how do you remove chrome from wheels?

[black89t]

i have a set of cobra rims that the chrome is peeling off. i was hoping to find a good way to remove it. there isn't a chrome shop around here that can remove it properly. i have heard of so many different ways like sandblasting, bleach, oven cleaner, brake fluid, purple power, using a torch but have never had to do this myself. lets hear what you've done and how it works!

 

[Poodles]

You don't remove chrome. At least not easily/cheaply.

 

[nick88]

Sand blast it.

 

[Poodles]

Are the wheels steel or aluminum?

 

[IJ.]

Acid bath and a reverse elecrolytic process.

 

[Poodles]

Only issue is that it's hazardous waste...

 

[IJ.]

Only issue is that it's hazardous waste...

Meh

Pay to have them commercially stripped it's not that exe.

 

[Poodles]

Yep, any place that does plating will have the facilities to deplate. Gotta have a way to fix the "oops" moments and if you're replating, the old plating has to come off first.

 

[TurboStreetCar]

Im interested in this also as i also have chrome cobra wheels that i would like to remove the chrome and paint silver or black. Im thinking grinding/sanding is the best easiest option aside from finding non chrome wheels. Long Island NY is the king of no facilities available.

The wheels are aluminum, at least mine are.

 

[Poodles]

Yeah, might be easier to just replace them...

 

[UT93sc300]

Sand blast it.

I looked into sand blasting a set of aluminum wheels with the chrome plating. I read it was a bad idea because it may cause uneven surfaces that don't look as good.

I ended up just buying new wheels and using the crappy ones as winter beaters.

 

[Poodles]

Yep, the aluminum is softer than the chrome, so using mechanical or chemical means usually ends badly...

 

[Koenigturbo]

Yeah, might be easier to just replace them...

Plus one or I agree with poodles

 

[black89t]

Are the wheels steel or aluminum?

they're aluminum.

Im interested in this also as i also have chrome cobra wheels that i would like to remove the chrome and paint silver or black. Im thinking grinding/sanding is the best easiest option aside from finding non chrome wheels. Long Island NY is the king of no facilities available.

The wheels are aluminum, at least mine are.

i hear ya. i live way north in cali. the closest place for me is three hours away on this hell road to redding. or 5 hours away to santa rosa on our wonderful 101 hw. i called the place in santa rosa and they wanted 100 per wheel just to remove the chrome. i'm thinking i'm just gonna sand it down where its peeling bad then scuff up the chrome and paint them. i got the wheels for 100 with tires so i might just have them as my autocross rims. they really do fit great though. open to more suggestions though...

 

[TurboStreetCar]

Same for me, Got all four for $150 with tires. At least you have a place within 3-5 hours. I would HAVE to ship mine out somewhere likely out of state.