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Chrome stripping in hydrochloric acid

2003

We are a jobbing shop, and regularly strip chrome off steel parts in Hydrochloric acid without any problems. Occasionally, we have to strip about 40 thou" (1 millimeter) of chrome off steel, because of the length of time, we are getting some base attack. Is there anything we can add to the strip to reduce this attack. I do have a caustic electrostrip, which I always use in preference, but is not always practical.

Regards,

Steve Kelson
- Sandbach, Cheshire, England

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2003

My hat is off to the plater that can plate 40 thou and not have it crack. I have done 20 OK, but never 40. Solution is to buy inhibited acid. It does not cost that much more. For the short term, plain old glycerine works well. Seems to me that it was like 1L to a 400L tank. Sorry that I can not remember.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida