Anybody know of a way to strip chrome plating off of plastic? I have a 74 grill w/ lights that have bubbles in the chrome. ( the light bezels do... ) I am just painting it black like a Grabber anyway, but I don't want the bubbles showing through. The bubbled parts will break off easy enough, but then there is still a change in the surface... I would like to completely strip 'em if I could. Thanks in advance.
Wonder what that would do to plastic... Hmmm... Guess it depends on the blasting media. Thanks! hadn't thought of that one. May try it on some junk dash bezel...
I used a big azz sand blaster at work, with silica(sp?) sand. It etched the plastic but not bad. The plating came off fairly easy. of corse the blaster had a 5/8" id. tip pushing sand at 110 psi.
I was thinking a rubber based media... that sillica media sounds like the trick. I know I can peel off the blistered part but I don't know if I can peel all of it off... and know it comes off like a razor blade... I got sliced pretty badly in an accident back in 1986 when part of a broken plastic chrome grill flew threw the window of my car when I got T-boned by a Dodge Caravan that failed to stop for a red light... That be some sharp stuff... I'll use sandpaper to scuff it if I can get it off and fill the low spots, but that sounds like more work than the blaster Need to see what my sand blaster is rated at... Thanks again all... good feedback! Got my noggin churnin... and can't wait for some good weather to get rolling on this beast.
Love the Bobcat taillights on your car 71Gold... Have to price that one out... I know it doesn't hurt aluminum so plastic should be ok too... I like it but I could do the sand blasting myself. $$$
Depending upon the type of Chrome, you can soak it in window cleaner, and that will take it off, I did the A/C vent on my dash. I doubt it'll take the chrome off the marker lights (thicker chrome), and I've never seen a chrome grill.
It's the marker lights I need to strip, and actually, the grill is chrome too ( edges are chrome and the mesh is painted silver inside ) but that will be easy... Chrome is thin and pitted enough to give a surface for the paint to adhere to... so yes, it is the marker lights I am trying to strip. I'll try the window cleaner... since there are bubbles, maybe it can get in behind... and if it doesn't work, then I'll find me some sillica media and get out the blaster Anybody heard that Coca Cola would do it? Or is that an urban legend?
do not sand blast plastic.. it will take the plastic off the plastic you can use a stripper.. but that may soften the plastic too much.. i would say some fine sandpaper.. and take your time
All of this got me curious so I grabbed a razor blade and started just peeling it. It is working but will take a while. One is soaking in Glass cleaner right now... so I'll see if that makes any difference. This will take a while but w/ a new razor blade, is going well, and I haven't gouged the plastic any. I'll let you know if the glass cleaner helped any. I'm sure there is something that can help safely lift the plating. May have to stop by the chrome shop up the street that will be doing my Cyclone bumpers
