Advice on painting chrome

I want to paint my new chrome wheel black. The last thing I painted chrome did not go very well. Any little touch and it scratched and did not take long for the paint to peel.

I bet you'd have to really scuff it up pretty good to get paint to stick. Chrome is some pretty hard stuff. I don't know if you could acid etch it or not. I bet if you could get access to a bead blaster you could make the paint stick..............................

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Nothing sticks to chrome that is kinda what it is made for, as was suggested you can have it bead or sand blasted off and then you can paint it.

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Thank's guy's for the advice I'll blast the sucker.

Yeah, the purpose of chromium is to replace paint to eye-candy up products.
Usually it is a subordinate (third level element of design) theme. Since the mid sixties color has replaced alot of bright work on automobiles and motorcycles along with the USA's relations with Chile in South America (the worlds longest country) having gone cool. Also chromium plating is a rather dirty process.

The chromium is buffed with several grades of grit adbrasives from coarse to fine
in order to get the mirror like shine. That also is a near impossible surface for paint coatings to stick to. Unless you are going to pull the spokes out of the rim and later relace it.......I'd suggest finding some painted rims to "re-paint" to the color you want. Unless you just want to pull these rims down and make it an October thru April project. Then you could scuff the chrome surface up with very fine sand paper and then use several coatings of metal primer for non rusted surfaces. Some of these are rather "outdoor well ventelated" applications as they use solvents like MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) and sources such as "Rustoleum Industrial Coatings" sells it. You won't find it
in stores selling to the general public.

Two other surfaces....galvanized (zinc coating) and buffed aluminum are also
difficult. Rustoleum Industraial makes "Galvanoleum" (sold in 4 gallon to box lots) thinned with MEK to coat galvanized surfaces so paint will hold to them.
You have 24 hours after priming with it to get your paint (or primer) coating on over it. It's expensive and works. You can buy MEK at Lowes and other such places usually in 1 gallon cans. (you don't want to breathe it)

When painting polished aluminum.......find a can of Lye and mix a strong solution of it in a plastic pail. About a quart or two. Apply it with a brush to the aluminum surface and allow it to sit there a few hours. Then wash it off
completely. You can apply a metal primer after it's dry. The paint will hold quite well after that as the lye etches the surface with micro pits the paint can grip to.

Look for a book in your public library, or book store, titled "Formula's Methods Tips and Data". It's a small thick square book and most builders here would do well to buy a copy. Loads of other usefull info in it too.

There have been some good primers in the past but due to their chemical structure it lead to environmental concerns so it no longer exist. One of the motst durable primers I've ever had pointed out to me was used on those old German made VW cars and vans of the 60's. You'd see them on junk yards with the paint nearly washed off them over time but the primer held far longer than the original paint coating ever did. So that's why I don't advise painting over chromium as the primers just aren't available and would be nearly cost prohibitive now. (or what so many people call "Chrome")

eDJ I just love to read your posts. So when are you going to build a cold fusion motor? Just kidding! Your a very talented person and an asset to our forum, thanks for your posts.

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Scuff it up real good with sandpaper then use self etching primer before you lay down the color coat.

- Krylon Products Group

LOL, Eh Tramp.......you'd have to teach me about cold fusion motors. Only Cold Fusion I've ever been near was a web site editor made by Adobe.

But I'm glad ya enjoy my post.

Ah, I have to introduce you to, too my ex. She is all about cold! Yee Haaa, Found a new reason to go riding. Corn Flakes, got to go get some!
I would not endanger you. I think she is already married. Poor dude.

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On the Military Bike, I took the easy way out. I used the semi-pitted wheels, and sanded them for a couple hours while listening to my Pink Floyd CD's and then wiped them down with MEK, primed and painted.

I buzzed around the spokes with a 3M green abrasive wheel.

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