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TR2/3/3A Chrome...removal?

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CJD

CJD

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The TR 2 came with a TR4 valve cover. I dug through my dungeon and found a TR 2/3 cover, but it was chromed, with about 60% of the chrome pealed off. The TR2 needs it painted to be like original.

So, does anyone have experience with removing chrome?

If it were a decent chrome, I'd just blast it and paint, but that won't work when half the chrome is pealed. I have nightmares of the chrome continuing to peal after painting. One option I wondered about is if the chrome shop can remove it with reverse plating...?
 
Don't chroming shops remove existing chrome before rechroming? If so just pay them to do that part. :smile:

Scott
 
That's interesting. The factory chrome doesn't usually peel. I wonder if you are looking at a previous rechrome job, or maybe even a TR2 cover that was later chromed.

The commercial process is pretty nasty, basically a heated bath of nitric acid IIRC. Not something to try at home. There was a big fire a few years back on my way to work, that was reportedly caused by someone accidentally putting some aluminum wheels in the dechrome bath. Big plume of orange smoke rising to the sky (and over the freeway).

My guess is that it will be a lot cheaper to shop around for a chromed cover that isn't peeling, and paint over that.

However, here is a list of "home" methods I found, that might work:
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Chrome-Plating
 
Thanks guys! Interesting article, Randall. Some of those solutions sound scary. Since I will be spending a lot of time with Al at the chrome shop, I think I'll just get him to take care of it when I replate the other parts...got a nice offer from Randy and Jerry for a road trip to Houston too!
 
Final update...

The chrome shop can remove the old chrome. Apparently it is a standard part of re-chroming anyway, so it is not a big deal at all. I dropped all the parts that are usable on the TR2...which is not very many...at the chrome shop today. The owner didn't even flinch when I asked about de-chroming the valve cover.
 
sp53 said:
Put in the oven on high it will peal off
Click to expand...

I inadvertently left the chrome plated racks in my oven when on the cleaning cycle. The plating didn't come off, but it did discolor.
 
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