Harry P. Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I've always used bleach, and never had a problem with it until now. I have a Ford SOHC engine from the AMT 68 Shelby GT kit, and it really must be some stubborn chrome. Usually it would take minutes to an hour, but this has been soaking for three days!!! Got to give another cleaner a try. I once had one of those hand-held shower heads... the kind that's attached to the pipe with a flexible hose so you can hold it in your hand when you shower. It was chrome-plated plastic. The water flow seemed restricted... I figured it had to be mineral deposits built up in the spray head holes, so I soaked the thing overnight in a bucket of water with a little bleach. Next morning it wasn't chrome plated anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 I use Mr Clean kitchen floor cleaner to strip chrome. I just pour a little bit in a clear glass, add parts and let it sit over night. Totally clean. I then put the liquid back in the bottle. Fairly friendly and has a lemon scent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brutalform Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 I think the bleach lost its potency. Used some new bleach, and the chrome is already coming off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredk Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 My preference is caustic soda solution. Takes 'chrome' and varnish off in about 5 to 10 minutes, occasionaly and rarely perhaps 20 minutes max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 My preference is caustic soda solution. Takes 'chrome' and varnish off in about 5 to 10 minutes, occasionaly and rarely perhaps 20 minutes max. My friend from Australia uses this. He said he starts with flakes and mixes the solution. He was telling me that he tried to get CSC since he saw it on the board. He either wanted to know where to buy it, or what the active ingredients were and what would be the Aussie equivalent. So he called up Castrol in Australia and the folks there hadn't heard of it. The guy called him back and said no, it wasn't available, and that nothing that caustic would be allowed to be sold in Australia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 My preference is caustic soda solution. This is the same thing as Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH, and is the active ingredient in Easy Off oven cleaner in the yellow can, Dawn Power Dissolver, most drain cleaners, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepgirl Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 so, I tried ammonia last night, and bleach. My chrome parts were all very clean...but still chrome. I had a bottle of CLR sitting around and decided to give it a whirl. worked like a charm, and it was the dollar store variety. From the ingredients list, its mostly sodium hydroxide (lye). Its caustic stuff, so you have to glove up, but its pretty cheap and worked well. Took both the chrome, and the undercoating off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Amanda, as long as you don't mix the ammonia with the bleach! You could create chlorine gas!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadialDragon Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Super Clean in a purple bottle. Works great, use in ventilated area... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keone2013 Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Ok I used the ammonia to remove the chrome. How long do I let it sit? Overnight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keone2013 Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 so, I tried ammonia last night, and bleach. My chrome parts were all very clean...but still chrome. I had a bottle of CLR sitting around and decided to give it a whirl. worked like a charm, and it was the dollar store variety. From the ingredients list, its mostly sodium hydroxide (lye). Its caustic stuff, so you have to glove up, but its pretty cheap and worked well. Took both the chrome, and the undercoating off. Amanda, how long did you let it sit in the CLR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmdm4 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 After soaking all night in Bleche Wite, now made by Black Magic and called new and improved, I still have flecks of chrome on the parts I am trying to strip! I changed the solution once and even brushed the parts with a toothbrush. Any ideas for a different product that will safely do the job? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Smith Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Easy Off. Takes chrome and undercoat off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatz4u Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 go to Dollar General get LA Awesome, soak parts for 2 days, chrome gone....less toxic than oven cleaner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shucky Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 The purple pond. Castrol Super Clean. Strips chrome in less than an hour. Also not kind to skin, so avoid getting your fingers in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunajammer Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Easy Off. Takes chrome and undercoat off. 5-minutes and done. Why dally? (Brutal though, use care). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zarana-X Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I use normal bleach, chrome is gone in a few mins topsAMT chrome is normally a bit harder to strip than Revell Does bleach lose it's "potency"?I've got 3 old peanut butter jars for stripping paint, DOT 3, Simple Green, and Clorox bleach. I've soaked some AMT parts from the Barris T Buggy for nearly 2 days, chrome wont budge. I've stripped other chrome parts in the same bleach and they were ready in a 1/2 hour - 2 hours tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I use Mr Clean kitchen floor cleaner to strip chrome. It actually smells like lemons. I keep it under the kitchen sink. When I need to strip a bumper I fill a kitchen glass with Mr Clean (lts a lime green clear), drop in the part and leave it until it strips. I'll often just leave it overnight. Once done, I pull the parts out with my fingers (it's not harsh at all) and wash them off in the sink. Then I pour the Mr Clean right back in the bottle. There is no reason to use something industrial strength, industrial smelling and other wise a hazard to human life just to strip a bumper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youpey Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 probably been mentioned, but i use soda for a couple of days or 3. no smell and dont need to worry about hurting skin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 The purple pond. Castrol Super Clean. Strips chrome in less than an hour. Also not kind to skin, so avoid getting your fingers in it. I bought a strainer at Wal-Mart for 2.50 and never touch parts and rinse. Sit the damp parts paper towels to air dry. I know oven cleaner works but I don't like the fumes. I tend to use purple power for my chrome removal... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackandwhite Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Just for the hell of it it tried this stuff out. I have the easy off and it took over night and then some and even then it didn't take off the film beneath the plating. I did a test piece with this and it was off within minutes with nothing left beneath it. Did a whole 1/12 bike frame in under an hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I used to use Easy Off & it does work great, but I got tired of "suiting up" with a mask, gloves etc. everytime I used it. Super Clean works just as well, if not better, with a lot less hassle & toxic fumes. & it's completely bio-degradeable, so when it's all used up, (& I use it over & over again) you can just dump it any old place. Now whether or not all of the stripped paint etc. in it is bio-degradeable.......? steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_G Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 I use EZ-off oven cleaner in a plastic bag sealed with the parts inside- no fumes, no mess, no need for gloves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Just for the hell of it it tried this stuff out. I have the easy off and it took over night and then some and even then it didn't take off the film beneath the plating. I did a test piece with this and it was off within minutes with nothing left beneath it. Did a whole 1/12 bike frame in under an hour Great stuff. Does a great job without the fumes however you really should use gloves when you take the parts out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackandwhite Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I fish them out with the toothbrush I scrub them off with. Under hot soapy water, or use a paper clip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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