pianting chrome

re painting, yes, it can be painted. old school high end bike frames were routinely chromed, then painted so that things like the dropouts, lugs and chainstays could be more wear resistant or add visual contrast. but it has a tendency to peel if abraded and correct paint selection is crucial - i think they're usually stove enamels.

re sanding, it's not a good idea. chrome can be very hard - that's why it's used to line rifle bores and engine cylinders because it is wear resistant. so, while you can abrade it, you tend to gouge chunks out of the substrate while leaving "islands" of chrome. the result is very lumpy.

your other option is to remove the chrome electrolytically to allow conventional painting - this is a reversal of the deposition process used to lay it in the first place. that's what they do in factory with anything that needs re-plating. now all you have to do is find a state-side plating factory, and they're about as common as hens teeth these days.

Yes.

Or bead blast if that's available to you.

not a good idea if a mechanically stressed component. chrome is bad for fatigue as it is - this only makes it worse.

and you of all people should know that no chromed and painted bike frame is abraded in this way before [successfully] painting.

bad idea unless you know how to successfully neutralize and know which acids to use to avoid stress corrosion.

that's chrome removal. not possible to remove chrome inside fine detail/tight radius with this method.

No quibbles in theory, but he's working with a bash guard not an airframe. I assume anyone who works with the various acid etches also knows the matching neutralizers/ processes, as listed on the container.

New idea, guy at work said powder coat it. Going to call a shop and see what they think. Thanks for the safty warnings, may be ok for the engine guard/crash guard,

Thanks,

Vic