R80/7 luggage rack

[shakyone]

I have a luggage rack on the back of my R80/7. It is chrome, but the chrome has peeled from several areas. I would like to paint it black, but I'm not sure how to prepare it. Should I remove all the chrome, degrease and prime it with epoxy before painting? Or, is there a primer that will adhere to the remaining chrome? The chrome is so thin that I don't think you could easily see where it's missing. Or, would powder coating be best? Epoxy paint? I don't really want to do this twice.

Thanks!

Paul

[dwerbil]

Yes.

[SteveD]

I have a luggage rack on the back of my R80/7. It is chrome, but the chrome has peeled from several areas. I would like to paint it black, but I'm not sure how to prepare it. Should I remove all the chrome, degrease and prime it with epoxy before painting?
Yep, if paint is your choice.
Or, is there a primer that will adhere to the remaining chrome?
No idea, but you provide the answer next. Once it starts to lift and deteriorate....
The chrome is so thin that I don't think you could easily see where it's missing.
Or, would powder coating be best?
Powder coat is a good option.
Epoxy paint?
Painting might allow easier future repair.
I don't really want to do this twice.

Thanks!
Pleasure

[dwerbil]

Ha! (just was being factious, above)

My /7 seat chrome hand rail (or whatever it's called) was missing a bit of chrome here and there. I bought a can of 'chrome' spray paint at Home Depot and used a bit of it here and there where needed. It's not perfect by no means, but it did make it look better than before. I may need to touch the couple areas up again in a year or so. Big deal.

If you want a top notch job, take it to a powdercoater. They'd probably sandblast it first.

On the cheaper side, just clean it good then use a enamel base spray paint. You'd still have to touch it up once and a while when scratched.

[Airbear]

Shaky, I've just been looking into this because I want to paint my headlight rim. There are a couple of options - you can take it to a place that does re-chroming and they'll drop it into their de-chroming bath. It's an electrolytic process and will remove all the existing chrome. The other way is to sand the crap out of it with various grades of abrasive, removing whatever is likely to flake off and leaving no shiny patches. Keep it clean - no fingerprints - wash with detergent and dry thoroughly.

With either method you should then apply an Etching Primer from your local auto parts store, following the manufacturer's directions. Then you can happily paint or powdercoat. Rattle-can Epoxy Enamel can give excellent long-lasting results, particularly if you lay on two or three coats and then bake it for a few hours in an oven at say 80C (or whatever that is in F). This part is best done while the missus is away somewhere for a day or three.

[Jean]

300-325 F for 2 hours works.
Run the fan.
Do cookies before, or the day after.
Place parts on foil, and on some sort of pan that you can grasp with pot holders.
Them parts get right HOT.

[shakyone]

I greatly appreciate all the advice, but I wimped out and took it to the chrome plating shop-$150. Seems expensive , but it seems that with my recent projects I end up spending as much on supplies as the cost of having it done-Plus the work.

Paul

[Major Softie]

I greatly appreciate all the advice, but I wimped out and took it to the chrome plating shop-$150. Seems expensive , but it seems that with my recent projects I end up spending as much on supplies as the cost of having it done-Plus the work.

Paul

That's poor economics if you are using up all the "supplies," but if you come out tools ahead, then it's still a good idea. The next job then saves you a ton.

If it costs me $300 in tools and $300 in parts to do a job that costs $600 to have done at a shop, I still feel like I came out way ahead. Besides, I know how the job was done. I don't trust a shop to care as much about my bike as I do.

[shakyone]

Major, I generally agree with you. If I need to buy a tool, I can get excited about a job. But, if I have to buy a bottle or can of something that is left on the shelf and no new toy...well...

Paul