Any tricks for stripping chrome?

[bntii]

Just have a few small parts and want to strip down to bronze and polish.
Some kind of acid?

Thanks all

[Frosty]

Interested to know the answer to this myself being a motorcycle enthusiast I could do with knowing how to do this?

[PAR]

Send it to me, I'll have my ex-wife hold it next to her heart for a few minutes, which will be more then enough.

[RHough]

Originally Posted by PAR

Send it to me, I'll have my ex-wife hold it next to her heart for a few minutes, which will be more then enough.

I was going to suggest sending it to a Keno Girl in Reno ... but that only works for trailer hitch balls ...

[Frosty]

I once searched for an answer to this. I came across a forum where some guys were talking about how easy it is. One guy said he used normall houselod bleach. The other guy who didnt want to be out of the picture said he just soaks the part in washing up liquid???????

This was a septic forum by the way. It does'nt work. No i didnt try it.

[tinhorn]

Found this on another forum:

Removing chrome plating

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 finished, wash parts in mild soda water solution to neutralize acid. (Do this right way to prevent rust) As with any caustic acid, handle with care. Dave H.--

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--

[Frosty]

Thats interesting. What and where could i find Muratic acid ? I mean is it in a domestic fluid that could do the job and be bought from a supermarket. I live on an Island off Malaysia. lemon juice, viniger, battery acid, tile cleaner. Oxalic?

[tinhorn]

Damned if I know - the last time I bought muriatic acid it was from a chemical supplier who sold me carwash soaps and waxes and hydraulic fluid. And that was over twenty years ago.

Hardware store maybe, or auto supply store?

[Frosty]

Thinking about it maybe its more of an electrolite than an acid, seeing as though heavy current is needed to displace the chrome. (Opposite to the chroming in the first place.) Dont they use copper sulphate solution, or battery acid would do then?????

I dont know im guessing -just trying to find a recognisable substitute.

[MikeJohns]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Thats interesting. What and where could i find Muratic acid ? I mean is it in a domestic fluid that could do the job and be bought from a supermarket. I live on an Island off Malaysia. lemon juice, viniger, battery acid, tile cleaner. Oxalic?

Spirits of salts
Hydrochloric acid
Muriatic acid

All the same thing. Very common industrial chemical at around 30% often used as a cleaner at lower dilutions .

cheers

[rasorinc]

It is used in swimming pool cleaning so those suppliers should have it.

[the1much]

heyz,,,i got some of that in the shop for the concrete floors,,,i think,,,maybe not,,,but if that stuff works,,,,hmmmm,,,i need to go to the mall,,,,"find" a piece of chrome to try,,,,ive been waiting for someone to answer,,,dam you guys are SLOW!! hehe
and how did that go?/,,,add water to acid,,,,,acid to water?,,,,,man this is confusing,,,,maybe i should try this outside,,hehe

[charmc]

Originally Posted by the1much

and how did that go?/,,,add water to acid,,,,,acid to water?,,,,,man this is confusing,,,,maybe i should try this outside,,hehe

Mas,

No joke about the add acid to water part. Adding water to acid (or to caustic) will cause an immediate violent reaction. Severe burns and possible permanent eye damage if you're lucky; blindness and/or lung damage if you're not. And yes, do it outside, because there will be fumes even when done properly, and have rubber gloves and eye protection.

Good way to remember is you want to add a little bit of the nasty stuff to a large amount of water to stay safe.

[the1much]

well after THAT description,,i think i gonna write it down and tape to my acid,,,especially that last sentence Charm,,,good way to remember ,,Thanks,,

[Frosty]

Mmmm there must be a better way of remembering that.

Damn I can remember it now and I am thinking about it.

Would battery acid work? thats how you buy batteries here,--dry, and they give you a bottle of mix to put in yourself, imagine that in Europe!!

Anyway --say I got this set up with a bucket . I assume that swoping the polarity will mean I got my own chroming plant.They gold plate jewellry at the side of the road in Bangkok using old scrap gold ,but what can I use to chrome with? an old car door handle?