flash chrome removal

[Craig O.]

what would be the ratio of muriatic acid to water to remove flash chrome on stainless

[Tracy C.]

Re: flash chrome removal

I part water to 1 part acid will do a fine job. Remember to add the acid to the water slowly. Let your parts swim for about 15 minutes.

[Craig O.]

Re: flash chrome removal

I part water to 1 part acid will do a fine job. Remember to add the acid to the water slowly. Let your parts swim for about 15 minutes.

Thanks Tracy, and I remember to use a bath with baking soda to neutralize.

[Tracy C.]

Re: flash chrome removal

Yep.. I use a 1 lb box of baking soda with 5 gallons of warm water for the neutralize bath. Fresh water rinse and you are ready to start buffing...

tc

[Joe L.]

Re: flash chrome removal

Thanks Tracy, and I remember to use a bath with baking soda to neutralize.

Craig------


The waste acid solution after chrome removal is a serious hazardous waste and must not be disposed of to any sewer system. If the acid wasn't contaminated with chrome, it could be neutralized and disposed of to a sanitary sewer. However, after chrome removal it will be heavily laden with chrome salts which are extremely toxic and extremely deleterious to any wastewater system. It's a violation of federal, state, and local laws to dispose of this to any sewer system.

[Richard M.]

Re: flash chrome removal

Craig,

Are you going to get parts flash chromed again after buffing the raw SS? Just curious why you're removing the flash chrome.

2 weeks ago I brought a chromed FI filter to my local chrome shop(Space Coast Plating, Melbourne, FL) for chrome and nickel removal. In by 2 pm, picked up the next morning. Cost me 25 bucks. I let them dispose of the byproducts. They said it's a good thing there was no copper on it because that's very difficult to remove. I'd imagine that would have to be sanded off to bare steel. Would be a PITA IMO.

They had a big drum of muriatic acid(not sure if new or contaminated) sitting in the receiving dock when I was there. It was a stainless steel drum, and on the label the deposit said $600 !! That's just the cost of the deposit. If it was contaminated who knows what it cost to get rid of it.

I then had the FI filter cad plated at another shop in Orlando along with many other bits.

before chrome removal
PC140052.jpg

after cad plating
P1270006.jpg

Rich

[John D.]

Re: flash chrome removal

Rich, Work out on the upper half of this filter some. Means make sure there are no impurities trapped between the inner and outer lining. Blow thru it with compressed air. Maybe soak it in lacquer thinner several times.

Muriatic acid rusts everything in it's site. Dangerous to your health also. Years ago I used to strip the FI parts for cad plating with muriatic. One day I went to my MD brothers office to complain to him about my inflammed nose. He said he didn't know what kind of chemicals I was using but if I keep it up i can be sure of getting cancer big time.
Not long after that I did in fact have cancer in one side of my nose. Took 100 stitches to fix me up and lots of pain. Was very scary.
Forget about using muriatic acid friends. Leave the job to a professional plater. John

[Richard M.]

Re: flash chrome removal

Rich, Work out on the upper half of this filter some. Means make sure there are no impurities trapped between the inner and outer lining. Blow thru it with compressed air. Maybe soak it in lacquer thinner several times.

Muriatic acid rusts everything in it's site. Dangerous to your health also. Years ago I used to strip the FI parts for cad plating with muriatic. One day I went to my MD brothers office to complain to him about my inflammed nose. He said he didn't know what kind of chemicals I was using but if I keep it up i can be sure of getting cancer big time.
Not long after that I did in fact have cancer in one side of my nose. Took 100 stitches to fix me up and lots of pain. Was very scary.
Forget about using muriatic acid friends. Leave the job to a professional plater. John

John, Thanks for that info. When I got it back from the chrome/nickel stripping, there was in fact some crappy residue inside that upper housing, and even a little rust I could see in there. I soaked it in Capt Lee's Metal Prep & water solution. It got all the crap I could see out of there. BTW, I saved the leftover liquid stuff in a separate container for proper haz waste disposal later.

It cleaned up good, and when brought to Peninsula Metal Finishing in Orlando for cad, Dave, the owner said that they'll prep/clean/wash thoroughly before cad so it doesn't contaminate their chemicals.

Now it's back I'll heed your advice and give it a bath in lacquer thinner too. Good catch.

Thanks,
Rich

[Craig O.]

Re: flash chrome removal

Rich, I plan on restoring a set of trim rings,to sand them will take forever. no replating required for me. Joe a friend has a shop that will take waste.