How to remove chrome plating?

[sportabout]

What chemicals have you used to remove chrome plating? I have used brake fluid and drain cleaner. Brake fluid is a bit uncomfortable to use because you should not let it in go to the drain. 12-15% sodium hydroxide drain cleaner is the most effective substance I have used. Nitrile rubber gloves are perfect when using sodium hydroxide.

Problem solved, no. There are different kind of chrome platings. New kits chrome is easy to remove but old AMT parts pak chrome parts have very tough lacquer undercoat and no substance seems to be effective to them. Sanding removes all lacquer from bigger parts but small parts are the problem. Laquer covers the small details of the parts and sanding is difficult.

Any suggestions? Westley's Bleche White (a whitewall cleaner)? It is for sale in Finland but it is expensive ($20 950 ml).

[goofy62]

Bleche white will generally work, but it is probably one of the most ineffective of the most common chemicals used for removing chrome & paint in our hobby.
In my opinion, the most effective are as follows, ordered according to effectiveness.

1. Super Clean
2. Easy Off oven cleaner
3. Purple Power
4. Simple Green

There is of course brake fluid & Bleche White as you have mentioned, but I don't use either one of these for reasons already mentioned.

Some people also use Isopropyl Alcohol, but I use this rarely as I'm not convinced that it will not damage the plastic in the long run.


Steve

[sportabout]

Nothing of those are for sale in Finland. Old Fairy Power was very effective but new one is more like soap.

[goofy62]

Well, if you can get Bleche White, it might be one of your only options.

I guess someone else from your part of the world might be able to give you better advice than me.

We have all of these options in the states & Super Power & Easy Off will remove the chrome in a matter of minutes and usually the under coat very shortly thereafter.

As I understand it, drain cleaners contain the same active ingredients as Super Clean and the other de-greasers that I have mentioned.

Steve

[BUCKY]

I have been using regular chlorine bleach, lately, with great results.

[Mr. E]

There is also a product, that is now sold by Testers, called ELO or Easy Lift Off. I have used it way back when it first came out and it would lift anything off of plastic without harming it too much. Although it did tend to leave the plastic on the brittle side in my opinion.

Beyond that, there is always good old DOT-3 brake fluid if nothing else is available. I'd test it on something unimportant first though.