Chrome T-Molding...showing slight ripples? Normal?

[circusfreak]

Hey folks.
I am just throwing on some chrome T-mold and I am using a wide rubber mallet to hammer it in. I hammer it in gently and then come back though trying to move super slow down the piece to get it as smooth as possible.

Q : It looks pretty good, but if you sight down a piece in the light you can see ripples all the way through the molding. Is that something just inherent to the chrome stuff? I tried using a wood board to hammer on, also tried hitting it with a J-roller afterwards. Still can see those ripples.

Please let me know if there are any hints or tips to get the chrome as smooth as possible. Thanks!!

Rob

[RandyT]

"Chrome" T-molding has a mylar (or something similar) laminate over the top of the softer plastic usually used for t-molding. The two different plastics don't really flex in the same proportions to one another, so it's not great for curves or doing anything to it which might deform it.  Large round or square coffee tables are really what that stuff is made for, but even when used in ideal circumstances, you'll often see the shiny stuff completely de-laminate over time, just from thermal cycling.

Because it's highly reflective, you'll see every ripple in the stuff.  Maybe try lightly (!)  rolling on the surface with a wooden roller to make it look uniform.  Try it first with a scrap piece, and keep in mind what I wrote above.

[Zebidee]

I wonder if you might get better results using a hair dryer on low setting to soften the plastic (without melting of course) while using a mallet or roller. Again something to test on an offcut first, I might be completely wrong and don't want your cab to melt.

[circusfreak]

Thanks guys. I will try out those ideas.

I know a lot of cabs I have seen have the chrome T on them, and the pictures look great. I haven't seen anyone doing anything different than how I installed it.

I guess I might just be a bit overcritical. It does look really good from almost every angle. It's just not perfectly smooth looking when you sight down the edge.

Attached is a pic of one piece from the side and then straight on for reference.

[Zebidee]

See what you mean, but still pretty small.

Chrome is so highly reflective any minor distortion will show up in some way. In contrast, black T-molding will hide any imperfections. Might be just that they won't show you the pictures with ripples.

[circusfreak]

Yeah, I will try a little different technique with a roller on a test piece, but otherwise I'll just be happy with this. Figured maybe someone had a genius idea I hadn't thought of.

Thanks for the feedback!