Help with Washes

[andy12646]

I like the look of a chrome grill that has a black wash but I can't seem to get consistent coverage. They always turn out rather blotchy (is that a word). I use acrylic black paint. Always flat but just recently I tried semi-gloss. It didn't seem to help. I always apply, remove and re-apply until I get somewhat close to desired results but still not as good as I believe it could be. Am I setting my goals too high? Is it the acrylic paint which I mix with water? I tried mixing with alcohol once but with the same results. I haven't tried any commercial washes yet. What would you guys recommend? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[peteski]

You might be diluting the paint too much. Try thinning it less.

Last time I did a grille black wash I used slightly thinned Testors flat black enamel (from the little square glass bottle). I wasn't too worried about the parts of the grill which are supposed to remain shiny getting some paint on them. Right after the paint dried (became flat), I wiped the surface of the grill with a piece of old T-shirt slightly moistened with Naphtha (Ronsonol lighter fluid).  I suppose that the Testors paint thinner would have worked too.   The trick is not to wait too long - if you let the paint dry really well and harden, it will be difficult to remove.

[935k3]

Try this stuff from Tamiya. It flows out nice and is very black. It is enamel and cleans up with Turpentine cleaners like Testors Brush Cleaner.

 

Edited August 3, 2017 by 935k3

[BigTallDad]

I use black watercolor paint (like you used in grade school). Brush it on, let it dry, then wipe off the excess using a damp business card.

I'd show you how to do it, but photobucket is holding me hostage.

[crazyjim]

I use The Detailer.  Comes in a variety of colors and there's no mixing or fussing around.

[espo]

Some times it will take more than one application if the wash you're using is very thin. I have also used a flat edged tooth pick or even a pencil eraser to remove any unwanted paint on the grill. 

[Chariots of Fire]

Just don't rub too hard on the chrome part you want to keep.  You might end up rubbing right through it.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I use acrylic craft paint all of the time with good results.

Just don't thin it too much & then let it dry after application for a half hour or so & then remove the semi-dried paint from the areas to be chrome with a slightly dampened cloth, Q-tips, and my tool of choice, tooth picks.

I use these acrylics for detailing everything from grilles & panel lines, to wheels & body badges.

Always had very good luck with them.

 

Steve

 

 

[andy12646]

Thanks, Guys! I plan on trying each of the suggested methods. I want to get results like that in the photos. I read somewhere on the forum that suggested clear coating the chrome item before applying a wash. I tried that once but the clear coat seemed to somewhat "fill" the low areas where I wanted the wash to accumulate. Any Thoughts?

[Kris Morgan]

I would highly recommend trying Vallejo washes. They are water based for easy clean up. Pretty god for most jobs right out of the bottle but, can also be thinned if needed. Huge color variety as well.

[Impalow]

I would highly recommend trying Vallejo washes. They are water based for easy clean up. Pretty god for most jobs right out of the bottle but, can also be thinned if needed. Huge color variety as well.

I will second this!  Especially for a pure black wash.. the "detailer" tends to get a purple-ish tone on chrome... the vallejo stuff is fantastic, and i have started using it on almost everything to get the detail to pop.   They also have 3 shades of gray to pure black for different levels of contrast.