3 Ways To Remove Chrome Plating

You may want to use a relatively fine-grain medium (for instance, 400-grit sand) when blasting your chrome to prevent damage to the underlying metal. Note that the airborne dust and sediment produced by chipping off tiny pieces of chrome while using an abrasive blaster can be toxic, so use appropriate face/mouth protection.

Using a solvent that can dissolve chrome (for instance, bleach, as noted above) rather than water can enhance the chrome-removing power of an ultrasonic cleaner. However, only do so if the solution you use will not corrode the cleaner or otherwise react with it in any way. For instance, as noted below, lye will react with aluminum containers. Note that, while ultrasound machines come in a variety of sizes, most will only hold relatively small items, such as jewelry, lug-nuts, tools, ornaments, etc.

Mix 1/3 part hydrochloric acid to 1 part water in a vat used for chemical mixtures (like a heavy-duty plastic bucket, etc. ) to produce a 30% acid solution. Alternatively, purchase a pre-mixed acid solution of sufficient concentration. Submerge the chrome-plated object in the solution until chrome strips off. Wash the object thoroughly in soap and water, and rinse before drying.

Mix 8 to 12 fl ounces (about 227 ml to 355 ml) of sodium hydroxide with 1 gallon (3. 785 L) of water in a vat made of neutral material (like a heavy-duty plastic bucket). Soak the chrome-plated object in solution until chrome comes off. This may take a fairly long time, so frequently check on your item’s progress. Wash the object thoroughly in soap and water, and rinse before drying.

Mix chromic acid and sulfuric acid in water in an approximately 100:1 ratio. For example, you may add 33 oz. (936 grams) of chromic acid crystals and . 33 oz. (9. 36 milliliter) of sulfuric acid fluid to distilled water to make 1 gallon (3. 79 liter). Mix solution in a proper immersion tank used for electroplating, materials testing, and/or chemical treatments. Heat the solution. Keep the temperature of the solution from 95 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 46 degrees Celsius) for decorative chrome. Keep temperature from 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (49 to 66 degrees Celsius) for hard chrome. Run a negative charge from a DC power source through the chromic plating solution via wire. Attach the positive cathode to object intended for stripping and submerge the object into the solution. The positively charged exterior chrome metal will be pulled from the object. Rinse object in agitating running water, then rinse again. Have waste products professionally processed and disposed of.

Check your progress frequently as you scrub. Scrubbing for too long may scratch the underlying material.

Note that some oven spray-cleaner may darken any underlying metal if left to sit too long, so you may want to apply the process repeatedly in short increments until you have the result you want.

The primary benefit of this method compared to the others is that bleach should leave any primer below the outer chrome layer intact. After using bleach to remove chrome, it should be properly disposed of and never re-used (for laundry, etc. )

Note that brake fluid can dissolve plastic, so be very cautious when using this method on chromed plastic parts (or opt for another method).