1. Make sure to clean the surface with acetone thoroughly before applying any paint. Before Applying paint be sure to buff out the acetone residue with a dry cloth. You will know when the residue is gone.

2. Don't know what the exact look you are going for but if you want to darken the steel up a bit you can use a black matte spray paint lightly dusted over the steel. With the freshly sprayed paint on the steel you can tone it down and blend it back into the steel using a rag and small amounts of acetone (you will have to test what works best for you). After this drys you can move onto the next step. Find this is the look that most people are really looking for.

3. Then using a spray gun apply thin layers of clear coat to your liking. Make sure the room has plenty of ventilation.

or for more help

clear coat finishes

and maybe this is the better website for this discussion, i dont know just found it on the web recently.

use chrome....or find a plating manufacturer who can give you the look.

chrome is more expensive. thought about powder coating too. but i want to do it on a budget so i want somehting i can do myself (i have access to a compressor/airbrush)...

looking at that website, looks like something called por-15 glisten is a good bet. i can polish the steel and then clear coat it with that stuff even as a brush-on... thanks guys.

try keracote microclear - manufacturer is nicindustries.com

ceramic epoxy - used as antigraffiti coating & decorative resilient dear coat in marine environments (hi salt etc).

personally - I would recommend a light glass bead (#10) blast prior to coating - it will bite the material & bond better.

hell is chrome