
plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989
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Need to remove chrome & nickel plating from Eagle alloy wheels
April 22, 2010
I have a set of eagle alloys wheels that I will be powder coating. I run a powder coating business and these are my personal wheels. The wheels are flaking pretty badly. I had my industrial blasting shop try blasting the chrome/nickel off it took far too long to get through the layers. I need an effective way to remove the plating from the wheels. I have contacted the local plating shop here but they said they would have to ship the wheels out to be stripped down. Is there a proper way that I can do this myself? I have lots of experience and the proper PPE for handling chemicals. So if anyone can tell me where I can get the stuff to strip these down I would be very appreciative. The reason I need them stripped to bare metal is because of the pitting in the aluminum, I need to correct this in order to powder coat them. If there is any more information that I need to provide please ask I will gladly answer anything I can. The wheels are aluminum, when blasting it was determined that there is chrome/nickel/copper on them. I was able to watch the layers expose themselves when blasting.
Thanks,
John H. Forman
Shop owner - Floyds Knobs, Indiana
May 16, 2010
If the wheels are aluminum you should be able to strip the chromium in a caustic solution and then strip the nickel off in 50% nitric acid.

George Shahin
Atotech - Rock Hill, South Carolina
May 17, 2010
If chemically stripped, both metals (chrome and nickel) will produce toxic regulated waste. Blasting may not depending on local regulations.
Guillermo MarrufoMonterrey, NL, Mexico
