Water transfer printing is a decorative process with many names. Immersion printing, hydrodipping, water marbling, camo dipping, cubic printing, and hydrographics are all terms for the process of applying printed designs to three-dimensional objects. An extremely thin decorative film floats on the surface of a water filled tank. The part is carefully lowered onto the film and into the water. The film sticks to the part, is then removed from the tank, and a protective clear coat is sprayed to finish the process. The resulting coating can be classified as a decorative or applied art.
Many of the same materials that people coat with Cosmichrome can also be coated using the hydrographic process and the processes can even be combined. That’s where Cosmichrome comes in. Metal, plastic, bone, glass, wood, and MDF can be hydrodipped even if they have unusual shapes. Cosmichrome spray chrome and hydrodipping can be a good match for each other.
Once you have applied the Cosmichrome finished on your parts and the Topcoat is sufficiently dry, you can go ahead and perform the hydrodipping process. Below, are some basic steps to follow. Note that some additional steps may be required to achieve optimal results.
Hydrodipping Cosmichrome chromed parts overview.
Follow the hydrographic manufacturer’s instructions for their process.
Wear gloves when handling parts prior to hydrodipping to prevent fingerprint contamination from getting onto the surface of the part.
Blow off any dust that may have landed onto part
Proceed with the normal Hydrodipping process.
Rinse your part
Let dry completely
Blow off any dust
Apply an additional clear coat
Hydrodipping is a world of its own, as is Cosmichrome. That said, neither process is quite as simple as they seem. Of course, there are some trade secrets to create superb Cosmichrome/hydrodipping combinations every time. This article is simply an overview of the process for hydrodipping Cosmichrome-coated parts to make you aware of the possibilities. You may need to adapt your particular hydro dipping procedures, but now you know hydrodipping Cosmichrome is possible. So, go out there and have at it!
Below are some pictures of Bag R Buck’s Cosmichrome coated hydrodips, as well as a video of their hydrodipping process with a chrome-plated feature piece or two at the end (min. 05:49)! Enjoy, and happy discoveries!
