Painting over chrome?

anyone painted over chrome before?

i have a guy that is looking to get a growling cougar head painted on a chrome air cleaner cover.

any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.


i have

one shot enamels
HOK eurathanes

[fresnojohns]

Len,
I know guys that have painted over chrome and it worked.
You have to rough it up alittle bit with a scotch brite. You
don't need to take plating off but dull surface alittle.
As far as which paint to use, either one will have to have clear on it.
If I did it, and I am just saying from my own expierence, I would
use 1Shot. When 1Shot is applied it is best to actually brush on
the base and you shouldn't have hardly any brush strokes when dry.
Use a hardner when applying the base. Clean brush very well as the hardner will make paint set up. After using brush method , then come back with airbrush and start building all your details. Again use a hardner in the airbrush as well. Doing this type of work is really like doing a glass window. So
scuffing is really up to you. That is why the final clear coat. It is very hard to paint over chrome as its so hard and paint has a hard time (biting). I only
say use 1Shot becouse of my expierecnce striping over Powder Coated parts.
When I used HOK it fell right off. But no clear was used. The reason I say brush on base is because the paint is full strength and not thinned.
Just my own take on it. Even with 1Shot definatly use a resperator cause
its very toxic when spraying. Let set up very good before dusting on first coat of clear. Even with hardner in 1Shot can be risky putting euros over it.
Fresnojohns

[aixguy]

Never did it, don't know anyone who has done it, but this is what I would do.
I would get my design printed out on plastic or heavy paper, cut it out to form a stencil of the outline. Then using the stencil and my sand blaster, etch the area to paint. I guess a light coat of primer using the stencil would be a good idea, then paint and clear.. No idea if this would work properly but is the route I would take.
Good luck!

[chucktx]

i lightly sandblast my aircleaners.....then prime and paint as normal metal. you can also skuff with 600 sandpaper, then prime and paint....

[hairbag]

thanks guys

i was figuring the same thing, stencil, scuff or sand blast. will see if he drops it off in the next few days.

[landsbro]

I painted the front fender on my bike that was chromed,,
i used a electric sanding machine and a lowgrit sandpaper and sanded the
h¤%# out of it,,then i sprayed a coat of 2 part clear over,sanded it smooth
and sprayed my paint,,it's still holding up good no peeling,,
/kimmo

[patoche]

Hi

here a exemple of the same work done by kimmo.
The tank has been sanded with P3000, then polish with a metal polisher, degrease , stickers and cleared with 2 part clear.
This tank has 3 years and is like new.

Pat

[pitontheprowl]

Originally Posted by aixguy

Never did it, don't know anyone who has done it, but this is what I would do.
I would get my design printed out on plastic or heavy paper, cut it out to form a stencil of the outline. Then using the stencil and my sand blaster, etch the area to paint. I guess a light coat of primer using the stencil would be a good idea, then paint and clear.. No idea if this would work properly but is the route I would take.
Good luck!

That is the way I have done chrome and glass too.
Trick is to keep the airpressure on the blaster low so you dont tear your mask but high enough to etch.