Where theworld gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989
-----
"Home" powdercoating over chrome plate
Q. I'm in the process of redoing two Harley Davidson motorcycles. I've purchased a "home" powder coating kit that I intend to use in the coating of various motorcycle parts. I've yet to use the kit as most of the major parts I want to coat have been previously chrome plated. The company I purchased the kit from offer translucent powder designed to use over chrome plating for a colored clear coat effect. My question regards whether the part can have the chromium plating on it or does it need to be stripped to the nickel plate? If it needs to be stripped, what is the best (easiest) way of doing this? Any help would be appreciated as I'm trying to do as much work on my bikes as possible and stay within my budget. I'm having a hard time trying to have a presentable ride without having a "bottomless" wallet!
Robert Kelley- Cumberland, MD, United States
A. It is usually very difficult to paint chrome because it refuses to wet; there are a few articles in the literature about contact angle and such. But if the vendor says this tinting is designed for use on chrome, maybe it is--I wouldn't know. Stripping the chrome down to the nickel plating is readily done by immersion in muriatic acid [affil links], but this is quite dangerous stuff to use, so follow directions and wear rubber gloves [on eBay or Amazon] and especially goggles [on eBay or Amazon]. You are not supposed to do this, of course, so if you do it anyway and an accident happens, don't go blaming somebody else. As an alternate, some powder coaters tell me that a very light blasting removes the chrome, roughens the nickel, and allows reasonable adhesion. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
A. To coat over chrome, all you have to do is clean it with soapy water and dry with soft terry rag and coat over the chrome and you'll have a very nice finish, good luck.
Ray Henry- Atlanta, Georgia
Ray, if you are sure that what you are successfully painting over is chrome (not just some other metal that looks shiny like chrome, like nickel for instance), and you are getting good adhesion, you are achieving something special. Bottle it! OEMS have battled for years trying to figure out how to get paint to stick to chrome :-)
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. I have a two-part question regarding powder coating. First, I am curious as to how successful I might be, and how to be achieve the desired result, in powder coating the chrome wheels of my H-D motorcycle with a home-use product such as Eastwood I've read numerous writings on this topic, all with different answers. In my mind I can't imagine that the coating will stick well to a smooth finish such as the plating; however, I may be wrong. I thought possibly scuffing the heck out of the chrome might give the powder a fighting chance to stick a little better. Any thoughts?
Second, please tell me if what I describe next is possible. I want to coat two separate colors onto one part. Can I prep the part (cleaning, drying, tape off the areas for the secondary color) and shoot color one, cure, and then tape off all of color one and shoot color two and then cure that color without any problems? It makes sense that I would be successful in this, but I also worry that heating the first color might cause it to break down or take on a poor finish from being heated with tape on it.
I appreciate your thoughts and advice on this matter. Thank you.
Justin WilliamsHobbyist - San Diego, California
2007
A. I've several times powdercoated over chrome with translucent powdercoats, and it looks excellent, very shiny, but it scrapes off pretty easily -- good for show only .
Johnny Gaitor- Denver, Colorado
March 21, 2008
Q. I have parts from my motorcycle that are chrome and I would like to powder coat over them. Can I do this?
Mark Crawford- Phoenix, Arizona
January 28, 2012
Q. I would like to have you nickel/chrome plate an aluminum trim panel. However, there is a section of this panel that I would also like to color powdercoat for accent. As you know, powder coating requires exposure to 375 °F for 20-25 minutes. My question is; will the chrome plating discolor in that situation?
Norman ConnorLong time hobbyist/car restorer - Midland, Ontario, Canada
February 16, 2013
Hi Norman. I doubt that 375 °F for a short time will be a problem for the chrome, but powder coating will not stick properly to chrome.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 17, 2013
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread