De Chroming

[Orkney]

The thread about chrome & the poor quality of got me to thinking
(yeah yeah dangerous and all that before someone else says it )
next month taking scabby off the road for a bit of a cosmetic facelift, front wing & doors need sorting then going to try a and paint job on the premise it can only be an improvement.

Anyway got looking atthe crome, its I'm guessing all original as apart from dulling & a little pitting still there.
It wont clean up so thinking about dechroming. i.e. do it all in an appropriate black. Shouldnt be a massive problem to get it back to provide a good primer key.
Unfortunately a lot of work on the upper door bits but nonetheless this is a makeover not restoration.

So anyone dechromed one?

[stag36587]

You could do black or how about trying some of the chrome paint sprays from some of the car restoration suppliers - e.g. Frost? So long as you prime well you should get good results.

[Innovator]

All the "chrome" on my car is sprayed silver. All we did was sand it down ie take off all the chrome off so we were down to matt colour or the copper and then etch prime, prime and spray. We used a spray can for the top coat.

[Orkney]

Cheers so far - yes seen the chrome paints - there are some frighteningly good ones out there, ive even go a few cans of ally paint here which one day grafitti'd a bit on the front bumper - that bit looks better.
Thinking of removing all traces of chrome, so good pinter there Inno if your silver paint sticks to yours then guess any will do the same.
Theres a black chrome colour you can get and tempted to invest in a test aerosol to see if its any match for maroon & rust

[matt993fod]

I am always frustrated at the way brand new chrome gets pitted in a week, but original chrome stays looking good for years.

Modern chrome trim is crap quality.

[chickenjohn]

Before you do that, try this- Clean the chrome carefully, even with a metal polish, then clean it with Cillit bang- its crap for most things but does get the rust off the chrome. The bare metal is still present in the now clean rust pits and will rust again unless you protect it. The next stage is (only do this on a warm dry day) spray the chrome with a few coats of metal clear coat lacquer.



from toolstation or screwfix etc

[tickman]

door tops are stainless steel not chrome, just so you know before you start. I agree with what chickenkohn, just my opinion

[chickenjohn]

I should point out my clear coating the cleaned chrome idea is a theory! I've yet to try it in anger. It should work though, especially if the clear coated chrome is further protected with wax (Mer etc).

[Spag]

I should point out my clear coating the cleaned chrome idea is a theory! I've yet to try it in anger. It should work though, especially if the clear coated chrome is further protected with wax (Mer etc).

Or you stick a decent coat of primer on first

[Orkney]

Over my cold dead body ....

clean it with Cillit bang

will i buy something where they shout at you in the adverts - Barry Scott the Cillit Bang Shouter - can get stuffed

[chickenjohn]

I should point out my clear coating the cleaned chrome idea is a theory! I've yet to try it in anger. It should work though, especially if the clear coated chrome is further protected with wax (Mer etc).

Or you stick a decent coat of primer on first

But then you have lost the lovely look of the chrome! Primer would look horrible under clear coat. Metallic clear coat should stick to pitted chrome, there is enough of a key. I'm going to try it on a rusty hub cap then leave it outside with the odd spray of salt.

[chickenjohn]

Over my cold dead body ....

clean it with Cillit bang

will i buy something where they shout at you in the adverts - Barry Scott the Cillit Bang Shouter - can get stuffed

I think Cillit bang contains citric acid. A 10% water solution of citric acid will also remove rust, leaving clean metals intact. Or lemon juice which also contains citric acid. I only mentioned Cillit bang incase someone had a container in their cupboard with nothing better to do with it. Sorry to give you nightmare visions of Barry whatsisname (who??, i sont watch much telly) and your own dead body.

ANyway, the principal is sound, it should work, I will try it in the name of science.

[Spag]

But then you have lost the lovely look of the chrome! Primer would look horrible under clear coat. Metallic clear coat should stick to pitted chrome, there is enough of a key. I'm going to try it on a rusty hub cap then leave it outside with the odd spray of salt.

Psst, it was a joke John hence the rolly eye smiley.

[chickenjohn]

Jokes don't really work too well on the internet or other written forms of communication, e-mail etc, because 90% of face to face communication is non verbal.

I've had this bodge job idea of cheaply reviving chrome and am trying it. Just cleaned up a hub cap, will post photos as the test proceeds.

The alternative is put up with rusty old chrome, buy new sub standard or get the original items polished and re-chromed.