Removing chrome

I HAVE AN EARLY NELSON BROS ENGINE THAT SOMEONE CHROMED ALL OF THE MOVING PARTS (CAM GEAR,ROCKER ARM,TRIP LEVER, ETC ) I WANT TO BRING THE ENGINE BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL STATE. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO REMOVE THE CHROME.I CALLED A PLATING SHOP IN TOWN AND THEY WANT A SMALL FORTUNE TO REMOVE THE PLATING. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS

CHROME PLATING IS A FORM OF ELECTROLYSIS AND I WOULD BE I IMAGINE REVERSABLE. THERE ARE A FEW BIG STRINGS ON THIS SITE DEALING WITH ELECTROLYSIS. I AM NO EXPERT BY ANY MEANS I'M JUST RECALLING WHAT I WAS TAUGHT AT SCHOOL IN THE EARLY 80's WHEN WE USED TO CHROME PLATE 1p AND 2p COINS IN THE SCIENCE CLASS AS PART OF OUR LESSONS. WE HAD TO REMOVE THE CHROME PLATING AS SOON AS WE WERE FINISHED AS IT WAS THEN AN OFFENCE TO DEFACE THE QUEENS HEAD ON THE COINS. TRY ENTERING CHROME+PLATING OR ELECTRO+PLATING INTO A SEARCH ENGINE. GOOD LUCK SIMON

Jim,

It's hard to imagine someone spending that kind of money to create something like that, but hey i like stuff with rust on it.

The only way i know to remove chrome is to leave in one of the front rows of a parking lot of a grocery store. Within a few days there will be so many nicks and door marks the chrome will just fall of.

Good luck,

Ken

Hi Jim,

Our facility does plating work, they claim to chemically remove chrome, it would cost us $700+ just for a bucket of the solution. Then to dispose of the solution is another fortune. So I can understand the high cost in chemical removal.

What we have done here is very aggressive sand blast, it takes time, but its a lot cheaper. Depending on the quality of chrome, it will go fast or slow. IF its triple striked chrome, that is Copper, Nickel, Chrome, the Chrome and Nickel will come off with sand blast, but the Copper will take sanding or wire brushing, we usually paint over the copper. Another trick we have found, is if you can crack the crome, chip some away, it will speed up the sand blast process. It lets the sand penetrate under the chrome.

Well, have fun! I have never seen a engine with Chrome like that. That must have cost a fortune.

Jim, I used to do a little brass refinnishing and among the most popular items were the Alladin and Rayo lamps, which were orriginally chromed. The proceedure is very much the same as removing rust but with different chemical. First, degrease completely and scrub thoroughly with detergent. Mix 1 cup of Muriatic acid with 3 gallons of water in a plastic bucket. NOTE; ALWAYS ADD ACID TO WATER. NEVER WATER TO ACID !!! (It WILL explode) Hang two or three copper wires (#12 or larger) around sides of bucket. Connect these to ground of battery charger. Hang item to be dechromed in fluid with positive lead connected. Be sure part doesn"t touch ground wires. Within a few seconds or minutes, depending on thickness of chrome, it should come clean. More or less time as required. When finnished, wash parts in mild soda water solution to nutralize acid. (Do this right way to prevent rust) As with any caustic acid, handle with care. Dave H.--

DAVE: I was going to say Muriatic acid. I left some in an open container on the floor in a garage, and the fumes took the chrome off of the bumper of a car,(just a small amount not the whole bumper), at least that's what the guy next door said had happened........CHUCK

Chuck, I'm glad you mentioned that! I'm sure that was the cause. To my previous post I'll add that this process should be done in a well ventilated area. With any electrolosis (or reverse) there are a certain amount of fumes generated. Just for safetys sake they should probably not be breathed or IGNITED !! I've never had any problem with this proceedure and have used it probably 50 or more times but as with any hazardous material, caution comes first. (Afterward doesn't do much good) Dave--

[pattiewhack]

I have a lead pattern coin that was once plated in chrome- probably to preserve the coin as lead is so soft. Any ideas on how th remove the lead without damaging the coin through sandblasting etc? I also do not have the means or the money to use expensive, acidic methods- except for a lab at my school (I am 16) which could be used provided the materials needed are relatively inexpensive.

Thanks!

Andrew

[Andy Williams]

Jim I have seen some salesman sample engines that were chrome or nickel plated new if you have one It is probably better to leave it that way. If someone did it I would take it off or just paint over it.