I never thought I’d need this,but what is the best way to remove chrome from plastic?
Thanks
Ed
Soak the parts in bleach. You need to sand the gluing surfaces since there is a clear coat that can adversely affect the glue.
In some cases you may not have to remove it. Clean up flash and stuff as you would a non-plated part, then use a good primer and you can paint right over the chrome. I use Krylon primer, but have used other primers, and never had a problem with the paint peeling from the aluminum (Al is used in that plating rather than actual chrome). In many cases the plating is so thin that details are not covered up much.
I have heard that your everyday oven cleaner works great. Never tried it tho…
Thanks for the info fellas.I have a few upcoming projects that are loaded with cheesy looking chrome pieces.Can’t have that.
I just barely tried removing chrome for the first time. I used a product called “Super Clean”. It is in a purple bottle, and I picked it up at the local grocery store. I put the parts I wanted to strip in a plastic zip-top bag, sprayed some of the cleaner in, and let it sit. I was surprised that it only took 15-20 minutes, and the parts were completely clean, no scrubbing or anything.
I don’t know if some kits have better/thicker/stronger chrome covering that makes it harder to remove, but with this kit the stuff came completely off with no work at all.
Good luck.
Forgot to say the stuff is biodegradable, so no issues with breathing it or smelling up the whole room when using it.
On my last truck kit, I used bleach to strip my chrome. For some reason, only fresh bleach worked. I had tried an older bottle that sat on top of our washer/dryer, but it didn’t work. Had to buy new stuff.
That being said, next time I will use Don’s advice and just prime and paint over the chrome. For me, stripping it was too much hassle and just an extra step I didn’t need.
I just striped the chrome plated p-51 with “Simple Green”, an all purpose cleaner/degreaser I got at Wal Mart for 6 bones. It took a few days soaking in the stuff, but it worked like a charm. It even took off the yellow film layer under the chrome, which brought the parts back to bare plastic. Not quite as fast as Super Clean, but still effective.
recently did this myself for the first time. Bleach worked on about half the parts and left half covered in chrome. tried coke (yes, coke) and that didn’t work for me at all. Easy Off oven cleaner in the yellow can worked like a charm and FAST.
I use TSP-tri sodiun phosphate mixed with warm water to strip chrome my parts. works like a charm and takes it down to clean plastic.
I used Naval Jelly on my last model. Its a rust remover you can pick up at the hardware store.
I put the parts in the jelly for about a minute and then the chrome came off really easily with a toothbrush.
Time apparently does the trick. My old MPC R2D2 sat in a box for 25 yrs. When I took him out his chrome dome was white. Nice huh? That’ll save me some trouble come refurbish time.
Brake Fluid will work very well (from a book on the subject).