"chrome" removal

boog

Member since
January 2008

"chrome" removal

Posted by boog on Friday, February 1, 2008 2:15 PM

Is there a way to remove the "chrome" coating from engine parts, exhausts, etc.?

I am building the Minicraft 1:16 Morgan 3 wheeler and want to "distress" the entire thing as it was found before restoration. Covered in layers of dirt, dust, guano, ruined leather seats, flat, cracked tyres, faded, scratched paint, a Matchless engine that was anodized and rusted, exhausts with virtually no finish and holed...well, you get the idea.

Any help from you experts would be appreciated. This is my 1st car (otherwise it's airplanes) so any other ideas or links on how to stress this puppy would be very welcomed.

Boog

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proosen

Member since
December 2002
From: Falun, Sweden

Posted by proosen on Friday, February 1, 2008 2:45 PM

Mr. Muscle oven cleaner (or similar), bleach (the kind used in the washing machine) or any kind of alcohol will take away the chrome. Most of them will not take away the conductive layer, sort of a clear coat but leaves you without the brighwork.

Niclas

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wing_nut

Member since
April 2005
From: Piscataway, NJ!

Posted by wing_nut on Friday, February 1, 2008 5:24 PM

What ever you use the take off the chrome make sure you sand the gluing surfaces. These parts are usually coated with a clear coat so they are a high gloss for the chrome. This makes for very weak glue joints.

Marc

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dahut

Member since
January 2007
From: Glue and paint smeared bench, in La La Land

Posted by dahut on Friday, February 1, 2008 5:47 PM

I soak them in household bleach. Just pour th parts in a glass jar and cover with undiluted bleach. This will remove the chrome after a few days of soaking.

Follow the advice to sand all mating surfaces before gluing.

Cheers, David

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Wingman_kz

Member since
March 2003
From: Virginia

Posted by Wingman_kz on Saturday, February 2, 2008 1:57 AM

I use several different things to strip chrome. Castrol Super Clean, Westleys Bleche White, Easy Off Oven Cleaner in the yellow can. I also keep a little tub of brake fluid that I drop the parts in after the chrome's gone to strip the undercoat. Different types of chrome from different manufacturers react differently to chemicals. The only thing I've used personally that always takes off the clear undercoat is brake fluid. The chrome can fizz off in a few minutes but getting rid of the clear usually takes a couple of days. If you can scratch the surface like cleaning up mold lines, etc that will speed things up a bit. At least that's how it's worked for me...

Tony

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dahut

Member since
January 2007
From: Glue and paint smeared bench, in La La Land

Posted by dahut on Saturday, February 2, 2008 9:40 AM

I forgot about Westleys Bleche White. I have never used it, but have read from many sources - most notably FSM's latest "101 Workbench Tips" - that it is the best hands down.

Cheers, David

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boog

Member since
January 2008

Posted by boog on Saturday, February 2, 2008 6:13 PM

Thanks gents, now if I could get some feedback about distressing the Moog it would be very appreciated.

One helpful forumite suggested a book which I'm searching for, but any hands-on info would be great. Sounds like it's harder to show something rusted, profoundly weathered and neglected than brand new.