jenko Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 (edited) Help !! I am in the process of trying to remove the chromium from a 1/12 scale Airfix Bentley radiator, with NO success. So far, I have tried:a) brake fluidb)Mr Muscle Oven Cleanerc) Fairy Power Spray Oven Cleanerd) Coca Cola (the original 'full fat' variety)e) Air brush cleaner Items have been soaked for 24-48 hours at a time. Has any body got any idea of what else I can try. It seems the chromium on this kit is a very different animal to other chromiums. TIA Dick Edited January 14, 2013 by jenko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Have you tried carburettor cleaner....???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Have you tried soldering flux, the watery one? Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1fuN0 Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Hi Jenko Tip i was given once, scratch away a bit of the plated stuff first and use bleach on airfix plated parts. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Caustic soda, bought from your local hardware store as granules (£1.99 for enough to last several years of chrome stripping), and handled very carefully. Wear rubber gloves, and work in a well ventilated area. Fill a good sized jam jar 2/3 with cold water, and stir in 2-3 tablespoons of powder a bit at a time, stirring with a gash wooden stick (Starbucks coffee stirrers are good...). It'll warm up and pong for a bit, but as long as you don't stick your nose over it, you'll be fine. Dump your parts in, and the "chrome" (actually aluminium) will fizz and disappear in seconds, literally. Leave them there for 5-10 minutes and you'll take off the varnish underneath as well (if there is any). That's the brownish stuff, if you can see it (I can't remember what colour the plastic under the chromed parts on the Bentley is. When they are cleaned, fill a washing up bowl with cold water, lift the parts out with steel tweezers or wooden sticks and drop them into the bowl of cold water. Flush the Caustic Soda mix down the sink, running lots of cold water as you pour it into the plughole (it'll clean out and degrease your pipes, which is what it's intended for, as a bonus!). Scrub the parts well with a toothbrush to get any last bits of half-detached varnish off, and let them dry. It's quicker to do than it is to describe, and I've been using caustic soda for several years with no mishaps. The solution doesn't affect plastic, so there's no issue with leaving the parts in the mix for longer than necessary. Just don't leave your jar full of solution around for more than 24 hours or so -- you start to get crystals forming around the top of jar, which need redissolving, which is a right pain. Just do it carefully, and treat the stuff with some respect... bestest, M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fazer Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Hi Dick, Good quality household bleach (I use domestos, but other brands are available! ) & this will shift the chrome plating. There will be a 'skin' residue left behind which can be peeled or sanded away. try it & see, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I concur with caustic soda. Works for me every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenko Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 Thanks for your replies guys. Will give it a go. Many thanks Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denford Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Anyone using Caustic Soda would be well advised to have some acid eg Vinegar, to hand to neutralise the Soda: it should be the first remedy for splashes, spills etc. Caustic Soda does not affect thermoplastics, so containment of work in plastic bags is a good precaution. Also well advised to wear Safety Glasses and Rubber Gloves: I'm a Chemist so know how to deal with such materials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotorheadtx Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Bleach - used it many times, its never let me down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunpowder17 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Modelstrip works well too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Another bleach fan! Mind that caustic soda though, Dick. damned nasty stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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