Removing chrome from plastic front grill???

[SteveL]

I've got a front grill that I started to media blast with glass beads and it is taking forever to get the chrome off. It's fairly thick and although some came off with a scraper, the edges are really tough. I've read a few Google links that say to use muratic acid or bleach, but I'm a little leary of trying those.

Anyone got any ideas? The plan is to prime and then paint. The thought of trying to sand all the little nooks and crannies does not appeal to me either. Maybe Easy Off Oven Cleaner? I know that it make quick work of anodizing on aluminum. Thanks!

 

[-lecroix-]

if it's on plastic then it's not true chrome ... sand it, prime it with etching primer, then sealer / high build primer and finally your color ...

 

[rickairmedic]

brake fluid will remove the chrome it is widely used in scale modeling to remove paint and chrome from parts the oven cleaner will also work .

Rick

 

[SteveL]

Can't sand as I have already removed some of the chrome with bead blasting and it would take days to remove the rest and the oven cleaner did not faze it. I left it on for about a half an hour and it looked like new. I did try soaking in bleach for a couple of hours and it turned the bleech black and there was some pitting, but for the most part didn't do much. Any other ideas?

 

[Franz©]

The "chrome" is actually aluminum that has been vaporized in a vacuum chamber and electrostaticly attracted to a coating of laquer.

Figure out a way to disolve the laquer and the problem is solved.

 

[rickairmedic]

Ok I'll say it again brake fluid

Rick

 

[JCByrd24]

I'll second sanding....understand that you don't need to remove the "chrome", just roughen the surface. For the bead blasted part just go over it and blend to match. I sanded my Mazda B4000 "chrome" grill with some medium grit sandpaper in my electric random orbital sander, chrome dulled up and then I primed and painted, still looks great, no signs of coming off anytime soon.

 

[Kurn]

I use zinc chloride soldering flux