Removing Tamiya Chrome Plating..

Hi all,

New to the Forum but have been building F1, Indy, and other type race cars for a while. The work here is great and got me reinterested in car building after a long break. Started the Tamiya Lotus 25 and used the tried and true chrome removal method of Clorox on the suspension parts of this model--well I'm not having any luck getting the chrome off the parts--any and all suggestions really appreciated.

TIA,
Brian

Hi all,

New to the Forum but have been building F1, Indy, and other type race cars for a while. The work here is great and got me reinterested in car building after a long break. Started the Tamiya Lotus 25 and used the tried and true chrome removal method of Clorox on the suspension parts of this model--well I'm not having any luck getting the chrome off the parts--any and all suggestions really appreciated.

TIA,
Brian

Welcome to AF!

There are lots of good options for stripping chrome. Simple Green (get it at Home Depot or the like) is my favorite. Just soak your parts in it for a couple of hours and the chrome flakes off.

But for building questions like this, please post in the general section here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=927).

I use soda salt. These are tiny white cristals .
Take a bucket with hot water, not to hot, and put some soda in it. Then you put the chrome-sprue in the water and let ik work some time. You will see the chrome come off. Look out for the hands. It's acid!

Bleach is what I use. Takes no more than 20 minutes and leaves you a good primer for your own chrome. No need to scrub what so ever.

Thx all for the suggestions and the links.

Brian

I use Easy Off lemon scented foaming oven cleaner to strip chrome. Put your pieces in a plastic container...spray well with oven cleaner close lid...come back in 10-15 minutes chrome is disolved. rinse thoroughly with water and youa re ready to prep for painting!


Warning, use in well ventilated area!

Thx Dean23,

Brian

Everytime I read about a fast way of removing chrome and then about having to wait 2 days, overnight, a few hours or even 30 minutes I shake my head. Dean23 has it right. There is nothing faster than Easy Off oven cleaner. Put the parts in a plastic sandwitch bag, spray plenty of easy off and seal it. Almost immediately the chrome will begin to dissolved. If you want to speed it up simply massage the parts with you fingers from outside the bag. Doing it this way I sometimes am able to wash clean the parts after about 5-10 minutes. Yes, it's that fast. I've only tried this on Tamiya chrome.

dumb question, but i had to ask it. is this the same for revel chrome?

Racer917,

Great tip using a ziplock bag... Am going to use this method from now on...

Thx,
Brian

Everytime I read about a fast way of removing chrome and then about having to wait 2 days, overnight, a few hours or even 30 minutes I shake my head. Dean23 has it right. There is nothing faster than Easy Off oven cleaner. Put the parts in a plastic sandwitch bag, spray plenty of easy off and seal it. Almost immediately the chrome will begin to dissolved. If you want to speed it up simply massage the parts with you fingers from outside the bag. Doing it this way I sometimes am able to wash clean the parts after about 5-10 minutes. Yes, it's that fast. I've only tried this on Tamiya chrome.

Suppose it's a matter of priorities. I've never needed anything stripped in 5-10 minutes. For all I know my methods work that quickly- I've just never bothered to check.

I have a 'bath' of Simple Green and one of alcohol. I keep them in covered 'reusable/disposable' lunch containers- big enough for a 1/24 body. I've been using them for years, and they still work great- haven't had to replace either. I haven't found anything I can't strip in one or the other, from automotive paint to chrome. I don't care how long it takes- I just drop whatever parts/body I want clean, and next time I check (be it an hour or a month) the part is stripped and safe.

But minutes don't count for me in stripping (only safety, convenience and toxicity). I always have other stuff I can do when parts are stripping....

Oven cleaner doesn't remove the clear varnish beneath the silvering though :D

i'm with MPWR on this one... oven cleaner may work quickly, but who wants to deal with toxic substances? simple green is biodegradable.

just my two cents.

Will oven cleaner also work on wire wheels as well or will the cleaner destroy the "wire"? Will it melt the wire like it melts resin?

Suppose it's a matter of priorities. I've never needed anything stripped in 5-10 minutes. For all I know my methods work that quickly- I've just never bothered to check.

I have a 'bath' of Simple Green and one of alcohol. I keep them in covered 'reusable/disposable' lunch containers- big enough for a 1/24 body. I've been using them for years, and they still work great- haven't had to replace either. I haven't found anything I can't strip in one or the other, from automotive paint to chrome. I don't care how long it takes- I just drop whatever parts/body I want clean, and next time I check (be it an hour or a month) the part is stripped and safe.

But minutes don't count for me in stripping (only safety, convenience and toxicity). I always have other stuff I can do when parts are stripping....



...whatever.