Removing Old Chrome

[Roger S.]

What is the best way of removing an old chrome plating from a 'pot metal' grille? Some of the chrome has separated from the metal and some has broken off, but 75 % of the chrome is intact. While inspecting the metal under the separated chrome there is a white powdery materail between the metal and the chrome. Any ideas why this material is there - poor orignial cleaning before chroming or ?.
Roger

[Jack H.]

Re: Removing Old Chrome

Chrome on potmetal is a plating 'specialty' area. Remember, pot metal is a generic term (any alloy of metals that'll melt in a common 'pot') and there are quite a few different alloys that qualify (zinc/cad, bi****h/antimony, Etc.).

I say the 'white' you see is either the reminants of a coating for that particular potmetal alloy applied to promote the adherence of the chrome process OR it's a 'salt' (oxidation) triggered by the exposure of the underlying plating metals due to the loss of the top surface chrome.

As to how you de-chrome a part, see my reply on this subject below. Essentially, there are two choices:

(1) Use an acid bath to etch it away.
(2) Find a 'friendly' plater who'll remove it via reverse polarity electromotive technique.

When you find a plater who'll take your chrome-over-pot part for re-plating (they ARE relatively rare birds), they'll take care of removing the existing plating for you as part of the re-chrome process.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Removing Old Chrome

Roger,

I'm afraid your grill is going to cost more in labor than it's worth. While you could dechrome it, there isn't anything availible to remove the nickel plate underneath the chrome...except good ole sandpaper and elbow grease. As thin as the grill is, this wouldn't be a good option because the sanding marks need to be buffed out prior to replating.

Thin potmetal is good for one shot from the factory and next to impossible to restore in the condition your describe.

tc

[Harmon C.]

Re: Removing Old Chrome

Roger
The set of 73 grills I had on my table at Carlisle were rechromed. Did you you see them when you stoped by?
Lyle

[Dick W.]

Re: Removing Old Chrome

Advance Plating in Memphis does a very good job on pot metal, but as Jack says, plating die cast zinc is very expensive.

The very first die cast plating I had done was by Lemon Grove Plating. I almost had a heart attack. They probably did the best plating in the country, but danged, they were proud of their work.

[Roger S.]

Re: Removing Old Chrome

Lyle:
I did not look at them, I was interested in an air cleaner at the time -that was to be my main purchased this year. Actually I was not planning on buying the center grille, but just saw one in good shape for a good price on the way out of the fairgrounds. I live in Virginia and we are suppose to run a front license plate if the vehicle can so the center grille will only be used minimally if ever.
How ,/or who did the rechrome work on your grilles' ?

Roger

[John M.]

Re: Removing Old Chrome

Dick,

You are right about Lemongrove plating, they did real nice work. I sure do miss them!

Regards, John McGraw