chrome stripping?
 

with shops in limited supply and/or shops closed due to the current world crisis, is it possible to strip decades old chrome with any sort of home brew/technique?

Re: chrome stripping?
 

Sand blasting.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

sandblasting won't cut this stuff; tried a variety of substrates. 'Should add this chrome is on 36 3 window moldings so can't use too much pressure.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

why do you want to strip ?

Re: chrome stripping?
 

in areas it is flaking and peeling. i want to try my hand at woodgraining the dash and moldings.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

I ran across this a while back. There aren't many shops left and those that are still around in my area do not want to be bothered.
I media blasted my parts and removed all the loose chrome. I then applied several coats of high build epoxy primer on the parts and sanded them smooth. It came out fine.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

google it up. there are youtube videos of guys doing it. not electrolysis like rust removal with a battery charger, they are using a welder for power

Re: chrome stripping?
 

Have you tried Muriatic acid ?






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Re: chrome stripping?
 

have not tried muriatic. i'm being cautious towards damaging fairly precious moldings.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

Try household white vinigar so long as the chrome is pealing somewhere on the item. Should take about 3 to 5 days. Keep your eye on it and don't leave it in too long. It will remove the rust at no extra charge.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

Will try. Thx Dave Slater

Re: chrome stripping?
 

I collect coins and a few years ago I purchased a box of miscellaneous coins. In the box was a belt buckle with a silver dollar that was chrome plated. I removed the coin and placed it in a jar with muriatic acid. It took about 5 days but removed all the chrome. Now remember, that the coin is silver and not steel, so I don't know if the steel will be harmed.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

A word of caution about muriatic acid. I used muriatic acid when I was working on motorcycle or small engines that suffered a piston failure, where aluminum was fused from the piston onto the steel cylinder liner. The acid would dissolve the aluminum with no affect on the steel liner. So be cautious using muriatic acid to strip any casting that is aluminum. It might work, as I have never tried it, but you may end up with a damaged part.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

I agree with 51 woodie, that Muriatic acid works great to clean the Small
amount of aluminum from the steel cyl walls of small engines.

I would like to say, do NOT use Muriatic acid to clean aluminum.

I put a small aluminum part in a quart can of Muriatic acid to clean the part.
Very quickly, the acid started eating the aluminum and filled the room with
smoke.
I had to get out of there, as it was like Tear Gas and burned the eyes to the
point that I had to feel my way to get out of the room.:eek::eek::eek:

So be careful, that NO aluminum is on the part you want to clean...




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Re: chrome stripping?
 

Do not use muriatic acid if the chrome part is pot metal. It will pit it. If left long enough there will be nothing left.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

The guy that plates my stuff has no problem blasting it off with glass beads. I do the same and have no issues.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

I had a local shop de-chrome some parts for me about 3 years ago.

Re: chrome stripping?
 

I took a 1933 dash panel down to the chrome shop and he stripped the old chrome off in the bath literally in three minutes. Since I was going to get it plated after doing the repairs he didn't even charge me for the stripping.