Originally posted by RobA_Oz Would not an etching primer be satisfactory, rather than grinding or chemically removing the chrome? The satin chrome finish on older film cameras isn’t like the shiny automotive and other highly polished chrome plating finishes, so I’d think it wasn’t as difficult to paint over (and you can paint over shining chrome, with an etching primer base). I haven’t had it done, myself, so I’m wondering if you know.
My understanding is that even with an etching primer or keying the surface with sanding etc, it will fail. It is explained here:
Re-Paint Process | cameraworks-uk
"Most cameras we are asked to paint are chrome plated. Chromium is quite possibly the worst substrate for paint. Chrome is excellent at repelling dirt and equally good at repelling paint. Any paint job done on such a surface is guaranteed to fail and when it does, it will reveal the underlying chrome finish, not brass as one would expect on such a camera. Not only will a poor paint job be unreliable but could de-value your camera significantly and in some circumstances, applying paint in the wrong places can cause 'interference', where a moving or sliding part no longer moves freely, due to the thickness or contamination of the paint layer."
I understand there arealso refinishers in Japan and the better ones also say the chrome has to be removed.
I did also "experiment" with camera painting and I can confirm even with etch primer, the paint does not adhere or wear well.