The rear chrome garnish that I just bought from ebay just arrived. Opened the package and found the top corner of it has been broken off during transit. I had intended to have it painted anyways, but the paint shop is telling me they can't paint over the chrome, and if I wanted it done I needed to remove it. After they get the chrome off they can then weld it back on and paint away.

Does anyone have any ideas in regards to removing the thin layer of chrom from the garnish?

Sand blasting can work well. Paint shop is right, you can't paint over chrome. Well, you can, but it will peel off after the paint hardens. See a lot of cars with peeling chrome door handles, etc. Mainly Commodores. lol File an eBay claim for broken in transit.

I didn't buy insurance and the item was packed very well. Just somewhere along the line the e-go chaps snapped it. Shit happens though. I've got a bead blaster at work, but won't it eat into the plastic? TAFE teacher here just said make a pickling soultion which is a mix of sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. Seems a bit harsh.

Came across this site. http://www.chrometech.com.au/

I thought it was solid metal seeing you mentioned welding? Pickling would take ages, and it may make the plastic brittle. Both bead blasting and sand blasting, even if done carefully, will roughen up the surface under the chrome, be it metal or plastic, but a good coat of primer/filler with careful rubbing back will fix that.

Interesting link. Could make the interior of a car very shiny indeed! lol

I was referring to plastic welding, sorry should have stipulated.

Well, then how did mitsubishi paint the matt black finish onto my front grill? There are a few stonechipped areas (very small) which has revealed the chrome underneath.

All good. Try the work's bead blaster, might work.

Well, then how did mitsubishi paint the matt black finish onto my front grill? There are a few stonechipped areas (very small) which has revealed the chrome underneath.

Chrome coloured paint perhaps? That can be painted over.

Chrome coloured paint perhaps? That can be painted over.

In that case the chrome paint should have been chipped off as well. If you see my grill you'll know what I mean, if I ever get the chance to get to a meet.

Yeah I know what you mean I have a verada grille too with a few chips and scratches.

I dechrome brass lamps with reverse electrolosis using muriatic acid. Degrease part thoroughly with detergent first. Mix 8oz. muriatic with three gal water in a plastic container. Add acid to water--NEVER add water to acid!!! It will explode!! Suspend part in solution with negative lead from charger attached to part. Positive to a loop of copper wire in bottom of bucket. Don't let them touch! Turn on charger and watch closely. In a few seconds chrome will start to turn cloudy and dissappear. It doesn't take long, Maybe a minut or two, depending on thickness of plating. Wash part in soda solution to neutralize acid then flush w/clear water. Be very careful about the caustic vapor that will rise from the container! No sparks or flames. Attach and detach charger with power OFF!! It is a good idea to do this outdoors if possible. If you're not comfortable with this take it to a plating shop and have it done as the results of carelessness or mistakes can be rather nasty! --Dave-- (P.S.-- wear eye and breathing protection)

Recommend this?

I have always wanted to remove the black matt paint on alternate slats to give a different look.

Send a pm to doddski! He's working in a pannel shop, he must know what to do!

Send a pm to doddski! He's working in a pannel shop, he must know what to do!

He just abused me on facebook for wanting to destroy a shiny verada nick nack.

Got it sitting in the backyard in a bucket of 50/50 water and hydrochloric acid. Gonna head into work tomorrow and still a small length of copper pipe to act as the anode, then I'll drop the battery charger in. Expect to hear about me on the news tomorrow night.


EDIT: Battery charger fail. Must have to sense a load on it to be able to charge. Gonna use dedicated DC power supply at work.

Send a pm to doddski! He's working in a pannel shop, he must know what to do!

To be honest - Im not sure about it, its something we havnt had to do at work.


He just abused me on facebook for wanting to destroy a shiny verada nick nack.

Got it sitting in the backyard in a bucket of 50/50 water and hydrochloric acid. Gonna head into work tomorrow and still a small length of copper pipe to act as the anode, then I'll drop the battery charger in. Expect to hear about me on the news tomorrow night.


EDIT: Battery charger fail. Must have to sense a load on it to be able to charge. Gonna use dedicated DC power supply at work.

I wouldnt say abused you - more... why are you destroying sexy SHIIIINY CHROMEY pieces from a Verada?

Can you maybe hand sand the chrome off?
Start with a coarse grit to rip most of it off and then work finer to finish it off ready for painting?

I had to peel my Verada gear shift surround before I painted it. The chrome scraped off the edges very easily because it was very thin, further away from the edges it got thicker and easier to lift the edge of the layer and peeled off in strips. Just needed a light rub with P800 wet and dry and it was ready to paint.

If I just got rid of the chrome layer, that'd be enough? Can two-pac paint be applied to the copper/nickel layer underneath?