Painting Chrome?
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Cruiser
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Painting Chrome?
So a friend was just given his first bike, a 94 Sportie. Question, the chrome battery box is kinda beat and I wanted to sand it down and spray it a flat black. Can someone please tell me what the best way to do this is, thanks.
Nick
Nick
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From: MEXICO
I'm not familiar with the correct procedure to remove the chrome coating from the metal but you will have to do so in order to paint the battery cover. Painting over chromed metal is extremely tricky, I've done that for VW and believe me, that process was a pain in the butt.
Mimo.
Mimo.
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Ya I know I cant just paint straight over it. I was gonna just sand it down by hand and go from there. Not sure though if it needs to be primered before the paint or not. What grit paper would you guys recomend. I am not gonna put a ton of time in to this piece. I am doin a buddy a favor and this bike is old.
Nick
Nick
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From: back home in Michigan
I think I've heard of needing to etch chrome so it will hold paint. Of course removing the chrome will work, but seems like a lot of work to me. The other method (not sure if its actually etching) entails dipping the item in some sort of chemical to treat the chrome. Seems Anubisss was talking about having done it....
Last edited by glideridemike; Nov 18, 2008 at 07:54 AM.
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From: Mount Laurel, N.J.
I painted the horn cover. Took a piece of nylon sanding pad and scuffed the chrome to a satin finish then used textured flat black paint. Two coats covered the cowbell nicely and has held up so far.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Bel Air Md
I painted many chrome parts flat black on my Sporty, traded it in Feb. I just sanded it lightly to scratch the chrome, 5 minutes, then did 3 coats of BBQ high temp flat black, $3.50. the heat shields pictured and ham can still looked good after 2 years but touch up would have been easy.
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5th Gear
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I have painted allot of chrome parts with success. The proper way to do it is to prep the part by sanding it, or preferably sand blasting it in a sandblast cablinet or just have it done, this gives it an etch for the paint to stick and removes any impurities on the surface of the metal. Then use an etch primer such as an epoxy primer, or etch prime, then paint with what ever system you are used to using. It will hold up and look as good as you have it. Another option would be to have it powder coated. Probably cheaper than buying the materials and spending all the time painting it, and it will be a nice looking durable finish. Good luck!!!!!!
Last edited by Ipaintgrt; Nov 23, 2008 at 05:15 AM.
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