Molotow Chrome thru airbrush

[1st 700 Quad]

I am interested in trying to shoot Molotow chrome thru my airbrush. For those of you who do, what do you buy? Is it the 30ML refill and then spray that? If so, is it sprayed right out of the bottle or is it thinned any and with what? Any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks.

[Jon Haigwood]

I just drip some in the airbrush cup straight out of the refill , 

[papajohn97]

I’ve tried airbrushing Molotow onto masked areas such as body trim and interior door hardware and have had mixed results. To get a chrome look, it needs to be applied fairly thick which can sometimes lead to a messy mask edge bleed through and can overwhelm molded in details. It also sometimes comes out less than glossy, almost like a dry spray effect. I’ve gone back to airbrushing Alclad over black enamel to re-chrome parts or paint trim (as an alternative to BMF) and only use the Molotow pens for touching up gate areas or scratches on kit supplied chrome plated parts or chrome on small parts or details.

[OldNYJim]

On 4/19/2021 at 5:27 PM, 1st 700 Quad said:

I am interested in trying to shoot Molotow chrome thru my airbrush. For those of you who do, what do you buy? Is it the 30ML refill and then spray that? If so, is it sprayed right out of the bottle or is it thinned any and with what? Any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks.

Yep, 30ml refill (or the contents of one of the pens) and spray it straight out of the airbrush with no thinning required 

Use 99% iso. alcohol for cleanup - not water or you’ll get a gummy mess.  

Lay it down a little wet and then don’t touch it for a couple of days MINIMUM unless you’re brave or like fingerprints in your chrome.  

If you want a realistic polished aluminum finish lightly clear-coat it with something water based, or if you don’t...don’t! ??

[hedotwo]

I airbrush Molotow (from the 30ml refill) on bumpers, grilles, wheel covers.  I don't spray emblems or areas masked like window trim, but use a combination of foil and/or a Molotow pen.  A fine brush to apply the molotow works nicely.  As was said, you need to apply fairly heavy to get a good shine so masking tape might not work so well.  Good side of spraying heavy is that it will self level nicely.  I won't go back to Alclad or Spaz Stix for the things I now airbrush with Molotow as in my opinion the Molotow has a much better shine.  Oh, and no need for an undercoat...  just need to ensure a smooth surface.

My opinion....

[OldNYJim]

On 4/27/2021 at 3:23 PM, hedotwo said:

I won't go back to Alclad or Spaz Stix for the things I now airbrush with Molotow as in my opinion the Molotow has a much better shine.

I agree with this too - although for more ‘vintage’ looking chrome I like the look of Alclad still too.  Different looks completely, I think - which makes them both useful!

[hedotwo]

8 hours ago, CabDriver said:

 ...which makes them both useful!

Great to have options!

[TransAmMike]

Anyone know the shelf life of the refill?      And as it ages in the container, does it lose its chrome appearance?

[Fat Brian]

10 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Anyone know the shelf life of the refill?      And as it ages in the container, does it lose its chrome appearance?

I've had mine over a year and it still works like new. I think since the refill seals tightly whatever evaporates out of the pens and makes them not work stays in the refill.

[stitchdup]

If you store your refills and pens away from heat they last longer, I'm still using my first pens. Also if you need to clear it (for handling) gauzy shine enhancer doesn't take away the shine.

[TransAmMike]

I have had the 3 different size pens and I just feel like they don't have the same chrome like look they had when they were new.  I would hate to spend the money for the 30ml refill and have the same situation or it dry up.  It sure won't get used a whole lot.

[bill-e-boy]

I use 30ml refills sprayed my air brush. I do thin it up to 100% with lacquer thinners. I lay down a light but full coat then come back 20-30mins later with a fuller coat and it come out nice and shiny like chrome. I let it cure in my hot box for a day and do not touch it for at least a week as it seems to harden with age. 

I use lacquer thinners or brush and roller cleaner for clean up as well 

I gave up on Alclad as the finish is so variable and the difference between enough build up and too much is one coat. It is also quite dark as compared to Molotow

[Bainford]

1 hour ago, TransAmMike said:

I have had the 3 different size pens and I just feel like they don't have the same chrome like look they had when they were new.  I would hate to spend the money for the 30ml refill and have the same situation or it dry up.  It sure won't get used a whole lot.

I haven't used mine in over a year (just not at that point in my projects), but when I last did the stuff was already at least two years old, and it seemed less eager to do the shiny chrome thing that it does. It had good shine, but it seems I had to lay it on heavier then before. Also, if I squeeze out a drop for my paint brush, it must be used immediately. If I waited a minute, it wouldn't develop a good shine when applied to the part. Could just be my imagination. In a few months I'll be into the stuff again, so it will be interesting to see how it performs. 

Speaking of 'the chrome thing that it does', has anyone ever applied Molotow and then watched it with high magnification? There is some crazy stuff happening when the stuff is first applied, or first exposed to air. A weird sparkly action and joining of particles to form the 'chrome' effect. Pretty interesting.

