So I've got a Pista that I want to de-chrome. I've been considering powder-coating it, but before I do I just wanted to ask if spray painting the frame is a terrible idea, and if does anyone have pictures of a rattlecan job (not just on a pista)?

looks fine if prepped well. scratches really easily.

Not the frame, but my fork is rattlecanned. If you have a good can, and you apply it well, it looks fan-****ing-tastic

You can not spray-paint directly onto chrome..it does not stick well at all and scratches super easy. Bad idea. Just get it powder coated and you'll be very happy.

Yeah, you need to sandblast chrome if you want paint to stick to it, and canned sparypaint is not very durable even with the best prep.

By contrast, powdercoat sticks fine to chrome, and looks really sick if you put a candy color over it.

I wouldn't do it if you want it to look nice in 6 months. While you can get decent results with spray paint, it takes a lot of prep and good quality paint. If you decide to go ahead with it, go to an automotive paint supply place and have them put some good quality paint in a spray can for you. Make sure you get good tips/nozzles for the spray cans too.

Rattlecan job on my conversion. It took me awhile to do, though, because paint doesn't dry properly in the winter. Either way it looks nice and I like it, but it does chip off a little.

If you do rattlecan jobs, for the sake of your bike please use Rustoleum (Rusto, Painters Touch, American Accents). Krylon is hit and miss but the majority of the colors are piss water (avoid yellow at all costs, flat / satin colors are okay, gloss can be iffy or bad).

YES.

Does anyone have any specific brand of paint they recommend? I was thinking about painting my bike tomorrow to something other than it's ugly as **** primer grey.

This one is totally a rattle can job. You can get pretty good results, as others have said, if you are willing to take your time in prep. Sand the bike really well, clean it throughly before painting. Carefully mask the areas you don't want painted (bottom bracket threads, bosses, head tubes etc.) and take your time. My frame has some scratches, now, but it still looks pretty good considering. You won't have much luck getting paint to stick to chrome, though it can be done.

+1 on rustoleum.

i also suggest clearcoating the hell out of it to make it more scratch resistant and shiny.

Read my post. Use paint from an automotive paint supply store. Don't just wander into wal mart or autozone, they don't have what you want.

In addition to what others have said:

For good rattlecan success, prep the frame well. Strip, sand, etc thoroughly. Prime, sand, prime, sand, then paint. Paint in multiple lighter coats, let them dry thoroughly. When the last coat is on, let everything cure for at least a few days. This reeeeeeally makes a pretty big difference.

Also, stick to good quality paint. Rustoleum is fine, though I haven't had the best luck with it. I've had better luck with DupliColor paints, specifically their engine enamels, which contain a ceramic element and are extremely durable once you let them cure. Stay the hell away from Krylon.

Sorry for the huge image, but here's a spraycan job:

i have to agree with staying away from krylon. duplicolor is good. strip, scuff, clean, prime, prime, sand, clean, prime, prime, paint, paint, paint, paint, clearcoat, clearcoat clearcoat(until you use the whole can)

actually...krylon makes this stuff called crystal clear glazing. it's a thicker clearcoat. it's also pretty duable. i suggest it.
the key to all of this is time. take lots of time.

Can you elaborate, do you mean put the candy color over the chrome or two different powder coats? Thanks.