What strips Chrome?

[Davefr]

I found a retirement style machine lamp this morning and the metal shade's original chrome plating is in terrible shape.

What will strip chrome plating so I can get down to base metal? Will vinegar work? Sanding doesn't even phase it.

TIA

 

[Jack84]

I used to derust with phosphoric acid, in some cases it took the chrome off.

A commercially available product, diluted of course.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Dave,

I've done it. Muriatic acid, such as pool cleaner, will work. Don't dilute it. But be extremely careful, as you might expect. It will go to work on the chrome immediately and even the off-gassed vapors will eat anything that's steel within 10 feet of it. Seriously. Unfortunately, it may also start to eat the base steel. EDIT: Your results may vary. I don't want to be responsible for ruining that piece. I can't emphasize enough how strong it is.

 

[Farmer J.]

I don't know what's in the fumes from Muriatic acid, but have heard that it's a very bad idea to use electrolysis to remove the chrome as it releases a deadly hexavailant gas or something like that.. Maybe someone who actually knows the chemistry of it will chime in and help here.

Chrome plating is a silly idea, it doesn't prevent rust and always seems to flake off and leave nasty sharp bits!

.

 

[ZRX61]

Take it to a chrome shop, they'll strip it in minutes.

 

[Jazz1]

You should be able to smooth it out enough for paint with a flap disc. Thats how I dealt with a '52 Chev truck bumper.

 

[Davefr]

Thanks for the ideas. I decided stripping off all the chrome would have been a royal PIA and executed Plan B. (i.e. cleaned it up as best I could and used some VHT Wrinkle paint I had.)

 

[Maui]

You could have immersed it into a bottle of coca-cola for a day or two. That would have eaten the rust fairly well while leaving the chrome untouched.

 

[Ledman_70]

It takes more equipment, but I built a blacked out Sportster bobber a few years ago and sand blasted all the chrome so I could powder coat it. That worked good enough for the coat to stick.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Turned out great, Dave.

 

[Mick56]

Years ago I had a 79 F-150 and the front bumper had about half the chrome peeled off. I sandblasted the rest off, and sprayed it black.

 

[Leviton]

I decided stripping off all the chrome would have been a royal PIA and executed Plan B. (i.e. cleaned it up as best I could and used some VHT Wrinkle paint I had.)

Smart. Came out great.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Well done!

 

[lardy1]

Good choice and nice job.