Ok, update time. I got a refill tube and used my airbrush on some spoons.
These seven have been painted, and nothing else done to them. I'll use them to test curing time and what happens with the clear paint as they cure more.
These two got painted 1 1/2 times. I tried it the first time, and didn't apply it thick enough, so after 30 minutes I applied over what I had already done with a thicker coat. Covered it up great.
This is an attempt to mix ink with the chrome. It doesn't mix, it sprays out both, and then the chrome goes on top of the ink, leaving a halo around it. Tried it with yellow and blue.
Here I've gone the Klear Kote made by Alclad, mixed with turquoise, sprayed over the chrome after letting it dry for about an hour.
Same process, but with gold ink mixed in. It's still quite shiny, you can see quite a few details in the reflection, but it's hazier.
1. Spoon with clear/yellow. 2. Chrome, then yellow ink. 3. Chrome, then clear/yellow. 4. Chrome, then clear/turqoise. 5. Same as 4, but a thicker application. 6. Clear/turquoise right on the spoon.
A close up with chrome, then the clear after about an hour (which is too soon, but I tried it anyway).
Just chrome.
Here you can see in all the spoons how much of the reflection is visible.
Here's what happens if you touch the paint after an hour. That fingerprint is permanent.
Alcohol destroys the surface, as does acetone (no surprise there). I tried thinning it with alcohol (70% isoprophyl) and it didn't really mix with it, just made it spray on hazy silver instead of chrome.
Anything specific you'd like me to try?