How To Remove Chrome Plating From Brass - Our Pastimes

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How to Remove Chrome Plating From Brass By: Kimberly Johnson Updated April 12, 2017 three chrome balls image by Igor Negovelov from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a> By: Kimberly Johnson Updated April 12, 2017 Share It Share Tweet Post Email Print Related

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Chrome plating appears to be a shiny, silver coating on objects. In actuality, chrome is a clear coat that is applied on top of a nickel finish. To remove chrome plating, you need to clean off both finishes. Chrome plating is applied to many types of car parts, radio-controlled vehicles and other objects. Chrome plating on a brass object must be removed with a corrosive substance that will eat through the chrome.

Put on safety goggles and rubber gloves before beginning the stripping procedure.

Fill a bowl or tub with 100-percent acetone, which is available at home improvement stores. Fill the container up until the acetone level is high enough to completely submerge the chromed item.

Insert the chromed brass item gently into the acetone solution until it is submerged, if possible. Place a lid or piece of aluminum foil loosely on top of the container to trap fumes.

Soak the brass item for at least two hours.

Remove the lid or the foil and pick up the brass item in your gloved hand.

Dip a toothbrush into the acetone solution. Use the bristles to scrub the surface of the brass to remove the remaining chrome.

Apply one teaspoon of dish soap to a cloth. Wipe the entire surface of the brass to remove the acetone. Hold the brass item under running water to rinse it. Dry thoroughly with a towel.

Things You'll Need:

• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles
• Bowl or tub
• Acetone
• Aluminum foil
• Toothbrush
• Cloth
• Dish soap
• Water
• Towel

Tip

Use pure laundry bleach or soda instead of acetone to remove chrome plating.

The removal procedure can be used on plastic as well as metal. Test the plastic after 10 minutes to check whether the object is beginning to soften, which may destroy it.

References

• You Tube: RC How-To: Remove Chrome from Wheels, using acetone
• Starship Modeler: Cola as Chrome Remover

Tips

• Use pure laundry bleach or soda instead of acetone to remove chrome plating.
• The removal procedure can be used on plastic as well as metal. Test the plastic after 10 minutes to check whether the object is beginning to soften, which may destroy it.

Writer Bio

Kimberly Johnson is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in various online publications including eHow, Suite101 and Examiner. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and began writing professionally in 2001.

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