Powdercoating and chrome?

Is it advisable/possible to powdercoat a frame that has chrome stays, but chrome to stay as chrome and coat the rest? Surely the temperatures/processes involved are gonna be detrimental to chrome (I say process because they shot/bead blast first don't they)? Has anyone any experience of this?

Cheers

K I utfs and think I got what I needed - move on, nothing to see here....

ahem

I just built a bike up for a guy who had a frame with loads of chrome on it including chrome lugs, and Armourtex had taken a lot of care with masking the chrome, explained their were some risks with old chrome bubbling but that good condition chrome should be fine, it actually turned out great they did a really good job and took a lot of care.

Oh - thats good news - how much extra was the chrome masking etc btw?

That's good yeah - chrome is in excellent condition and looks like it has been masked and coated before.

it's this beaut from Snoops

Eightball: why are you painting it? Looks pretty damn nice as it is... going gorgeous baby blue to match your pink rims? ;)

^ damn I said keep that shit to yourself!

Erm....It is nice as it is, I might not paint it....I dunno.....I might though!! I've gotta thing for Orange at the moment.....

Fairy nuff. Orange is nice.

This reminded me of a thread from 18 months ago which I bumped a year ago, about stripping paint off some forks that were, inexplicably, paint over chrome all over. gizmond's similar ones weren't polished underneath so we ended up reckoning they were chromed for other reasons apart from looks, then painted. I guess if they were polished the chrome wouldn't have keyed on. Still haven't stripped mine. Eventually, I will get round to it. I want to polish (as if for chroming) the rear ends but then not bother chroming them. Then mask the ends and 2 pack or powder.

You going to use someone up there to powder it?

Yeah there is a place locally a few people I know have used - they just need to have a look at the frame before they can say if the chrome might be at risk

If there is doubt, what about 2pack paint? It can be dried more gently, I think, as it's a chemical hardening reaction rather than just being baked on.

Yep thought about that actually. I've seen plenty of vintage Lambrettas done very nicely in 2pack

Cheers

Armourtex charged £59 including the masking for semi-matt black over the main triangle (fork all chrome as was the rear triangle).

That's not bad - I was given a phone guestimate of £80 by local co - but then I would have to add postage etc on top of that

Is this possible, if the chrome has gone too far to be cleaned/restored is is possible to powdercoat over the chrome?

Before anyone asks I did UTFS!

Yes it is

I had old chrome bits on my frame covered when it was powdercoated by Amourtex.

Yes it is

I had old chrome bits on my frame covered when it was powdercoated by Amourtex.

And how was the finish, was it good? Did it look ok? Could you tell the difference between the previously chrome and non chrome bits?

i had some forks done and you can't tell the difference, the metal is shotblasted as part of the preparation before powdercoating

thanks for the help

Yep, I just took in some forks with a bit of rusty chrome on and the Armourtex guy didn't bat an eyelid! I'll let you know if it comes out weird but it seems the finish will be exactly like the rest.

Sorry about the banality here, I'm trying to get my three posts in the bag.

And how was the finish, was it good? Did it look ok? Could you tell the difference between the previously chrome and non chrome bits?

I recently had an old viscount ladies frame redone by amourtex.

It had a distinctive Chrome section on the end of the forks which were unfortunately rusted to hell so I was unable to save them.

But the frame came up marvellously all over old chrome sections and all.

If you look very very closely you can discern the most minor of bumps where the paint transitioned into chrome but that's only because I know where it was.

If I asked someone to show me they would be hard pressed to point it out.

I can post pic if you are interested.

I had a frame powdercoated and Michael (I think!) at Armourtex charged me a fiver to mask out the chrome I wanted saved and covered the bit I didn't. I got the call about 18 hours later and picked it up. There were loads of frames there, all gorgeous baby blue colour!