How do ya remove chrome plating?

Is there any way for a backyard builder to remove the plating off of things like chromed steel wheels, chromed valve covers, etc? I'm looking into making my own set of reversed steelies. The centers are bare, but the outers are off a set of chromed wagon-wheel styled rims.

 

I knew a young lady once that could take it off of a trailer hitch....But that wont help for what your doing...

All smartass-ness aside, I am wondering the same thing, would blasting work? -J.

 

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but the plating shops around here are fairly reasonable when it comes to stripping chrome parts. I had a set of chrome plated alloy wheels stripped for $50, I should think that steel parts would be cheaper since they don't require so much supervision (the aluminum will go away quickly once the chrome is removed). Some things are best left to the professionals...

 

Sandblasting works very well for removing chrome plating.

 

I have had plating removed several times at the plating shop. Should be very inexpensive...

 

I hadn't thought about having it removed at a plating shop. I'm gonna look into that. My sandblaster is prolly a little light in the**** to remove the plating, but I know someone w/ a sandblasting shop that could do it. Thanx for the suggestions.

 

Sand blasting a chromed part is OK if you don't want to chrome it again.
Because the sandblaster "punches" little partickels from the chrome into the metal, and it's very hard to remove when you're polishing before the new chrome is added!
I was told this by a friend of mine that used to work in a chrome shop.
Let the shop do it for you, is my advice....

Klaus