Intentional De-chroming?

[Bolster]

I have some vintage tools where the chrome is peeling. The chrome peeling probably makes them of little or no value. I look at them and say to myself:

"Self, if all the chrome were gone on this tool, and we were down to bare metal, this would be a good lookin' tool."

How feasible is intentionally de-chroming a tool? Can it be done easily, or is it a difficult process?

Furthermore is it worth the effort? Or would I be better off spending my time pounding sand down a gopher hole?

 

[48548]

I have the same problem with a certain brand that made some tools in a certain year that were worse than the plain bare metal tools they used to make, not sure what brand it is but you get the idea. I would like to take it off also, to make them look better.

 

[Frank Elson]

When I ran an antiques business with my first wife we used to get kettles and some plumbing stuff like taps (faucets to you lot) dechromed because underneath was brass or copper.
It wasn't a cheap process and I shouldn't think it would be worth it on odds and ends of tools.
The Stahwille spanners I have that are peeling I just grind off the bits of sharp chrome. Eventually they will have no chrome left.

 

[zuspiel]

You know, you could always use a wire wheel and see if they clean up...

 

[48548]

hahaha, I tried that and it helped on some of them. Also I was thinking get them rechromed and have the chrome shop clean them up, hahaha.

 

[krusty the clown]

muratic acid

 

[stricht8]

Time for that steel wire wheel!

I have some vintage tools where the chrome is peeling. The chrome peeling probably makes them of little or no value. I look at them and say to myself:

"Self, if all the chrome were gone on this tool, and we were down to bare metal, this would be a good lookin' tool."

How feasible is intentionally de-chroming a tool? Can it be done easily, or is it a difficult process?

Furthermore is it worth the effort? Or would I be better off spending my time pounding sand down a gopher hole?

 

[Frank Elson]

The wire wheel hasn't taken the chrome off my peeling Stahwilles. Got rid of the rust tho.

 

[stricht8]

Maybe it depends on the thickness. I cleaned up a rusty old cornwell wrench with a wire wheel and it took off the plating. Maybe it wasn't chrome.

The wire wheel hasn't taken the chrome off my peeling Stahwilles. Got rid of the rust tho.

 

[Mike83]

Go to a third world country on vacation. With little or no environmental regulations, you can probably go to some little shop and have anything you want chromed.

 

[stricht8]

And the quality? Many European car restorers ogle American chrome shop quality.

Go to a third world country on vacation. With little or no environmental regulations, you can probably go to some little shop and have anything you want chromed.

 

[RRmech]

A sand-blaster works great for de-chroming tools!
A co-worker de-chromed a set of Vise Grips I loaned him.
WTF was I even thinking loaning out tools!?

Steve

 

[bchee]

nobody has mentioned the girlfriend and the chrome bumper?

 

[Mike83]

And the quality? Many European car restorers ogle American chrome shop quality.

No quality. Just chrome on whatever you want.

 

[Kevin54]

nobody has mentioned the girlfriend and the chrome bumper?

I always thought it was the girlfriend and the chrome trailer ball

 

[zuspiel]

A sand-blaster works great for de-chroming tools!
A co-worker de-chromed a set of Vise Grips I loaned him.
WTF was I even thinking loaning out tools!?

Steve

 

[64merc]

muratic acid

I tried muratic acid on some klein pliers that someone had chrome plated (chipping really badly) and it didn't remove much. I was thinking that maybe it wasn't really chrome. I don't know...

 

[T56 Impala]

I had a Toyota chrome palted wrench that was severly rusted. I put it in the blast cabinet and hit it with sand. ALL the chrome came right off! I cant say the tool looks better though. I wonder how it would work on a decent tool steel. I also wonder if a different media would change things too.

 

[Merkava_4]

Bolster, if you hit those tools with a Roloc Scotch-Brite disc, they actually look pretty cool. The fine blue pad is what I've used. It kind of gives them a bright satin finish look with very fine swirls.

 

[Bolster]

Bolster, if you hit those tools with a Roloc Scotch-Brite disc, they actually look pretty cool. The fine blue pad is what I've used. It kind of gives them a bright satin finish look with very fine swirls.

Well that sounds interesting, I'll try it. Is a Roloc SB disc something you order online, or something that's available at local stores?

 

[sk farmer]

try an automotive paint store. they should have them bolster

 

[Merkava_4]

Well that sounds interesting, I'll try it. Is a Roloc SB disc something you order online, or something that's available at local stores?

The auto parts stores and Sears will try to sell you a kit with different "grits" of discs, but I got mine individually from Gordon Industrial. I got the 3 inch discs which are good to 15,000 but the 2 inch are good to 20,000 or better.

There's also Scotch-Brite flap wheels too; those would be good if you want the fine lines all going in a straight direction.

 

[stricht8]

Some well stocked welding supply shops also sell them individually.

 

[dodgedartgt]

Ammonium phosphate... ya know? Fertilizer.
Mix it with water and toss them in, let them soak. What I don't remember (learned this in A&P school) is whether TO or NOT TO do it in a galvanized bucket. I'm leaning toward NOT TO, so try it in a pickle bucket first instead.
Mike Bynum