Chrome Removal

[7th day]

Found this method of removing chrome and thought some here may be interested.

The proceedure is very much the same as removing rust but with different
chemical. First, degrease completely and scrub thoroughly with detergent.
Mix 1 cup of Muriatic acid with 3 gallons of water in a plastic bucket.
NOTE; ALWAYS ADD ACID TO WATER. NEVER WATER TO ACID !!! (It WILL explode)
Hang two or three copper wires (#12 or larger) around sides of bucket.
Connect these to ground of battery charger. Hang item to be dechromed in
fluid with positive lead connected. Be sure part doesn"t touch ground wires.
Within a few seconds or minutes, depending on thickness of chrome, it should
come clean. More or less time as required. When finnished, wash parts in
mild soda water solution to nutralize acid. (Do this right way to prevent
rust) As with any caustic acid, handle with care.
The proceedure is very much the same as removing rust but with different
chemical. First, degrease completely and scrub thoroughly with detergent.
Mix 1 cup of Muriatic acid with 3 gallons of water in a plastic bucket.
NOTE; ALWAYS ADD ACID TO WATER. NEVER WATER TO ACID !!! (It WILL explode)
Hang two or three copper wires (#12 or larger) around sides of bucket.
Connect these to ground of battery charger. Hang item to be dechromed in
fluid with positive lead connected. Be sure part doesn"t touch ground wires.
Within a few seconds or minutes, depending on thickness of chrome, it should
come clean. More or less time as required. When finnished, wash parts in
mild soda water solution to nutralize acid. (Do this right way to prevent
rust) As with any caustic acid, handle with care.

[mighty13d]

great advice!

you kind of repeated yourself in that post though lol

[7th day]

No Idea how I did that

[Zooks]

The problem is what to do with the highly toxic bucket full of chemiclas at the end. Tipping it down the drain is akin to environmental terrorism.

[LarryA_Texas]

mirrors?

The problem is what to do with the highly toxic bucket full of chemiclas at the end. Tipping it down the drain is akin to environmental terrorism.

Dump it in your swimming pool. They like acid anyway.

Now: I've got two mirrors that most of the chrome is peeling off and I want to get the rest of the metal off the glass...this might work. But I bet it needs a metal surface behind the chrome...glass won't conduct the electricity right. I might make it work if I could make a secure connection over the entire surface of the chrome. Might as well try it. (with low expectations)

[mighty13d]

The problem is what to do with the highly toxic bucket full of chemiclas at the end. Tipping it down the drain is akin to environmental terrorism.

How about sealing a cover on the bucket and labeling it correctly and saving it for another use down the road?????

[Zooks]

I wasn't referring to the acid. It's the chrome that's the problem. Putting chromium 'into' the environment (down the drain, onto the grass) can lead to it ending up in the drinking water supply, food chain (fish) etc. Chrome plating workshops recover and recycle the metals form their waste water, it's not so easy to do that at home.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't do it. You just need to be very careful what you do with the polluted water once you're finished, it's pretty toxic stuff.

[79 sh850]

Does anyone know if the chemistry on this is sound? I wouldn't like to try it blindly.

[mcloud]

I wasn't referring to the acid. It's the chrome that's the problem. Putting chromium 'into' the environment (down the drain, onto the grass) can lead to it ending up in the drinking water supply, food chain (fish) etc. Chrome plating workshops recover and recycle the metals form their waste water, it's not so easy to do that at home.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't do it. You just need to be very careful what you do with the polluted water once you're finished, it's pretty toxic stuff.

Good thinking Zooks.
Although it's easy to neutralize remaining acid with soda, the issue is the chrome (and other metals in there) residue.
Put lid on container and bring it to chrome shop. They will gladly handle it for you.