remove chrome job?

[Soundguy]

is there a non destructive process to de-chrome a metal part (s) that have been chromed?

 

[Gator6x4]

Sound I know people that restore autos have bumpers and other chrome parts re-chromed but am not familiar with the process. You may check the yellow pages for a plating shop in your area and touch base with them.

 

[Sysop]

Generally a plating company sand blasts old chrome off before replating. Sometimes they don't use sand if the metal is thin or they're worried about the destructive capabilities of sand on the surfaces they're working with. What they use in those cases I'm not sure, but it's just a gentler blasting media than sand.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Soundguy, We sand blast it off, but you do have to careful depending on the pressure your using and the finish you are wanting. What kind of parts do you have?

 

[mostly_gas]

Just remember when you re-plate the plating will show any surface texture that is added from a mechanical removal of the original plating.

 

[Sysop]

Just remember when you re-plate the plating will show any surface texture that is added from a mechanical removal of the original plating.

Thick plating and lots of buffing


Good tip though. Any plated surface should be as perfect as it can be made before the plating process.

 

[dragoneggs]

fine grit media and take your time so you don't rough up the substrate more than what you want the final finish to be. Otherwise you are in for a lot of prep work as sysop mentioned.

 

[MossRoad]

is there a non destructive process to de-chrome a metal part (s) that have been chromed?

Best way I know of is to take it to a plating shop. They can de-plate it just as easily as they can plate it and you won't have any imperfections in it when you're done VS grinding, sanding, etc....

 

[Soundguy]

i'm thinking electrolysis may be the safest way. after it is deplated.. I will want to get eh metal blued or blacked... so blasting and sanding may be 100% out of the question

 

[creekbend]

If memory serves me correctly, the best Chrome work involves dipping in a Copper Sulfate tank before plating. Back in 1973 after my tour of duty, I built a Panhead Chopper and sent the parts to Brown's Custom Plating in Paducah, Ky. They used this process. The cheaper chrome jobs-China- IMHO would be easier to remove. Just my thoughts. Best wishes.

 

[Soundguy]

it's a domestic chrome job.. probbaly something done in a chrome shop. it's been chromed for probably 50 years.. and so was done well as it retains 100% chrome and finish with no wear. whoever chromed this piece did an excelent job.. I just need to get the chrome off it.

 

[mbrule]

You know we are all curious, what you are de-chroming. Well, at least I am??????

 

[Soundguy]

steyr-hahn 1912

 

[mbrule]

NICE!

 

[Soundguy]

i picked up one years ago and someone had hard chromed it.

otherwise it is a perfect piece. good bore, string rifeling. no pitting at all... not sure why someone defaced it by chroming it... I got it cheap.. so I don't mind having it dechromed and re blued so at least it has a correct, of not original finish.

 

[dragoneggs]

i picked up one years ago and someone had hard chromed it.

otherwise it is a perfect piece. good bore, string rifeling. no pitting at all... not sure why someone defaced it by chroming it... I got it cheap.. so I don't mind having it dechromed and re blued so at least it has a correct, of not original finish.

Just about to ask... the chrome was confusing me. Good luck. Quite a historical model.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. someone defaced it.....

 

[dfkrug]

i'm thinking electrolysis may be the safest way.

Interesting problem, SG. If you are thinking of a DIY experiment, then maybe you could
try electroplating a scrap piece of steel, using your chromed part as the sacrificial anode.

Normally, you would plate a part with Cr by immersing it in an electrolyte bath, along with
a chunk of chromium. The latter is the anode, where you connect a DC + power supply. The
part is the cathode (-).