How can I get rid of chrome?

pawn

pawn

Over 1,000 Posts
I just contacted a plating facility who said prices start at $475 :eek: I want to get the chrome off my front fender. Muriatic acid can work I know, but then the nickel is left...I want bare steel because I want to rust a portion of the fender. Any tips on removing the chrome and nickel on the cheap? Or does anyone have a bare steel fender that can fit an 18" wheel (narrow) they are willing to part with on the cheap as well?

thanks in advance
 
Yup, sand blast but use a harsher material. Black beauty is great. Takes awhile, but it works. WEAR A MASK AND FULL PROTECTIVE GEAR!!! Chrome dust as well as the blasting medium will hurt you. Badly.
 
i used a dremel tool with a sanding drum.
this took the chrome down to the nickle plate in no time.
 
i want to get to bare steel though, no nickel left that is. I don't think thats going to be sanded off too well.
 
I've used high PSI (around 80-90) with a course sand in the blast cabinet. It will take a little time, but the chrome and nickel and copper (if present) will blast off if it is loose. Glass bead will NOT work. Aluminum Oxide sand I think.

However, Plating IS an electro-chemical process, and de-plating is also. If the chrome is in decent shape, you will have to go that route. Grinding or Sanding will embed chrome and nickel into the base metal causing real problems if the part is to be re-plated.

Seems like last time I asked, the chrome shop only wanted around $25 to de-chrome a rim, some triple trees and some misc bits. For worth it for the amount of time you're going to spend trying to strip it yourself.

R
 
Yeah I wound up calling a place today, but they said $55 which I assumed was fairly high, but if I can't find anything else then thats the way I'm going to go.
 
If you use muriactic acid to remove the chrome the nickel comes off easily with the sandblaster, i too got very tired of sandblasting chrome..
 
Muratic to the nickle layer> Lye to cook off the nickle> blast or sand to bare from there.

I use Red Devil lye from the hardware store....any kind you find at a decent hardware store will work.
Use LOTS of ventilation or preferably outdoors, and don't use hot water...use cold.
 
475 WHAT thats CRAZY !!!!!!!! :eek:
If your planing on powder coating just ask the shop if they do a chrome strip before they coat. Most good shops do! Thats a 25 baler job with coating.dont let them take you for a ride go in there know what your talking about and get it done my friend. i wouldn't try doing it my self unless you already own the tools to do the job. i just had my 2 ,19 inch rims striped and coated for 50 bucks! im sure its more in price if you want two tone job etc butt for something simple thats what u should be paying. Good luck!
 
Like ariel said . Even if you are going to paint send them out ang get them dechromed . In the long run it will be easier and turn out nicer .
 
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