How to remove Chrome Plating from parts

[heyes57]

Hi guys/girls, my first post in AF and I keep seeing people asking how to remove chrome plating from parts. I found this tip years ago in Scale Model Magazine.....(before it went bad!!)..and the article suggested using Caustic Soda. Give it a try, it really works a treat. Make sure you wash the "de-plated" parts in clean water afterwards though.

[racer93]

I use Castrol Super Clean (or Purple Power), a super strong degreaser. It generally works in just a couple of minutes. I've noticed that some of the older Tamiya chrome (70s) is pretty stubborn but can be sanded off, if need be.

What is "caustic soda"? Never heard of that...or at least it called that.

[lumpulus]

Simple household bleach.

[Scale-Master]

Simple oven cleaner (not the "fume free" type) is still my first choice. Works well on removing enamels too.

[MPWR]

Simple unleaded gasoline.

[Archetype123]

When I want to remove chrome plating, I use some generic Home Depot degreaser with a little bit of warm water. 10 minutes, and it's gone. And the great thing is, you can pour it right down the sink since it's environmentally friendly.

[MerlinPro]

Originally Posted by racer93

i use castrol super clean (or purple power), a super strong degreaser. It generally works in just a couple of minutes.

x 2.

[Plumberboy]

I like the purple cleaners too. Removing the chrome with it is fast but what nobody ever mentions removing is that yellow color film that was sprayed over the part to help the chrome stick to it. This film is what covers detail on parts. it takes a good bit longer to remove. I do resin casting and I want all the detail I can get out of old original kit parts.

[MerlinPro]

Originally Posted by Plumberboy

...what nobody ever mentions removing is that yellow color film that was sprayed over the part to help the chrome stick to it. .

Did not have that problem on Trumpeter's chrome. Parts came out almost translucent-a resin type white.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by Plumberboy

what nobody ever mentions removing is that yellow color film that was sprayed over the part to help the chrome stick to it.

The issue is that different manufacturers use different agents for this. Some come off really easily, and some are more stubborn. Soaking in strong isopropyl alcohol and scrubbing it off with a toothbrush has usually worked for me.

Originally Posted by Archetype123

And the great thing is, you can pour it right down the sink since it's environmentally friendly.

Great advantage, that. It also means that you are probably not poisoning yourself my messing with unnecessarily toxic chemicals.

And I was kidding of course about the gasoline above....

[bvia]

Ammonia (NH3). Pour some in a zip-lock type bag and allow to soak for 10+ minutes. Will remove Tamiya, Hasegawa, Revell, Monogram and Fujimi "chrome" and it's cheap and available.

[Wolf95]

why're you guys removing this chrome? just curious

[heyes57]

Most of the time this chrome is almost too good and doesn't really look "in scale". Plus, most of the time the mould lines for the chrome plated part is still prominent and needs to be sanded off thus removing any chrome in the area and needing to be resprayed.

[deedlit]

Originally Posted by lumpulus

Simple household bleach.

Works fine on Fujimi and Aoshima's chromed parts, 15 minutes to dechrome 4 rims and 4 brake discs

Made a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnsFq85Omcc

[bvia]

Originally Posted by Wolf95

why're you guys removing this chrome? just curious

We're anal about our models?...