Thread: Best way to remove chrome???

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Hello Everyone! Haven't been here in awhile, I hope everyone is going well! I just got some stock 392 Hemi valve covers for my '32. I want to remove the chrome so I can have them powder coated. What's the best way to take the chrome off? I was thinking sand blasting but then was wondering there's a better/easier way??? Thanks! ; ) Bill

Reverse electrical charge from what the chroming process was----

if chrome is good just sand it till dull use 320 wet dry paper and go over with a red 3 M pad till no shine. sand blasting is a messy and may not come clean off or just dip them like jerry said

Thanks Jerry & Pat! The chrome isn't good so think I'll go with the reverse electrical charge. Plus it sounds easier! Then I'll sand it with the wet/dry to get the rust off. I forgot to mention that I want to have them powder coated after I clean them up. Just realized that if a powder coating place also does chrome they could probably do the whole job! Didn't realize how much hassle sand blasting is to do yourself until I did a search! I almost went out & bought all the required stuff... Thanks again! Bill ; )

Removing Chrome .. Just bring it to Western New York .. One winter and it will be gone !!! LOL
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You do not have to remove the chrome to have them powdercoated. They will be bead blasted first which will give them a good surface for which the powder will stick to.
I have a buddy who has a powder business and have had stuff that was chrome that he powdered. My parts looked great and the chrome did not have to be removed.

Originally Posted by sunsetdart

You do not have to remove the chrome to have them powdercoated. They will be bead blasted first which will give them a good surface for which the powder will stick to.
I have a buddy who has a powder business and have had stuff that was chrome that he powdered. My parts looked great and the chrome did not have to be removed.

I agree w/sunset - take them to your powder guy and see what he says about the chrome. He's going to media blast them to give the surface some tooth anyway, so the work you do to remove rust, etc may be wasted effort. Let the guy who does the process tell you what they need, then decide who best can prepare. It'll probably be him.

over look the hand sanding as giving some tooth ? if chome is good that s fine.but blasting chome it can peel . if you never had this happen you do not know the fun your in for ...... and i spent more time getting sand or what ever is used to blast used engine tin clean by some BONE HEAD it.s just one bead or grit of sand/oxide to phuck up a engine .some things i blast but not all things and things with a baffle and oil pans valve covers are a NO go

I used to use a blast cabinet for cleaning lots of things----finally as I got older, I wised up a little---we now have a pressure washer that uses hot soapy water to clean parts and things--(sorta like a dish washer) The motor that runs the sprayer pump is higher horse power than any other motor in the shop---plus the heater---

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

I used to use a blast cabinet for cleaning lots of things----finally as I got older, I wised up a little---we now have a pressure washer that uses hot soapy water to clean parts and things--(sorta like a dish washer) The motor that runs the sprayer pump is higher horse power than any other motor in the shop---plus the heater---

yep i have one when running some guys will ask what is that machine for? i tell them i washing my pots and pans . when there a hot load in the hot tank it eats rust out on blocks/tin .jet washer works to just to wash but i going to look at another brand of soap for it. i have the blast cabinet still use it only on some things . but i built engines were guys blast things they should of not .were you spend more time getting all the grit out... You Hope????? out of a $50.part. i now tell them NO sand blasting any parts i spent time blowing beads out of nice shinny powder coated stuff to that and buffer compound and wool

Thanks Hawk56 (LOL), Sunsetdart, Rspears, Pat & Jerry! Thank God for this forum! Without it I'd of gone out & bought a sand blaster, done something that the powder coater could have done & then had my motor blow up cuz of sand! The chrome is old with some rust spots so I'll ask the powder coating guy about what he can do & what I need to do (sand or not, etc.). Thanks again! Bill ; )