Painting Chrome

[The Sandman]

I have a mesa/boogie dual rectifier, and i am looking to make the chrome diamond plate black. I know mesa does this, but you need to let them know that what you want when you buy one of their amps. what would be the best way to make the chrome black? any suggestions? Thanks

[goth_fiend]

if your going to be doing it to diamond plate, I would go have it powdercoated, or if you cant afford that, just use spray paint on it.

[LGM Guitars]

Take it to a bumper shop that can send it to be de chromed, then paint it with any good metal paint. Even just rustoleum out of a rattle can will work once the chrome is gone.

[Maiden69]

Black, solid color black or translucent black...? If it's translucent use goth_ advise, if it's solid use LGM's.

[silvertonessuckbutigotone]

Take it to a bumper shop that can send it to be de chromed, then paint it with any good metal paint. Even just rustoleum out of a rattle can will work once the chrome is gone.

how much would that cost to have it dechromed? and would you have to clear it afterwards (im assuming a yes on that second question)

[deathcorip]

while referring to diamond plate how could i make mine much shinier? its aluminium.

[Biohazard]

Wow, is your guitar plated in aluminium too like mine?

[LGM Guitars]

Take it to a bumper shop that can send it to be de chromed, then paint it with any good metal paint.  Even just rustoleum out of a rattle can will work once the chrome is gone.

how much would that cost to have it dechromed? and would you have to clear it afterwards (im assuming a yes on that second question)

Last time I had something dechromed it was 2 motorcycle fenders and it cost me I think about $80.

You don't HAVE to clear it depending on what type of paint you use, but it would make it more durable. Powder coating would be a good option as well, even for solid black, probably get that done for about $50.

[Paul Marossy]

while referring to diamond plate how could i make mine much shinier? its aluminium.

I would take it to a buffing wheel. Some aluminum alloys can get really shiny with buffing.

[deathcorip]

thanks,will trybthat bnext time i take it off. yeah i've an explorer with an aluminium diamond plate but its the 5 ridge type rather than one ridge.

[Biohazard]

What does aluminium look like if it gets chromed and can it be de-chromed? Do I only have to put aluminium on a buffer to get it really shinny or do I need polish or something too?

[Paul Marossy]

Unfortunately, you can't just chrome aluminum. IIRC, you have to plate it with zinc, and then it can be chromed. And it's not easily de-chromed. I would think that you would need some polish in addition to a buffing wheel, but that also depends on the nature of the aluminum. If it's an aluminum alloy, it's probably fairly hard to buff without a little help with some appropriate polishing compound. "Pure" aluminum would probably buff up real shiny without much help...

[Biohazard]

Ok thanks. I'll have to contact my guitar builder to see if the aluminium was an alloy or pure.

[Paul Marossy]

I'd be very surprised if it's not an alloy.

[Biohazard]

Ah well, i'll just use some duraglit stuff I have, I used this stuff to polish it and it looked good afterwards, but if it will go shinnier with buffing then i will go for that.

[Paul Marossy]

Cool.

[Biohazard]

Anything else interesting you can do to aluminium to get it looking cool. I'm happy with how it looks just wanting to know what else can be done.