Can you powder coat chrome?

[John Schmidt]

Recently bought something off ebay knowing the finish wasn't in the greatest shape. It was advertised as the chrome being pitted. WRONG! It's blistered, small bubbles in the finish all over it. Don't think I'll press for an adjustment of the price since I got the parts for a very small amount. So I'm thinking of either sanding it all down and spray it or have it powder coated. How much trouble would it be to spray paint chrome? I'm assuming the finish would have to be roughed up, then possibly use some self-etching primer, followed by the color of my choice....probably black to match the bike. Any thoughts or suggestions?

FWIW, it's the side rails for an I/S trunk mount, and the rear cross member. Still looking for the forward one, so far have less than $50 invested. The blistered piece is the right side rail, left one is a little dinged up but very serviceable. Had to heat it on the back side to straighten it a bit, came out pretty good actually. If I paint or powder coat all of the parts, it will cover all the imperfections.

[YoungPUP]

If you're going to paint it, just sand blast it. That'll save you a lot of hand cramps.  Sandblasted the chrome off of the exhaust for my old 750 shadow so I could paint it with hi temp.

[Jess from VA]

Those rails are pretty buried, but the nice chrome on good ones does show on my IS.

Before you decide, you could lay them (as is) on a contrasting background, under lights, snap a few shots, create a simple email asking what they could do for you (I'd probably powdercoat them black on a black bike), and fire it off to a couple local powdercoaters for an opinion and price estimate.  Never have to leave the house.

That crappy peeling anodized aluminum bezel surrounding the IS idiot lights drove me crazy.  It is super thin, and getting it off without bending it up was a chore, but I had mine powdercoated black metalflake.  Like to powdercoat my two IS rear wheels in washable battleship grey some day.

[gordonv]

First thing I would do is to complain. Not to get any discount, if you feel the price is still right, but to put him on notice that if he lies about an item, it will come back to haunt him.

As for the piece, I also have an extra set of GW 1500/6 valve covers, I want to powder coat. I was going to sand blast them to roughen up the surfurce, and to remove some of the corrosion on it, and then try to do a home powder coat myself.

I'm interested in finding out how you make out on the sand blasting. I would think in your case you'll need to remove it all. It might be worth finding a chrome plater who will reverse the process.

[Westsider]

Hey John, I bought a timing belt cover and am having it and an extra set of valve covers powder coated in S&S crinkle black , the guy that does it says no problem on chrome, just sand blasts it.    Paul.

[Davet261]

I was going to have a set of passenger floorboards re-chromed and it would have costed as much or more as a new set.  If memory serves me right the quote was $150.00 each.

[Momz]

Any good powdercoater will blast the surface with the prpoer media (samd, walnut shells, glass beads, etc) and powdercoaters abound. Don't go with the first quote. In this econony the customer is King and a reputable PCer will want return customers.

I found a PCer that is a biker and most of his work in the winter is from other bikers. He has a 24 hour turnaround time and gaurantees all of his work.

Supreme Welding and Powdercoating, Macomb Twp. MI    586 791-8860

[Ricky-D]

Betcha Pinwall has some real nice ones.

Chalk those up to experience and get another set.

They show enough to want them to be pretty and CHROME is what you need there!

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