173 replies to this topic

[TurboKitty]

easy off seems to work pretty well for me to strip chrome, DOT3 brake fluid gets off the remaining bits within 10 minutes or so too.

[highway]

for those who like to use brake fluid for stripping, what do you clean the brake fluid off with?


Dave

I usually use brake fluid for paint stripping, and I use dishwashing liquid and warm water to clean the stripped body. I've not had any problems yet.

[Greg Myers]

I use bleach as well & found this puppy to be handy little find.

OK, where can I get one ?

[highway]

OK, where can I get one ?

This is just a guess, Greg, but I'd figure you could find that jewerly cleaning jar at a finer jewerly store.

[Greg Myers]

DUH! Or just Google
Just Google Connoisseurs jewelry cleaner

[Ryan S.]

I've also had success stripping chrome with Oven-Off and/or Purple Power from Wal-Mart; though I don't recall if either will take off the under coat.

[Mr. Show]

Brake fluid worked fine me. A couple hours took off almost everything (even the yellow layer), then finish sanded the edges and details and it looks perfect.

[Foxer]

Why remove it Tom? It acts as a primer for lacquers.

I've found these chrome clear coats are applied pretty thick on most instances where I've removed the chrome and I'm always wanting to get it all off down to the bare plastic to get the detail back. I'm finding the Dawn method to be working for me, but all these suggestions are great.

[danjohnson21]

I've had the best luck with Easy-Off oven cleaner.

[red3644]

1st post to the forum! I'm starting work on one of the new editions of Tamiya's T70 Lola and wanted to remove the chrome from several parts.
I didn't have some of the suggested items so I tried some Zep purple degreaser. It works in seconds not minutes. I did all the carbs and radiator parts in a plastic bowl with about 1/2" of the cleaner in it. The chrome just disappeared as I swirled the parts around for maybe 20 seconds.
It take it all the way to bare plastic with no harm to the parts. And boy, are they degreased.

[Jordan White]

I've had the best luck with Easy-Off oven cleaner.

Same here.

[seanyb505]

How long is everyone using Dawn power dissolver soaking the parts for?

[highway]

How long is everyone using Dawn power dissolver soaking the parts for?

Sean, please refer to my previous post.

The parts in front of the bottle were done in about 4 hours.

Those parts required a slight bit of scrubbing with an old toothbrush, if you'd leave parts overnight, the chrome should almost just fall off.

[red3644]

I did a few more parts from the Lola last night. You can do the hours or overnight and some scrubbing thing if you want... but the Zep purple degreaser works perfectly in seconds. Hope that helps.

[DWR]

I soaked some parts for a couple nights in "Simple Green Concentrated Cleaner" and it worked great

[straightliner1]

I can't believe nobody's mentioned Castrol Super Clean (although the Walmart Purple Power is the same stuff). Either will strip the chrome and the undercoat in less than an hour (the plating will be gone in a minute or less). Why strip the undercoating? You're gonna take it off when you remove the mold lines, anyway.

[DWR]

Of all the products mentioned which ones work best for stripping the paint off of a body?

[DWR]

Now that I have stripped the chrome there is a dull yellow coating left on the parts. Does this coating have to be removed as well before painting?

[JohnnnyKaye]

I've found Coca Cola works well for stripping chrome. It leaves the undercoat on, just takes off the chrome. And in the case of earth friendly, you don't get any better! Usually a day or two (if you can wait that long) and the chrome is gone. I use soap and water to wash the sugary brown liquid off the parts.

[highway]

The Dawn Power dissolver works like a charm ! 4 hours just as you claimed. Its gel consistency is nice being it sticks to the plating & works much faster then bleach & oven cleaner. And smells a lot better too
Thanks for the tip.

I'm glad you liked it and glad I could help.

As a little side note, I had just taken some parts from a project that I put in Power Dissolver a few months ago I had forgotten about, the chrome from them practically dissolved in the Dawn, just a quick wash with some water and the parts looked like they were fresh from the mold and never chromed.

EDIT: Here's a pic of those forgotten parts, the only cleanup was a quick wash off.



Oh, and the engine block also had Tamiya Clear Red painted over the chrome as well! Both disappeared!

Edited by highway, 09 January 2011 - 07:05 PM.