How to get rid of kit chrome

I've had good success just soaking it in a bowl of Windex for a day or two.  Use a toothbrush to loosen any stubborn flakes.  No need to use anything harsh, like oven cleaner, brake fluid, and other nasty stuff that I have seen recommended now and then.

I've always used liquid bleach. However, there have been times that the bleach didn't have any affect. I don't know if there was a different process used in the plating that resisted the bleach or if sitting over time the bleach "weakens." I didn't know Windex would do the trick as Cadet Chuck posted. I'll have to try that.

I use fume free Easy Off oven cleaner and a large ziplock bag. Spray the parts liberally inside the ziplock bag, seal it and let it set overnight. I use an old toothbrush and a toothpick to get all the residue out of the nooks and crannies. Wear rubber dishwashing gloves when handling the parts. I also scrub with dishwashing liquid to remove all the oven cleaner.

I use Simple Green, a soak for a day or maybe two, scrub with a toothbrush, no chrome.

I use Castrol Super Clean, now known as Super Clean.  You can watch the chrome desolve in minutes, and it won't harm the plastic.  Dan

Many primers work fine over the plating (which is actually aluminum, not chrome).  You can then put your gloss black over the prime and then shoot the alclad.

I use Oven Pride oven cleaner but I'm in the UK. It's the sort you can get from a hardware store, it comes with thick plastic bags so you can immerse all of the detachable parts of an oven into one of the bags with the thick Gel type cleaner and leave for an hour or two, OR do as I do. Put on the rubber gloves provided put the parts to be 'cleaned' into a clean ice cream tub (2Litres) pour on just enough to cover the parts, using an old toothbrush to ensure all covered and leave for 1 hour! When the hour is up have a look and if all the chrome has dissolved read the instructions, or just rinse very thoroughly with warm water, using the old toothbrush to ensure all oven cleaner Gel has dissolved. Try with kitchen towel and use. Don's idea above is ok as well, but I use a very fine emory or sandpaper to just key the chrome coating so that the primer sticks. Good Luck!

Hi All

Thank you all for the many suggestions, I will try several of them. I favor removing the original chrome plating as it is really thick on these parts and I have had relatively good success with Alcad paints in the little I have tried them - I tried an old car model chrome tree with the easy off, as it was actually in the kitchen and it pulled the chrome completely off the tree in less than 1 hour - used several scrubs of dishwasher liquid soap in warm water and it appears to be good - I think I might give it a grey primer first, then gloss black primer, then the Alcad Chrome - hope it turns out - got to finish a Tiger 1 tank first though...

Thanks to all who responded - may good ideas here

Joe

I use Weslys bleachwite, protect your hands, but it will remove the chrome plating quickly.

I use nail polish remover (acetone)  , fast and clean

I would ALWAYS use bleach first.  Since it is the least caustic, and usually works in about 30 minutes or less.

After that move onto more dangerous stuff.

don't buy it

Best stuff I've found is called LA's Totally Awesome. The product is as effective as its name is stupid... it will remove the chrome and the clear undercoating underneath. Like all solvents, it works best at room temp in a sealed container, like a Tupperware bowl. Round 2 chrome takes the longest to strip, but for most of them TA will remove the plating and undercoat in as little as a few hours, or 24 hours max.

Best stuff I've found is called LA's Totally Awesome. The product is as effective as its name is stupid... it will remove the chrome and the clear undercoating underneath. Like all solvents, it works best at room temp in a sealed container, like a Tupperware bowl. Round 2 chrome takes the longest to strip, but for most of them TA will remove the plating and undercoat in as little as a few hours, or 24 hours max.

Don't mean to go off topic, but will you be posting pictures of the results of using Alclad Chrome over gloss black?  I seen the stuff at my LHS, and have been wanting to give it a go.

i use just plain ammoina, and put it in a sealed jar, and only use enough to cover the parts im stripping.

it depends on how heavy the chrome is but i have left parts soaking in it for several days with no bad results...but bleach also works also, just make sure you are in a well ventalated area when using either of these.

jason