Finish on kitchen metal frame chairs - practical?

[baileyuph]

At issue is when upholstering kitchen chairs, frames often could use touch up or refinishing.

Of special interest is what can be done on the frames with a gold or metallic sort of finish?

Last few orders, this type of business has come up, therefore need to give it some
thought before jumping or offering the service.

It could be meaningful to hear comments from business who have endeavored in such.

I suppose the basic consideration is cleaning the metal and finding a suitable spray?

Those with this sort of quality want their chairs reupholstered and also would like to
do an enhancement on the metal frames.  Surely, others have had this issue come up.

Anything comments, particularly with those older metal type finishes? 

Doyle

[kodydog]

Just thinking outside the box here. Would a automobile type finish work?

[sofadoc]

Are we talking about chrome or gold plating chipping off?

[gene]

I have a jar of chrome polish that I've used on chrome legs of chairs. It works well to take off grease and dirt. It does nothing to remove rust or cover up chips.

If the finish was electroplated I don't know if there is anything that can be done to touch up rust spots and places where it has flaked off or has been chipped off.

A car forum might be a good place to ask.

gene

[MinUph]

It's been my experience with finishes that nothing will hold up like original. Automotive paint is about the best unless you go and have them powder coated, which will bring the cost way up.
  I use a product called never dull on metal surfaces to remove light rust and polish the metal. It is a rag in a can kind of thing. Great stuff but only goes so far. It doesn't add any color.

[brmax]

Doyle there is a lite solvent based thinner/prep cleaner for automotive I have used in the past it is Dupont 3812 and can be a 2 hand wipe and dry, before sanding and then a follow up prior to spot coating.
There is I'm sure many others but this was used many moons ago regularly. Another brand called nasson has comparable items as well, If the store sells Dupont there is normally a tech with experience that could be of assistance in some choices with both price a proper selection, that is normally what I found you pay for within their product line and a great asset. 
I would recommend the many acrylics from the DuPli color brand spray touch ups in any? of the automotive supply stores they dry pretty darn quick and are I feel a good choice. If you feel you need to really sand for a complete re paint then a bit more info on substrate and I could add some experience, If a primer is needed something that dries this year is always nice.
Good day
Floyd

[SteveA]

For cleaning metal frames use mineral spirits - for chips use red glazing putty - for touch up mix bronzing powders with clear lacquer in the appropriate luster - for spraying as the other stated - auto finishes -

SA

[Mike]

when I was a kid my folks had chairs like these
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6drLoYgNwnM/TVbQug9gNSI/AAAAAAAABAs/jZ89332XUC0/s1600/DSC00097.jpg

one day returning home they said let the dog in from out back into the kitchen I ran then turning left  my wingtip dress shoes I slipped on the litchen floor anf fell on a chair it had the plastic cap missing on the metal pipe holding the seat b ack I needed several stitches I remember the pool of blood in the lenolium floor and still have a scar to this day