Bad chrome bare metal foil?

well,
i`ve received two packs of chrome bmf. i tried to use it but this is the way how it goes from sheet (breaking)

http://fotgal.ic.cz/rozne/bmf1.jpg

and its full of "spider cracks?"

http://fotgal.ic.cz/rozne/bmf2.jpg

and on some places removed pieces leave glue

decent job is nearly impossible
is it bad sheet, or do i something wrong?

I got a sheet EXACTLY like that. The "spiderweb" cracks are the spots where it tears when you try to remove it from the sheet. I don't know if we both did something wrong, or if we both got bad sheets, but I can confirm that this is NOT a one-time thing.

Alex

Bad/old sheet. I have found that this happens to BMF over time. Where did you buy it from? Can you request a replacement sheet?

This is one of the reasons that I quite freely use BMF for masking - not only is it fantastic for that purpose but I'd rather just make use of it than wait for it to go "off" before I have a chrome job for it ;)

I have seen recommendations to store the sheet in a zip-lock bag and even in the refrigerator to prevent this happening at home.

I wouldn't store it in the reefer, that might cause moisture to build up between the paper, and foil, causing the adhesive to deteriorate. I'd go with the plastic bag thing though. store it FLAT, I have had some BMF where the top of the page of foil had no glue, and the bottom had so much that it wouldn't conform to the model I was putting it on, because it all flowed downward while it was hanging on a peg at the store.

BMF sheets certainly will not all do this as a result of age. I recently finished my first two sheets of BMF- one chrome and one matte aluminum (I used alot on my aluminum body Super 7). I'd had both sheets since the last century (purchased in '99), and neither had these fine cracks or adhesive deterioration when I finished them. And they got no more special care than being tossed around my workbench, for years.

Some sheets will do this, and some won't- I have no idea why. :dunno:

But I'd bet BMF (http://www.bare-metal.com/) might have an answer- or at least a replacement sheet for you. Give them an email and see what they say...!

I got a chrome sheet that looks like that too...

Just a thought if that happens on the sheet, I think it will happen on a model too, right?

i got some from THE BARE METAL FOIL CO.
and when i recieved mine it was similar to yours with all the cracks running down the middle so i may beable to salvage some out of it or do you think it would be better to call them up and have them send me some replacement sheets?

thanks, its solved - bad foil. BMF co. will replace it.

I didn't want to start a new thread on more or less the same topic, so here goes.
Could someone post a pic (real life pic, not something off the BMF site) of a 'good' sheet of chrome BMF?
I just can't seem to get the BMF to shine like Alclad2 or Gunze's metalic paints. The Matte Alu and Ultra bright chrome work just fine. Any tips? I do try polishing it with a Q-tip but not much help really. Would metal polish or paint compound help?
Thanks

I didn't want to start a new thread on more or less the same topic, so here goes.
Could someone post a pic (real life pic, not something off the BMF site) of a 'good' sheet of chrome BMF?
I just can't seem to get the BMF to shine like Alclad2 or Gunze's metalic paints. The Matte Alu and Ultra bright chrome work just fine. Any tips? I do try polishing it with a Q-tip but not much help really. Would metal polish or paint compound help?
Thanks

The key is to use the same compound you use to polish paint to polish BMF. Then it will get much brighter. I polish it after it's applied, it turns the cloth black from the oxidation. Ultra Bright is awful, it doesn't stick well, it has a slight texture, and doesn't look nearly as good as regular chrome that's been polished.

My sheets of BMF get the spider web cracks over time. It happens to all of them, at least in the environment I keep them in. When it gets bad, I get a fresh sheet. BMF says that the foil is "only" good for 6 mos. from manufacture before the cracking occurs (from temp/humidity changes). They will replace bad sheets with fresh sheets. If you want the freshest sheets, get it directly from them.

Thanks zoomzoom, I'll try that.
I know about the ultra bright. I use it mostly for masking, the color just sucks.

i got some from THE BARE METAL FOIL CO.
and when i recieved mine it was similar to yours with all the cracks running down the middle so i may beable to salvage some out of it or do you think it would be better to call them up and have them send me some replacement sheets?

so should i call them up and see if they can replace mine as well!runaround