Caswell sells an alkaline solution that can be used via electrolysis to remove chrome plating safely from steel base metal.
If the base metal is non-ferrous, then Pickle 2 can be used to remove chrome, either with electrolysis or by soak method. Pickle 2 is 2 parts water mixed with 1 part muriatic or hydrochloric acid. Any Home Depot carries a good grade of muriatic acid that can be used for this purpose.
The concern about using acid to remove chrome from steel is that you may very well pit and damage the steel. I've done it. I avoid acid and steel. The alkaline chrome and anodize stripper Caswell offers is a better way to go in this case.
ALWAYS follow Caswell's manual instructions for the mixing and use of acids and any solution under electrolysis!! It's too involved to cover it here in detail, and the Manual covers it very well including carefully drawn pictures and diagrams.
Regarding sandblasting--if you are hard chroming mechanical parts, then it might leave the surface a bit too rough. But if you're restoring decorative chrome, chances are the part you're restoring is rusted and pitted. If so, to remove rust and pitting you'll prefer to sandblast, since the roughness you're going to clean up afterwards caused by sandblasting is the least of your problems. You'll have to decide which approach is best for you. I use 180 grit aluminum oxide. After a pass with the Brightex (scrubber) wheel, you'd never know it was sandblasted.
|