Letter 22065

Painting over chrome on bicycle? [New York] 

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I need help, I need to know if there is any special paint that will paint over a chrome finish on a bicycle frame or if there is a special technique to use to make it so paint will stick to the chrome finish. Please someone help me.

Jonathan D [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Baldwin, New York, USA

Although your frame is shiny and metallic looking, it is unlikely to be chrome unless it is very old. It is probably zinc plating that has already been lacquered, so check for compatibility of your paint with this lacquer in an inconspicuous spot, and if there is no reaction you should be good to go.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

The answer to this question was for painting over chrome and was not answered, whether or not the material was chrome, the question is still "How to paint over chrome" not whether the the object was or was not chrome. Painting over chrome requires a bit more prep. in getting off that "shine" which will make the paint slide of easily, so it's a fine grit sand to dull everything, wax and grease remover, and etching type primer then apply your metal paint finish of choice.

Brian M [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Bicycle Repair - Shaunavon, Sask., Canada

Regardless of how Jonathan phrased his question, Brian, what he obviously really wants to know is how to paint his frame. To demand that we tell him to paint it as if it was chrome, just because he phrased his question that way, when we don't think it is chrome, is to play a very dirty trick! It's like remaining silent and letting him break a tooth on an item of artificial fruit that has caught his eye when we know better :-)

But for items that are real chrome, the readers thank you for your advice.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

Hi,
I just got back some trims from a plating house here in Mass. They look fantastic! I am restoring a 68 Ford Galaxie XL Fastback. I do need to know how the pro's would do the detail painting on these parts? I have access to a sand blaster. If i mask off everything,and blast just the areas to paint. Will that work? Also, what paints give the best results? What is used in the auto industry to do the detail work? What application methods work best? I want this to look really good! Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Andy Semenyck
- Brimfield, MA, USA

What do I need to do to paint over plastic chrome on a motorcycle. I want to cover some deep scrathes. I tried to rough up the surface with wet/dry sand paper and some of the primer has taken pretty good but there are other areas that a thumb neal peals off the primer. Any help will be used.
Thanks. Leo

Leo Bontrager
- Bella Viata, AR, USA

The problem that I have seen over the years is that you have to clean before you sand(instead of the other way around). otherwise you will rub all the dirt and oil into the metal or remaining paint, which in turn gives you the "weak" spots in the paint. sometimes it will even texturize on you and thats really hard to get off.

Wesley Selph
- Tyndall AFB FL

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