Painitng over chrome??
 

The bumpers on my 122 Wagon project are not very good. The bumpers aren't that straight to begin with, and the chrome is sad. It will cost me too much to straighten and chrome them right now, so I am looking for a short term solution. Something cheap, but reasonably durable. Suggestions?


FYI - Long term, I will replace/fix the chrome.

Nothing unless you blast the chrome (which by the way) is the clear coating on top of the nickle plate

You really won't be able to make paint stick short of acid etching... which destroys the finish....

scrape off the loose stuff then have them powder coated with a UV protected finish

I primed and painted some really sad chrome wire wheels on a British car and the paint seemed to last for several years. I think I just used Krylon in a rattle can.

What Hugh said, how tough is it to take them off and touch them up if they start looking shabby?

Easy to touch up if needed. Thanks for the advice!

Speaking of painting over chrome, hearing that it won't stick is rather a bummer. I always wondered what a semi transparent paint would look like over chrome...

Bulldog Adhesion Promoter absolutely Makes Paint Stick To Any Surface; Metal, Glass, Ceramics, Rubber & All Problem Plastics

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/levineauto_2077_57942677

id rough it up with a wire wheel on an angle grinder and spray it with a self etching primer

It would look like this:
Chrome Paint

They have some interesting and impressive stuff...

I've seen that, but it's too much to spend on an unknown product. Plus, my bumpers aren't straight, so I wouldn't want to invest in something that will show all of the faults.

On front bumpers you won't be happy. The PO of my 911T had painted the longhood grilles next to the headlights. It was just a quickie spray, I don't think he even roughed it up with sandpaper. Every rock chip showed chrome, pretty tacky looking.