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I need to get rid of some Chrome plating from parts of a motorbike I am restoring. I have had some quite pleasing results Nickel plating bolts, nuts, spacers etc for the purpose of corrosion proofing and to give a little shine, so I thought I would have a go at the kickstart and gear lever. The problem I am having is no matter how I prepare the surface, where the original chrome is intact the new plating will not stick, it just wipes off with a damp rag.
I have tried immersing in strong caustic soda for days, various types of sanding/wire brushing, even tried reverse plating all to no avail.
Any ideas??

Also need some bits turned up on a lathe, may have asked this one before.

Desp

I understand that HCl will strip Chromium - my boss in the lab told me that our gents urinal flush bar was plain copper because he caught the cleaner applying lime-scale cleaning acid to it and saw the chrome disappearing! The rest of the building was spared that treatment.

https://www.evilution.co.uk/mod/removin ... h-acid.htm has other recipes too...

Hydrochloric will do the job, but more importantly what is the underlying metal? because it may also eat that too if you arent careful.

Hydochloric acid is also known as brick acid (just in case you didn't know).

Would you not be able to use Electroless nickel plating?

Hi Desp,

Have a read of this as its very informative

https://www.runsom.com/technology/ways- ... 20chromium.

Moxi

Thanks for the replies chaps, I am using diluted brick acid for the pickle before the plating , but even undiluted I don't think it is very strong, I also like the idea of using Caustic as the base material is steel so HCL could do some damage, but I will wizz out and get some spirit of salts tomorrow, I think that is about 35-40% HCL.
Paul I don't know anything about electroless Nickel plating, I will have a google up Thanks.

ATB

Desp

Concentrated hydrochloric acid is about 38% (any higher is very prone to loss of strength) also known as muriatic acid and spirits of salts, brick acid is usually 18% iirc.

I thought I read somewhere that only 10% strength is needed to remove chrome plating though.

Thanks,

I just dunked the kickstart lever in some Sika brick and patio cleaner that just states <10% HCl and there doesn't appear to be much activity yet, even on the bare steel, it's only been a few minutes though. I'm gonna try to find some spirit of salts drain unblocker and see what happens.

I'll probably get a visit from the bomb squad

Desp

Make sure you only use it outside and don't inhale any fumes...