I welded a brake mount onto a unicycle that was chrome plated. I ground away the chrome where it was to be welded and now I need to paint the mount and welded area. I think it would look best if I was to paint that section of the frame uniformly but can’t exactly grind the whole thing. So, do I sandblast the area to remove or even if I just pit the chrome plating, will that be enough to receive paint and have it stick?
I should probably find some epoxy paint, what would be the most tenacious paint in this context?
As you know I had your Mountainuni mount welded on to my Nimbus Titan. I ground the area where it was to be welded, had it welded, and then immediately put on that rotor and hit the road. There was no way I could wait for paint to dry.
Anyway, since then I have been meaning to finish the job, and I was thinking of masking off the chrome area above the mount (an equal distance from the bottom on both fork legs), and then painting the lower seven or so inches of each fork leg with a black rubberized undercoating spray. I know it will stick, and thought it would be durable and sharp looking…now I just need to do it.
The rightest way is to have it media blasted. One shortcut I’ve heard is to grind the chrome with like 60 grit until it’s fairly cross hatched. The idea is that it gives the material some tooth. Not sure I buy that theory. Maybe etching primer? Never used it just know term. Here is an example of an etching agent: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GUGH04/ref=nosim?tag=finishingcominc
Apparently plating shops can chem strip chrome. But the more I read it seems painting over chrome is feasable using some combination of low grit prep like I talked about, and/or scrubbing with red (course) Scotch Brite pad. Suggestion for adhesion promoter is pretty universal.
This one was mentioned: e2g973 vinal etching primer
I had a chrome frame powder coated by a local place and they just gave it a light sand blasting first - not enough to strip the plating off, just roughen it up a bit. Nothing that couldn’t have been done with some emery cloth or a flap wheel on a grinder. I know powder coat isn’t quite the same as normal paint, but I never had any problems with that coming off. I think people have had success with just scratching the frame up a bit, priming and painting.
I like the flap wheel on a grinder… good idea. and your paint has been holding up after lightly sandblasting your chrome frame? I have used etching primer for painting aluminum, I’ll have to find out if that’s what I should use in this context. I am also wondering about stripping with muriatic acid.
I hate chrome, metal under it still corrodes and turns the chrome into a million rusty razor blades…
I have had lots of parts sand blasted and it is cheaper then you might think. Then I use my wifes pottery kiln to powder coat them. Powder coat comes in lots of colors, problem is that it is hard to touch up when it chips or scratches. That being said it is often better to spray with rattle cans or auto paint. Good luck
the body shop crew recommended against sand blasting and sanding and said that the chrome would likely just peel. I have just painted the areas that have been ground, weld bead, and the mount itself. any stray paint on chrome will just fall off, and where it does not it’s protected from rust by paint.
I was told to bring it to a plating company to either re chrome, or to strip the chrome. I may find a paint oriented place for a different opinion, and at least it won’t rust by then. I think Jay would prefer the whole thing powder coated anyway.
to the posters and those that have responded to all my questions, thank you! your help has been huge and has improved my enjoyment of unicycling and my overall experience of this growing sport!
It was fine, at least for the few years I kept the frame after it was done. It had a couple of chips from dropping on rocks, but no peeling or flaking. I sold that frame to Domesticated Ape (Liam) a couple of years ago - I don’t know if he’s still got it. It was powder coat though, not normal paint, so it may not be quite comparable.
Good quality heavy chrome plate doesn’t (I’ve got plenty of old car and bike parts with perfect plating), but the type of nasty cheap stuff on the likes of unicycle frames and cheap steel bike rims certainly does! Cheap spanners are the worst - I’ve had loads of flakes of plating under finger nails from a nasty cheap set I had in the car once.
