Repainting a chromed frame

Despite my entreaties to the contrary, my better half wants to powder coat her Merckx. She doesn't like white.

As it has an Italian style all over chrome under the white paint (and the old style Merckx logo), I was wondering if anyone knows whether you need to get the chrome off before a repaint, or whether it's better to just shot blast the frame. The chrome is coming off in some places - particularly the chain-stays.

hi bill, best to get it shot blasted first, most powder coaters blast first to get a key anyway

normally the powder coat will stick fine to the chrome. however, if it is peeling in places, it's up to you whether you get it chemical dipped to remove all the chrome or not. depends if you want the chrome still underneath.

it works better with wet paint

blast (your powdercoater will be able to do this) all the chrome off if you want the best finish, as (good) powdercoat is nigh on impossible to strip. I would get it prepped properly and strip all the chrome off first. The only chrome frame I have had done, this is how we did it and IMHO it turned out nice.

Did I say it was a Merckx already? Anyway, thanks for the advice.

Talk some sense into the woman!

Yeh sorry about that Bill, us Trixies kinda encouraged her ;-)

You lot are a bad influence!

don't paint. just slap her and tell her it's non-sense! :p

(note: i do not condone physical abuse, but when someone wants to powdercoat a merckyx, she deserves it )

blast (your powdercoater will be able to do this) all the chrome off if you want the best finish, as (good) powdercoat is nigh on impossible to strip. I would get it prepped properly and strip all the chrome off first. The only chrome frame I have had done, this is how we did it and IMHO it turned out nice.

Who got the chrome off?

don't paint. just slap her and tell her it's non-sense! :p

(note: i do not condone physical abuse, but when someone wants to powdercoat a merckyx, she deserves it )

Already tried that (not the slap) - but after all it's her frame, and she rides it - all I did was put the parts on it etc. I will be sorry to see the logo go, tho.

Is there any way to get decals off without destroying them?

Maybe loads of lighter fluid/meths? Then you could re-stick!

Is there any way to get decals off without destroying them?

Maybe loads of lighter fluid/meths? Then you could re-stick!

No, that's the worst part: she says, and I quote, that they are 'ugly'.....

buy her another cheap red (whatever colour she wants) bike ;)

when a woman has made her mind up, there ain't no changing it.

its my frame... i ride it... and anyway its not even the original paint or decals!

1 Attachment

you tell 'em girl

close your eyes anna and think it's something else, just like when you sleep with bill ;)

i'd powder coat her merckx anytime she wants

How quickly this thread has slithered into the gutter.

that was quite long bill, 20 posts..

Who got the chrome off?

A friend of mine who does a bit of powder coating knows a local back street mechanic with a grit blasting setup, took a load if bits to him (2 engine heads that bike frame and a wrought iron gate) and he charged us £30 to blast them all clean. the surface was a bit rough afterwards (and its quite a thick walled trials frame) but the powdercoat smoothed it out a treat.

buffalo bill, i think armourtex blasts stuff before they coat, all for 40 or 50 quid.

Aren't there some people who believe old chrome frames may be a bit brittle anyways? I remember seeing a snapped chrome frame on on Andy White's site and the frame was clean but nasty on the inside. I couldn't imagine a thin-wall tubed frame could stand up to the chemical process of old-school chroming (much harsher than newer methods both on frame and environment) and being shot blasted.

Do some research and maybe you can convince that woman of yours to keep it chrome. Just strip off the white paint, add Merckx decals and presto! Instant puppy savior!