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Chrome removal at home, easy/hard?

Q. Hi my name is Jeff & I have a 1977 750cc Triumph Bonneville motorcycle I'm customizing, I bought 2 into 1 header/exhaust pipes years ago which are chromed. I now wish to to remove the chrome & refinish these pipes in black high temperature engine/Satin Black Stove paint [affil links] (tired of chrome & polishing!) I read an earlier reply of Hydrochloric Acid? Not sure if I could find a container & the amount of hydrochloric acid required for a job of this scale. Not to mention safely disposing of waste afterwards. Maybe a professional with the correct skills & equipment should carry out this task?

Regards,

JEFF STEWART
HOME MOTORCYCLE MODIFICATION - SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
2004

A. The ideal solution is removing the chrome through hydrochloric acid, removing the underlying nickel with a different stripper, removing the underlying copper (if any) with a third stripper, then phosphatizing the pipes in preparation for the coating, and coating them (a high temperature ceramic paint is best) ... all at a metal finishing jobshop.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004

A. Hi Jeff,

What Ted says is right ... but could cost you $$$. Have a look in the archives at # 12044 ... which might help you ... but if you are left with an underlay of nickel or copper, why remove it at all, presupposing that you'd could get a good bond with your hi temp paint (but then I'm not a plater).

Nice city, Sydney, ... just wish we had bought some opals in your opal store !

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2004

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