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Why removing chrome from chromed parts ?

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  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Sunday, August 11, 2019 9:55 AM

Well, I fought the chrome, and the chrome won. Bleach ... oven cleaner ... Simple Green ... all of them kinda' sorta' removed some of it, but it seems that larger flat areas are impervious.

It's a newer AMT kit, and trying to deal with chrome is a new experience for me since I'm basically a ship guy. Plan D is to lightly buff all the chrome with 600 grit sandpaper, hit it with Tamiya spray can primer, and hope for the best with my brush-painted metallics. Bang Head

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, August 11, 2019 9:58 AM

The only other method I've heard of, that you haven't tried; is brake fluid.

I tried that but didn't think it worked too well, and disposing of the brake fluid was a problem.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Sunday, August 11, 2019 11:57 AM

Ammonia does the trick, guys.  You can use Windex, or mix a stronger solution of water and ammonia.  It takes awhile, you will have to submerge it overnight or maybe two.  Be patient and let it soak, the chrome plating will eventually disappear.

 

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Friday, August 16, 2019 6:44 AM

I will give Windex a try. Messing around with water and ammonia sounds like a good way for a guy with my luck to get a chemical burn ... try explaining THAT in the emergency room.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, August 16, 2019 11:47 AM

I use SuperClean, and it dissolves the chrome in about 2 minutes.  But its active ingredient is lye, like most oven cleaners, so I don't know how it would have worked with that kit.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2019
Posted by Zocane on Friday, August 16, 2019 6:31 PM

I don't know how to reply to every one of these posts, so I'll reply to this one.  They are all freaking brilliant.  You have answered, in detail, my whole issue.  I'm completely new to chrome.  Experimenting with bare metal, that tube of True Metal, and alclad II.  The whole worry has been: 'wait a minute, I just want to rechrome the sections of the fender where I sanded the sprue bits off'.  One cannot do that. And now I hear from you that I should completely dechrome the kit parts and have it be uniform.  Absolutely brilliant.  Not a time saving event, but none of us are in it to hurry.  

Thank is all I'm saying.  I'm going to reread all your comments.  The light bulb went on!

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Monday, August 19, 2019 12:19 AM

Windex helped in some spots, but left this odd brownish goop in all the recessed areas like grille work, which I then had to use oven cleaner to try and remove ...

At this point, rather than further risk melting these parts, I'm going to lightly sand the remaining chrome spots and break out the spray cans and paint bottles.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Monday, August 19, 2019 11:40 AM

mfsob

I will give Windex a try. Messing around with water and ammonia sounds like a good way for a guy with my luck to get a chemical burn ... try explaining THAT in the emergency room. 

Windex is water and ammonia, pretty much.  And some coloring agent and other odds and ends.  Basically a weak ammonia solution.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

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