done right it will start looking like metal and also may reveal some of the black beneath (very very slightly) which helps with the look.
You may also need to apply more scotch brite pad on top if the lines disappear. You can alternate between pad and wax until it looks right. Usually only 2 passes of each and you’re done.
This paint does not rub off easily so that’s a great thing. I tried many silver paints and they all rubbed off.
