Can I chrome over powder coating?

[kv1370]

Hi,
My Dad is restoring a 1956 Ford pickup. The front bumper has been powder coated and he wants to get it chromed. The guy who does all his chrome work told him you cannot chrome anything that has been powder coated, even if you remove the coating. Is this right?

[bzer1]

No that is not correct.

[kv1370]

Does he have to remove the powder coating or can he chrome right over it?

[jtagger19]

you need to strip it down to bare metal to chrome it .

[DALE]

In fact if he actually said that it can't be chromed even after removing powder then I recommend finding a chromer with some knowledge.

[kv1370]

He lives in a small town and there is only one guy who does this kind of work. He can drive about 100 miles and get to a large city, so I'll suggest he do that. What's the best way to remove the powder coating from a bumper?

[DALE]

For this purpose I recommend chemical stripping.The smoother the surface is prior to chroming the better the results.Media blasting is only going to add more buffing work for the chromer.

[kv1370]

Thanks for the help. From reading other posts it appears that the chemical stripping would be too involved for a do-it-yourselfer. Does anyone know how I can find a reputable business that could remove the powder coating and chrome the bumper. Dad lives in Trinidad, Colorado. I'm sure he would be willing to drive as far as Denver to get somebody that would do this right.

[DALE]

Locate your new chromer and ask them. Most shops have some sort of stripping in house.I'm sure they get old parts to restore often enough that they would already have a system in place or a shop to outsource it to.