De-Chroming

[97Intruder]

Anybody have any tips on how to easily de-chrome things... like fenders or other items.......reason I ask is that I have some chromed things that are in poor shape, I'd rather paint, but have tried to paint over chrome before, and it doesn't last. Even if you primer, it still will flake off over time, I think that the chrome has to be "etched"..........any info????
Thanks in advance

[TheCafeKid]

wire wheel??

[Ironriot]

wire wheel??

You'll be there for a LONG time. Unless it was a crappy chrome job..... I remember reading about a way to get chrome off involve some kinda chemical. Bad news is i think its an acid 8-[. Good news you don't need a license to buy it \\/ so you can do it yourself. Let me try and find those articles for you

P.s. I read that basscliff soaked his rust covered chrome in a chrome cleaner/shiner and it worked wonders

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*10 minutes later*

Alright I'm back. Sorry about that apparently the chemical i was thinking of doesn't remove chrome it removes rust OFF of chrome. Here's the link just in case you want to read the thread about it.

http://oldschoolbmx.com/community/index.php?showtopic=4004702

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*While later lol*

Alright buddy after some research seems like sandblasting is the fastest easiest solution. Usually a course grit is needed at first to get the chrome off and then you go back with a finer grit to smoothen it up. I also read that people use muriatic acid to remove chrome but Its only safe for non-ferrous metals so aluminum and stainless steel are the only one's i can think off. And if its aluminum or SS then they probably wouldnt be chromed in the first place

[fat_sac]

Self etching primer.

[BlackStar]

Be carefull sandblasting sheet metal. You will scrap it due to warpage in a hurry! Ask me how I know!

[Nessism]

I think your best bet would be to sandblast the surface to give the chrome some tooth and then paint on top with a good epoxy primer. Should work.

[TheCafeKid]

I kinda agree with Sac...with galvanized steel you need to use a self etching primer...i bet it would work with the chrome too...and since its self etching it might go a long way to holding/sealing the chrome on there.

[Kaptain Ketchup]

Take it to a shop that does chrome. They can chemically strip it off and you'll get a clean bare part that just needs to be washed and dried before paint. Fairly well priced too as the high price of chrome normally comes from the application of the new shiny stuff.

[Adler45]

Yeah acid is your only solution to de-chrome anything. I have used Muriatic Acid to remove finishes like parkerizing and bluing before. Its cheap and effective, but makes a mess and requires alot of safety precautions so I cannot advise it. I too sugest you use self etching primer over a blasted surface. I have painted chrome bumpers on cars with good results, you just need to be very good at surface prep.

[mortation]

I had really good results by sanding by hand just to scratch the hell out of it, using adhesive promoter then primer then paint then clear coat.

[carzar252]

chrom removal.

the guys at the chrom shop can just dip the part back in the chroming tank and reverse the polarity that makes the chrom stick.... atleast thats what i was told. my buddy did the same thing on the fenders for his cb450

[N56629]

The only problem is that it cost almost as much to remove the chrome as it does to put it on.

The fenders on my L were chrome and the black paint has been on there for almost 30 years without flaking. The bike was originally moron. Unfortuanately I didn't do it and don't know how it was done. I could probably find because I still know the guy that did it.

[Zooks]

Leave it out in the weather for 40 years.

[t3rmin]

I'd think paint would stick if you just roughed up the surface with sand paper or steel wool... Then a little primer and wetsanding to smooth it back out again, and Bob's your uncle...

[TheCafeKid]

I just painted a chrome fender yesterday, scuffed it up pretty good with some 400 grit and shot it. I twisted and flexed the hell out of it to see if it would give and it didnt flinch, so you may be able to get away with just shooting it. Use some self-etching primer first and away you go. I also used hightemp engine black. the ceramic in it my help keep it on there, dunno.