Removing Chrome plating?

I was wondering if anyone knew some good ways to remove chrome plating from parts? Last week I spilled some "Rust activator" on a chrome part and it removed the chrome, but also ate in to the plastic

Thanks, VW

I use Mr Muscle Oven spray on cleaner - heavy duty (red can)
It also removes most enamel paints easily

I put the parts in an ice cream bucket or an old model box lid
Spray the oven cleaner on
Leave for about 10 minutes and the wash off
Sometimes a second application is required depending on the manufacturer
An old toothbrush is handy to work it into some corners and crevices


Be very careful with the fumes - follow the safety directions on the can

Chris

I use White King bleach - just leave the parts to soak overnight. Won't remove the yellowish basecoat they use on the plating though.

would any brand of bleach work?

I too use oven cleaner, just Homebrand stuff, it does remove the acrylic base coat, if you don't get that off you may have problems with certain paints over the top of it.

I use a nice strong caustic soda solution. It dissolves chrome on contact if its strong enough and if its poor chrome.
Then into the brake fluid to get rid of the lacquer.
Both of these will leave holes in your clothes and skin so take precautions.

I use Easy Off BAM. It too is an overnight excersise but it removes all chrome and the yellow base coat without harming the plastic as long as its not left in for more then 7 days as i did test it fairly well before use. Just get and empty jar with a nice wide opening (i use a salsa dip jar) pour in enough BAM to submerge the part/s and leave it to work its magic.

Ha ha! Thanks Ozbuilder. I had wondered if Easy Off BAM would do the trick. Makes it's dire ads more putuppable with.

No Prob Zen they are pretty unbelieveable but the shit does work for chrome. Makes me wonder about the plastic chrome plated taps people will be using the stuff on though

Thanks for all the advise guys! I tried out easyoff bam on a tester piece , and it did a really nice job of removing the chrome.
Thanks
-VW

No sweat VW hope you have fun

Here's another alternative to add to the mix: Swiming pool acid - the "safer" alternative stuff, NOT hydrochloric acid.

It certainly works quicker than diluted BAM. We are talking hours versus days. I've not tried concentrated BAM yet. I don't really want to!

Citric acid may well work too.

I use ezy lift off, it's not too expensive and works a treat. Filter it thru a coffee filter back into a sealed container and use it over and over again. Been using the same can for years.

I use Bleach, in a glass jar. Mix about 40/60 with water, drop your chome in, screw the lid on, give it a bit of a shake, make yourself a coffee, or grab another beer, come back BAM and the chrome is gone!! (yes pun intended) Talking a couple minutes, not overnight. Make sure you rinse well.

But what about the lacquer under the chrome?
No point in stripping the chrome if you are going to leave the thick lacquer coat there obscuring the detail.

RetrospectKustoms wrote:I use Bleach, in a glass jar. Mix about 40/60 with water, drop your chome in, screw the lid on, give it a bit of a shake, make yourself a coffee, or grab another beer, come back BAM and the chrome is gone!! (yes pun intended) Talking a couple minutes, not overnight. Make sure you rinse well.

I think it also varies depending on the kit. I put a model king sprue into a relatively weak soultion, turned around, turned back, and it was stripped.
I have had some other brand soaking in a fairly strong easy-off-bam solution for weeks, and it is slowly getting there.

otherunicorn wrote:I think it also varies depending on the kit. I put a model king sprue into a relatively weak soultion, turned around, turned back, and it was stripped.
I have had some other brand soaking in a fairly strong easy-off-bam solution for weeks, and it is slowly getting there.

Yeah will do, AMT dissolves in around 2 minutes, I did some Revell stuff lastnight, took about 3-4 minutes. That yellowish film left on the plastic(seems like some sort of prep base for the plating) can be easily removed with a little light sanding.

RetrospectKustoms wrote:

Yeah will do, AMT dissolves in around 2 minutes, I did some Revell stuff lastnight, took about 3-4 minutes. That yellowish film left on the plastic(seems like some sort of prep base for the plating) can be easily removed with a little light sanding.

That is the lacquer film Fred is talking about. If you use oven cleaner that film comes off too and you have no issues painting then, leave it on and it will fry up under acrylic lacquer. I just use home brand oven cleaner, works pretty quick.

Love the reason for editing!
Hmmm, looks like the wifes oven cleaner will go "missing" now too! I'll give it a shot.