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Q&As since 1989


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Painting chrome rims

This might have been covered before, but I am trying to find out for sure. I own a 06' black charger - has a metallic sparkly black look to it. I would like to purchase a set of chrome rims and see if its possible to tape off a section that I want to be painted the same black as my car. so my question is, can chrome rims be painted, and can they be painted with the same paint used to paint the vehicle. my neighbor is a body man, he already purchased the paint to paint my front grille black for me. I would like to use that paint to paint my rims. he doesn't think so, but he is not certain.

Rick Rodriguez
hobbyist - Holtsville, New York
2007

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Chrome cannot be painted. However, a light sandblasting will remove the chrome and leave the underlying nickel slightly roughened. Some powder coaters have reported good success in powder coating items after this light blasting.

But I think black chrome plating would be more satisfactory (although this has to be done by a plating shop).

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

I have old chrome rims that have lost their luster. can I clean them and paint them?

James Allen
customer - Torrance, California
January 30, 2008