Re: Handling metallic paint finishes (Alclad II, SnJ Spray Metal, Testor's Metallizer
I had a test piece painted with AlClad chrome a week ago, and I've been handling it in different ways to see what happens tot he finish.
You can see fingerprints in it, but they are not permanent. It's much like handling a piece of real chrome. However, I have found that if you buff the surface with a soft cloth to remove the finger prints, a tiny bit of the finish comes off. Do this enough and you'll wear it down to the base coat. My test piece was a resin knife, and the handle area is showing a significant amount of wear on the edges.
Given this, AlClad is a wonderfull metalic finish as long as it's on areas or items that won't be handled often.