Summary for chrome wheels stripped Discussion
Need 4 chrome wheels stripped and powder coated: Tom Bollettieri asked whether muriatic acid alone would be enough to remove chrome from peeling chrome wheels before powder coating, noting that minor cosmetic defects would be acceptable if durability was not affected. The reply explained that so-called chrome wheels usually have a heavy nickel layer under a thin chrome layer, and that hydrochloric acid may remove the chrome but will not remove the nickel. Because the nickel is peeling, it also has to be stripped. The answerer said the wheels should be fully stripped of chrome and nickel and then properly prepared for powder coating, probably with a chromate conversion coating. The key point is that acid alone is not sufficient preparation when the nickel layer is failing.
adv.
RFQ: I operate a small-scale specialty auto repair shop in Northern NJ with a customer’s car having aluminum “simulated 3-piece” wheels with chrome peeling.
The owner expressed interest in having the chrome stripped to a point where the wheels could be refinished in a matte black or anthracite powder coat.
From the posts on this board, I assume the chrome can be removed with muriatic acid without much problem, but would that alone be enough to prepare for powder coating?
The vehicle is not a show car, and some minor cosmetic defects in the recessed areas etc would be acceptable if the durability of the powder coating is not compromised.
Tom Bollettieri
– Pompton Lakes New Jersey
September 16, 2023
Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).
A. Hi Tom. “Chrome” wheels actually have a fairly heavy plating of nickel followed by a very thin plating of chrome. Although HCl will remove chrome it won’t remove nickel and, since the nickel is peeling, it must be removed.
The chrome should be stripped, the nickel stripped, and the wheels prepared for powder coating (probably by chromate conversion coating).
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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adv.