[TransAmMike]

40 minutes ago, bill-e-boy said:

I use 30ml refills sprayed my air brush. I do thin it up to 100% with lacquer thinners. I lay down a light but full coat then come back 20-30mins later with a fuller coat and it come out nice and shiny like chrome. I let it cure in my hot box for a day and do not touch it for at least a week as it seems to harden with age. 

I use lacquer thinners or brush and roller cleaner for clean up as well 

I gave up on Alclad as the finish is so variable and the difference between enough build up and too much is one coat. It is also quite dark as compared to Molotow

 

2 minutes ago, Bainford said:

I haven't used mine in over a year (just not at that point in my projects), but when I last did the stuff was already at least two years old, and it seemed less eager to do the shiny chrome thing that it does. It had good shine, but it seems I had to lay it on heavier then before. Also, if I squeeze out a drop for my paint brush, it must be used immediately. If I waited a minute, it wouldn't develop a good shine when applied to the part. Could just be my imagination. In a few months I'll be into the stuff again, so it will be interesting to see how it performs. 

Speaking of 'the chrome thing that it does', has anyone ever applied Molotow and then watched it with high magnification? There is some crazy stuff happening when the stuff is first applied, or first exposed to air. A weird sparkly action and joining of particles to form the 'chrome' effect. Pretty interesting.

Thanks Guys for replying.   What you said Trevor about not as shiny when it has aged in the container is what I'm concerned about.  I have one project , 2 bumpers to paint and likely won't need it for who know's when.

[Fat Brian]

3 hours ago, Bainford said:

Speaking of 'the chrome thing that it does', has anyone ever applied Molotow and then watched it with high magnification? There is some crazy stuff happening when the stuff is first applied, or first exposed to air. A weird sparkly action and joining of particles to form the 'chrome' effect. Pretty interesting.

I have. There has to be some kind of chemical reaction happening since it goes on kind of gray and then the highly chrome surface seems to rise to the top. When my pens went bad the just stayed that mottled grayish silver and the chromie goodness never appeared. 

[bill-e-boy]

Further to my post above I sprayed some Molotow a couple of nights ago and below is the result

Thinned 100% with lacquer thinners and spent 24hrs in my hot box. The results are very good. most of these items had been painted with Alclad a long time ago and the finish was below what I was after so I reprayed with Molotow. The is one new part which is the flathead oil filter

In real life they are not as dark as in the photo

 

[TransAmMike]

I know this is a fairly outdated thread, but for you Molotow "experts", do you spray it over black, silver,  or the color coat (for trim)?

[Dave G.]

I just use the pens thus far over something gloss. Could be semi gloss base color, could be  clear color or gloss color etc

.

Edited July 4, 2021 by Dave G.

[TransAmMike]

1 hour ago, Dave G. said:

I just use the pens thus far over something gloss. Could be, could be  clear color or gloss color etc

.

Good to hear from you David. I'm just guessing my pens are old, the shine just not there.  But in this case, it's gonna be my first attempt to airbrush the Molotow. And, it will be on resin not chromed wheels.

[Dave G.]

8 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Good to hear from you David. I'm just guessing my pens are old, the shine just not there.  But in this case, it's gonna be my first attempt to airbrush the Molotow. And, it will be on resin not chromed wheels.

I've heard of the pens going dull obviously from the thread above but elsewhere too.  You're gonna try and shoot it anyway ?  The resin is resin, wash, prime etc. accordingly.

[peteski]

Instead of shooting the iffy paint on model parts, take a plastic spoon, and give the paint (Molotow) a quick test.  If it is up to the expectations, spray your wheels.  It is as simple as that, and no paint striping required if the experiment on the spoon doesn't work out.

[Dave G.]

I've seen awesome results from sprayed Molotow but haven't tried that method personally.  I doubt it's going to somehow magically improve dead product if the stuff is bad in the pen to begin with.

That said, Molotow has a certain brightness to it that doesn't really suit my antique and classic cars I like to build. I use it for side chrome on some other builds but will continue to look for something more suited to classic era cars ( 1900's-40 on up to 1957 or 58 or so factory stock) . AK exreme metal stainless steel is of interest presently. And I haven't checked out the Mr line of metals yet. MM buffing metals has left a hole unfilled thus far ,imo.

 

[TransAmMike]

Did my first Molotow airbrushing today and I gotta say, I'm impressed.   I used the fluid from the Molotow refill. Airbrushed with my Procon 275, unthinned at 25 psi.

The test subject is the Centerline unchromed (white plastic) from the '55 Chevy 2dr Sedan kit.  I first sprayed the Krylon Foil paint on them them overcoated withteh Molotow.

On the 2 wheels on the left the color is the reflection of my phone camera case.  The silver on the tree is the Krylon Foil paint.

[Zippi]

Looks pretty good there Mike.  I will burn this in my memory banks for future use.  Maybe that's not such a good idea, I can't remember what I had for breakfast ☺

[Bainford]

Not bad at all. Lots of promise there.

I'm curious about the undercoating of Krylon chrome. Is this just something you were experimenting with, or is it the proper method?