LuminOre metal spray

[Jayn]

Saw this on another forum.. anyone here used this product? Pricey, but it sounds very interesting for an alternative to traditional metal plating. Their website pix are ok, but don't show the reflective quality very well.. Just wondering how it buffs up and if you can get a true mirror finish with it..The Cat in the Hat vehicle under the aluminum pix looks pretty good..
http://www.luminore.com/index.php

 

[ob1al]

Wow, it looks impressive.

It doesn't come in gold from what i read, which is a shame for any 3P0 or Ark builders as it looks like this would be the perfect stuff for those projects. Maybe they'l release a gold version if there is enough demand?

Here's a thread I google searched on the subject: http://forum.artcam.com/viewtopic.php?t=1366

 

[Jayn]

From what is sounds like.. it's the same as the other coating product that they mentioned in the thread
http://www.sculptnouveau.com/coatings.html
I've used their patinas before to good effect..
Their coating is just metal powder mixed into different polymers that dry to different hardnesses and says the hardest can be polished with a buffing wheel..dang.. I could just get some Luco powders and do that myself....
Guy said he sunk thousands just to get started with Luminore ..Sounds like that co. is making a lot of $$ off folx...>;
J.

 

[Noeland]

well, the X-metal "smoked chrome" looks pretty good to me, that could certainly save me from having to metal plate a few items.

PS- according to this website the product has been used on the Bellagio Hotel, and also on the set of Batman Begins.

 

[NakedMoleRat]

I went to the shop to see the stuff. There are statues at the Bellagio that are plated with it. It's cool and looks and feels like metal when done. Bad thing, it's $800.00 a pound for the stuff. Minimum order, one pound. You'd better get a LOT of things plated to get that going.

 

[Eaglewood]

Wow, it looks impressive.

It doesn't come in gold from what i read, which is a shame for any 3P0 or Ark builders as it looks like this would be the perfect stuff for those projects. Maybe they'l release a gold version if there is enough demand?

Here's a thread I google searched on the subject: http://forum.artcam.com/viewtopic.php?t=1366

You can mix the materials to get the gold finish--Ive done it----but when you get the right color tone--you better make sure that you saved the recipe otherwise it will be different if you try to match it.

You can kind of "alloy" the different materials my favorite is the X-metal tho--looks like black chrome with a metalflake finish.


I put a comment on that site--I wont repeat it but if you look at the comment by Silverfoxx03 you will see.

I still have a lot of the product available. Its great for casting and spraying in the RIGHT application.

I can still purchase it also if anyone is really interested

 

[mfxreplicas]

I tried this for our Cybermen in Doctor Who as an alternative to cold cast with polyester (www.mfxreplicas.com www.millenniumfx.co.ok) but it didn't work. I was under the impression that the system would spray a smooth finish but instead it comes out spattered and requires a lot of hand finishing. All this did was kill all the detail on our fibreglass cast and take just as long to finish as it did a cold cast but the results didn't look as good and it cost a heck of a lot more.

I think it's fine for very large pieces, wall panels, shop displays, etc. but fine detail stuff and anything with a detailed surface it's really not suited to.

I also know that as a system it is very pricey but the technology isn't that unique. I already know of a coatings manufacturer in Europe who took one look at it and reproduced the aluminium version for a fraction of the cost. It's just basicaly cold cast polyester resin sprayed on to the surface. The basic deal is using the finest possible metal particle with tweaked spray equipment to get it to spray. For this you're paying stupid amounts of money.

Best
NG

 

[Eaglewood]

I tried this for our Cybermen in Doctor Who as an alternative to cold cast with polyester (www.mfxreplicas.com www.millenniumfx.co.ok) but it didn't work. I was under the impression that the system would spray a smooth finish but instead it comes out spattered and requires a lot of hand finishing. All this did was kill all the detail on our fibreglass cast and take just as long to finish as it did a cold cast but the results didn't look as good and it cost a heck of a lot more.

I think it's fine for very large pieces, wall panels, shop displays, etc. but fine detail stuff and anything with a detailed surface it's really not suited to.

I also know that as a system it is very pricey but the technology isn't that unique. I already know of a coatings manufacturer in Europe who took one look at it and reproduced the aluminium version for a fraction of the cost. It's just basicaly cold cast polyester resin sprayed on to the surface. The basic deal is using the finest possible metal particle with tweaked spray equipment to get it to spray. For this you're paying stupid amounts of money.

Best
NG

Small detail work is not its strong point in spraying, but it is awesome in casting--can get some great effects and detail. Finishes great to a high polish also .