Painting Chrome?

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Aug 28, 2022 | 08:39 AM

Frenchy33

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Stage II

Joined: Jul 2019

Posts: 2

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From: Illinois

Painting Chrome?

I have a stock 06 Road King so it’s got the standard chrome look, but I love the blacked look. Can chrome be painted or would I really have to replace any parts I want blacked out?

Aug 28, 2022 | 09:10 AM

Qdog002

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2012

Posts: 3,515

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From: Upstate New York

I painted my chrome engine guard.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...ine-guard.html
If you are thinking of painting motor parts then I would think about powder coating them because of the heat.

Aug 28, 2022 | 09:51 AM

johndoe297

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2019

Posts: 1,176

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From: MS

I agree. I would look into powder coating before I would paint just for the longevity.

Aug 28, 2022 | 10:23 AM

missionwop

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 679

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From: Surrey B.C.

If you want to paint chrome except for motor parts i would sand it down with a diamond coated sandpaper i believe festool sells this paper. Then etch prime it before painting. I have done this a few times and never had an issue.

Aug 28, 2022 | 10:23 AM

Spoortster48

Advanced

Joined: May 2022

Posts: 52

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From: CA

Powder coating doesn’t hold up with heat, but depends of course how hot. Best is to do ceramic coating.

I shipped my muffler heat shields to these guys and they ceramic coated it black for me. Just email them with a picture of the part for a quote.

https://www.sandersonheaders.com/san...c-coating.html

Aug 28, 2022 | 11:43 AM

Craigny

Road Master

Joined: Jan 2017

Posts: 791

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From: New York

I painted some chrome heatshields I modified with HD wrinkle black engine paint once...scuffed the chrome with sandpaper or Scotch Brite pad (i forget) then painted them. Yoy can't go wrong with an etch primer but i don't think i used any that time. Just painted.. They looked great and never chipped or anything.

Last edited by Craigny; Aug 28, 2022 at 11:46 AM.

Aug 28, 2022 | 11:56 AM

NoRegerts

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 16,982

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From: Texas Hill Country

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenchy33

I have a stock 06 Road King so it’s got the standard chrome look, but I love the blacked look. Can chrome be painted or would I really have to replace any parts I want blacked out?

Paint won't hold up well on chrome. You'll be much better off powder coating. Recently, I spent a lot of time dechroming and blacking out chrome parts. The process is easy enough. you can't PC over chrome. Just a light scuff of the chrome with sandpaper or media blasting, then you can coat over it without worry of it not holding up. Be warned though, if the chrome is broken, you'll have to remove all of it, and at that point, you could paint if you wanted to.

To clarify, you cannot paint shinny polished chrome. You can if you scuff the surface. Etch primer on metal is best before paint, or just PC the chrome parts.

Last edited by NoRegerts; Aug 28, 2022 at 11:58 AM.