How hard is it to remove chrome?

[Brad]

I've got some chrome 'vette wheels and just last winter they started rusting and don't look as good as they did. I'd like to keep them chrome but they just are going to get worse and I don't have funds to buy new wheels. How hard would it be to have them sandblasted then powdercoated?

[special-K]

It`s tough to remove chrome.But sandblasting and painting works fine.I`ve sandblasted and painted perfect chrome with great results.
To powdercoat does require absolute stripping to bare metal.I`ve never tryed,prolly a good bit of work.I have sandblasted powdercoat to bare metal to re-powdercoat another color and that`s a mother bear for sure.In one case I had to hit the surface with a grinder to cut the surface before the sand could penetrate.
If you`re having a professional shop do your powdercoating,see what they say.

[cdowns]

another option for removing chrome is taking them to a plating shop and they reverse the electric charge to remove the plating i dont imagine its real cheap tho

[Brad]

...yeah, these are just cheap chrome 'vette wheels that aren't worth spending money on. Perhaps I'll just blast the rust and then paint next summer.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by special-K

It`s tough to remove chrome.But sandblasting and painting works fine.I`ve sandblasted and painted perfect chrome with great results.
To powdercoat does require absolute stripping to bare metal.I`ve never tryed,prolly a good bit of work.I have sandblasted powdercoat to bare metal to re-powdercoat another color and that`s a mother bear for sure.In one case I had to hit the surface with a grinder to cut the surface before the sand could penetrate.
If you`re having a professional shop do your powdercoating,see what they say.

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You can go to your local auto body supply store and ask for self etching clear surface coat that promotes adhesion and will allow you to paint them. Some guys leave an outer band of chrome looks like a trim ring and paint the rest.

esll.

[bad6772]

i agree, with esll, a self etching primer does just that etch, if the area is good and clean i would degrease it, really good and put a lite coat of etch on it , remember though ecth primer shouldnt be coated on like a normal primer. it just needs to be a light mist....In my experiance, if you apply it to heavy, it will lift and cause your paint to bubble .......

[Brad]

Originally Posted by EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

Some guys leave an outer band of chrome looks like a trim ring and paint the rest.

Unfortunately, that's where it's rusting and needs the most paint. Sounds like a cool idea though.

[special-K]

I figured blasting since there`s rust.

[68Stepbed]

If it's only surface rust, just rub em out with some 0000 steel wool.

[cdowns]

chrome doesnt rust the cheaper the plating the more moisture it allows thru to the base metal that is rusting without removing the chrome to get to the rust on the basemetal panit powder anything is a short term fix till the rust bubbles it off