Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

[Donald H.]

The hood lock/latches, both the male pin/spring assembly on the hood and the female latch assembly on the body are chrome plated. So are the hood hinges and hood support. They appear to be correct parts and I want to return them to zinc or cad plating.

Is there any way to remove the chrome plating myself chemically? I assume a chrome plater can do a reverse process and remove the chrome, but I don't know if this will leave clean bare metal that can then be zinc or cad plated.

Thanks,

[Dick W.]

Re: Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

It is done by a chemical process that I would not advise doing at home.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

Chrome plating is easily stripped with diluted muratic acid. Your problem however is not the chrome plating, it is the nickel plating beneath it. I do not think there is any process to remove the nickel and or copper other than sanding, grinding or heavy media blasting. Just buy some other originals and restore them instead. Someone may even buy your old ones to offset the price.

tc

[Troy P.]

Re: Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

I believe any plating shop can do it easily. I think they use the reverse of of the electro plating process. This does not damage the part. Seems like you need to send them to a plater anyway to get the cad put on.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

The best way to remove copper/nickel/chrome plating (the way commercial platers do it) is reverse plating. This can be done safely in the garage but it is necessary to have a power supply that can supply high amperage. By immersing the part in diluted sulfuric (battery) acid and using some bare steel as the cathode, the part acts like an anode and the plating moves to the steel cathode. Connect the positive to the part and the negative to the steel. I do this in my shop often but I am fortunate to have a 0-250 amp plating rectifier. Generally 40 amps for a few parts will do the trick. It is also important to have good ventilation.
Jeff

[Joe M.]

Re: Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

Jeffrey, what would you define as "dilute sulfuric acid?"

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

I use 3 parts distilled water 1 part acid.
Jeff

[Donald H.]

Re: Removing chrome plating on my 66 parts

I believe any plating shop can do it easily. I think they use the reverse of of the electro plating process. This does not damage the part. Seems like you need to send them to a plater anyway to get the cad put on.

That was my next option. I'll check with a plater to see if they will do it and what it will cost.