Topic: How to remove chrome?

[paulscb750]

Hey just wondering if any one knows how to get chrome off. I needn to remove the chrome from my fenders because i want to paint them with normal paint.

[heffay]

stick it in a basin of cocacola... it works for disintigrating coins overnight. 

[the_genrl]

hi, i need to remove chrome too.  cocacola really works?  if the chrome is rusted, will it still work?

[cben750f0]

take it to your local electroplater.. they can do it.... normally they have to strip old chrome gear... so they should be able to do it... peace

[mcpuffett]

hey the coke thing don't work saw it on mythbusters ask terry in oz

[kaysystems]

Yep, take it to an electroplater. They will probably just dip it in hydrochloric acid for 24 hours. Ask them to remove the nickel or copper plate usually found under the chrome. I beleive that the nickel can only be removed by electrolysis.

David     

[Jonesy]

I saw on Carpy's website that he bead blasts parts to get the chrome off. He mentioned this on a fender he painted.

[pmpski_1]

Anyone use a bead blaster? What media did you use?

[pctech]

Why remove the chrome, you just need to give the paint something to stick to, take the finest wet/dry sandpaper you have and sand off the rust first, if you have any, second sand to the point you have a haze on the chrome then use rubber/latex gloves to keep you oily fingers off the chrome, use a paint thinner, anything that doesn't leave a residue then paint.
Wet sand between coats until you get the finish you like, this does work great, besides removing the chrome will reduce the metal on the part and increase the chance of rusting down the road.
If the paint does not stick you where not aggressive enough with the sanding or paper grit or you did not get the part clean enough. Try it you will like it and besides you can always strip the part later and then take it to the chrome shop to lighten the metal and your wallet.       Sincerly  Mark,  Good luck,  Believe it or not.
Let me or us know how it works out.
P.S. if you use to aggressive a grit like 80 you will leave swirls that will show threw the paint.

[frostypuck]

Just bring the part near me. Chrome just shrivels up and falls off when I get around it. For proof, look at my bikes. 
Chris in Boston

[Terry in Australia]

Coke doesn't work, but if you mix it with Jack Daniels, it makes a nice drink to consume while pondering chrome removal. A chrome platers can remove the old chrome by reversing the plating process, they stripped the chrome off an exhaust system for me a few years ago, left the metal underneath looking like new, and easy to paint.

Painting over chrome, even using an "etch" primer isn't a permanent fix, and sandblasting can remove really #$%*ty old chrome that is flaking off, if you use an aggressive media like garnet or carborundum, but once again, unless it's falling off, glass bead blasting won't cut it. (literally)

Hmmnnn, I need some more Jack Daniels for my coke, so I better go, but for my $0.02, take it to a chrome platers and let them do it properly, then think about getting those fenders powdercoated mate. Cheers, Terry.

[cb750_chris]

Confermation.  Bead blasing won't strip chrome.  Well it might eventually.  I have a set of heat shields that were bead blasted.  They started life as later model shields and now look like K0 heat shields.  Bead blasting worked wonders to etch the chrome but did not stip it.