painting previously chromed parts

[akku]

I know this has been asked already and I know I even offered an opinion when it has been asked.

But say I want to paint stuff which was factory chromed what is the best way to prepare the surface?

The days of finding a friendly platers and getting them to strip the plate off it seem to have gone by the wayside and that was always my answer.

[jrevillug]

Acid etch primer, I'd say - it seemed to work for Bruce on the MX5's door handles etc. IIRC, he used the Upol #8.

[MrSpeedy]

Personally, I'd be looking at sand blasting. It'll remove any suspect chrome and provide an excellent key for paint.
Always worked for me in the past

[akku]

last time we asked about this there was an opinion that sand blasting would not shift chrome. You've done it successfully in the past?

Etch primer seems too easy

[RobinJI]

I think the idea with the sand blasting isn't that it removes all the chrome, but that any chrome that it doesn't take off, is likely there for the long haul, and wont be a problem to paint over. Plus it will effectively key the surface of the remaining chrome and the metal where loose chrome's been removed.

It's not something I've tried my self, but I think my approach would be a key and etch primer on good condition chrome parts, and sand-blasting then etch priming for anything with suspect chrome.

[akku]

If the chrOme were good I'd not be painting it ;-)

[MrSpeedy]

Mar 20, 2012 16:13:42 GMT RobinJI said:

I think the idea with the sand blasting isn't that it removes all the chrome, but that any chrome that it doesn't take off, is likely there for the long haul, and wont be a problem to paint over. Plus it will effectively key the surface of the remaining chrome and the metal where loose chrome's been removed.

It's not something I've tried my self, but I think my approach would be a key and etch primer on good condition chrome parts, and sand-blasting then etch priming for anything with suspect chrome.

^^^ This^^^

Yes, I have used sand blasting to remove chrome in the past. It's a long job if it's good chrome. (usually i'm removing chrome from brass which usually 'sticks' better than on steel)

And as Rbin says, it's very effective at removing iffy chrome and provides pretty much THE best key for paint on whatever stays behind. I have painted on chrome before using this method, and never had an issue with it lifting or falling off

[akku]

cheers buddy, do you do it yourself of sub it out? I'm looking for recommends in the Leicester/Nottingham area...

[composimmonite]

People might not agree but I've used Hammerite Special Metal Primer for years on galv, stainless, brass and chrome with excellent results.

Paul h

[Dez]

40 grit flapwheel to smooth out/remove loose stuff, then acid etch and hi-build.

[akku]

the shape of the parts would make a flap wheel trick to operate. 40 by hand would be do-able.

[stefan]

I have a sand blaster here is you want to test the idea mate

[MrSpeedy]

Mar 20, 2012 22:02:14 GMT akku said:

cheers buddy, do you do it yourself of sub it out? I'm looking for recommends in the Leicester/Nottingham area...

I do my own, but I'm not exactly local ! Between Rugby and Daventry

[akku]

Stefan, I shall discuss with you later then

[stefan]

No problem mate see you this evening

[Bob the Fish]

Don't need to blast it particularly, I use 40 grit to chop the surface up a bit. Then finer grades till it's done & scuffed all over, no trace of shiney left. This just gives a key, I doubt etch will touch the chrome.
Or fibre disc on a grinder. I use big ones with a small backing thingy so it's more flexy. Just whizzed the chrome off some overriders for welding and paint, done in a jiffy. Now etch will bite the steel.

[Mystery Machine]

James is right, I did use Upol #8 for etch priming various chrome parts (not just my MX5, but various headlamp surrounds and also a set of chrome steel wheels). I did, however, blast them all in the sandblast cabinet first. It didn't remove the chrome but gave it a satin finish which was the perfect key for the etch paint to adhere to.

The chrome wheels I did are the ones currently on my Delica. They were blasted then acid etch primed, then about three coats of rattle can satin black on top. They've had some abuse in the 2 years since I did them and they still look good today....and when I mean abuse, I think you know what I mean

I think even acid etch would chip off if you tried to paint it directly onto straight bright chrome.

Good luck with it.

[akku]

cheers all - photos will be forthcoming eventually