I sanded the chrome and painted. Look good at first, then chipped and scratched very easily. Also had some of the chrome lift and really messed it up. After that is was a big fail....
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An etching primer can make chrome plating lift due to it's acid content. Sometimes it will lift top coats too.
Paints used with hardener have the same potential unless a primer sealer is used as an under coat. It's hard to sand chrome plating enough for adhesion without sanding marks showing through the top coats. Zinc primers used to work well on sanded chrome, also on galvanized metal and were excellent at protecting etched or clean regular steel from corrosion. The formula has been changed due to EPA standards and they are unavailable in some areas due to EPA regulations. Epoxy primer has the same excellent corrosion protection for regular un-plated etched or rust free steel and is less toxic.
If you like flat gray as a color, sanded chrome can be painted with excellent results with a galvanizing paint. Unfortunately, most can't be top coated with color coats. Otherwise, it would be a great primer.
Powder coats have different UV ratings depending on what type is used. All I have seen fade quickly from sun exposure. My op. is it's weakness is quick fading, same as non acrylic enamels do. I don't know how well powder coat would bound to chrome plating.
My op. is blasting is probably the most cost effective solution if zinc primer isn't available or compatible with the top coat you choose.
